Why do I feel burning in my breasts

As we have explained before, variations in hormone levels can cause stinging or burning of the breasts. One of the situations in which these changes occur in a normal and regular way is during womens menstrual cycle.

Premenstrual syndrome

There are hormonal peaks throughout the month that generate alterations in the body. The most important ones occur when you are in ovulation period and when menstruation is approaching. This last process involves a series of changes in the female body that even receives a name: Premenstrual syndrome.

Among the symptoms more characteristic highlights:

• Burning, swelling, and even sore breasts.
• Headaches, such as headaches or migraines.
• Discomfort in the lower abdomen.
• Discomfort in the lumbar area (due to inflammation of the ovaries).
• Humor changes.

These symptoms are totally normal and can occur together or separately, with more or less intensity, depending on each woman. With regard to burning and sore breasts, if it is very annoying, we recommend that you use compresses or towels moistened with fresh water, as they will relieve the symptom.

For more information, we leave you this other oneHOWTO article on Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Puberty

The arrival of puberty is also accompanied by variations in hormonal levels and a large number of changes in certain areas of the body. One of them, in the case of girls, are the breasts.

The most common is that its size increasesAlthough they do not have to reach their final size until later in adolescence. This also leads to pain and burning of the breasts, something totally normal. It can occur during times, depending on the hormonal peaks or the first menstruations accompanied by the previously explained premenstrual syndrome.

If this is your case and you have recently had your period, you may also be interested in this other article about How long the period lasts.

Changing birth control pills

Another cause closely related to hormones is the changes and adjustments in the different types of hormonal contraceptives. Birth control pills, the patch, a hormonally loaded IUD (intrauterine device) … any variation introduced by the specialist affects hormone levels and, therefore, burning in the breasts may appear that you can alleviate as we have previously explained.

For more information, we leave you this other oneHOWTO article on What are hormonal contraceptive methods.

Another stage in a woman’s life in which great hormonal changes take place is pregnancy. It is very common that, even before you know that you have become pregnant, you start to notice changes in your body. One of the most significant is the burning and swelling of the breasts, due to the greater amount of hormones that your body is releasing.

It is also accompanied by other alterations, such as fatigue, mood swings, a slight feeling of dizziness and certain intolerance to some more intense odors. A large number of women also experience nausea and vomiting, but in most cases it usually disappears by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. With regard to burning breasts, the only thing you can do in this case is to alleviate the symptom, therefore we advise you to resort to cold compresses.

Perhaps this other article on How to take care of the breast in pregnancy could be useful to you.

Lactation

It is normal for you to also feel burning in your breasts during breastfeeding. This occurs due to hormonal variations and the fact of breastfeeding, although sometimes it is due to mastitis (which we will discuss in the next point).

In the first case, consult your specialist in case it advises you more special care, but in general, as we have already explained, use cold compresses and do not allow your breasts to be dehydrated, drinking water and applying moisturizer.

Another of the possible alterations that can cause burning in the breasts is mastitis. This pathology refers to the inflammation of the breast tissue, which is normally produced by a lactiferous duct (through which breast milk passes) blocked or (less common) by some bacteria that have been introduced through any small wound. The development of a mastitis usually occurs in the first weeks of breastfeeding, but it can occur later and even (although it is very rare) even if you are not breastfeeding. Aside from burning and swelling of the breast or both, there is also pain, redness, and chills and fever may occur.

We recommend that as soon as you refer the first symptoms You go to your specialist, since you will need medication to end mastitis. It is not only important to be examined by an expert to guide you on a treatment, but also to rule out any other more severe disease, such as breast cancer. We advise you that if you feel burning in the breasts, do not be alarmed and think that it may be a tumor, but if you suffer other symptoms such as pain, redness and discharge from the nipples, you should see your doctor to rule out any pathology.

There are also other causes that can cause burning breasts. For example, the prescription of certain medications can cause, among the side effects, burning of the breasts. The presence of cysts or even tumors in a breast can also cause burning in that area. Pain is quite rare when you have a breast lump, so it is important that you watch for other symptoms which we have already referred to, such as swelling, itching or changes in the nipple area. Go to your specialist as soon as you notice these alterations and follow their instructions rigorously. In this way, if there really is a serious problem, it will be easier to solve it and your prognosis will be much better.

Now that you know the answer to why I feel burning in my breasts, you may also be interested in this other oneHOWTO article on Why do I have a breast lump.

This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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