Hi All,

Does anybody know what causes sore and swollen breasts pre menstrually?
I've read its lack of progesterone.I think I might have read the opposite as well?

I don't get sore breasts every month but the last two have been painful and my PMDD is much worse.I'm wondering if there is a connection?


Best Brandy

Anyone?
Somebody must know something as so many women complain of sore breasts

Brandy

Hi Brandy,

Welcome to Power Surge! I believe that the premenstrual sore breasts are due to fluid retention. If you also have cysts (fluid-filled) in your breasts you can experience a lot of pain. I have used evening primrose oil for a couple of years for this very problem and it has helped me.

Hi Brandy,
Welcome to Power Surge...

My GYN said the breast soreness is when estrogen goes down...down...down - so that would make sense if it's right before your period... and if you add that to what LadyB is saying about fluid retention - yikes...no wonder us women have sore boobs
Blessings,
Stacy

I've always had sore breast before my period. Now since peri, it is 100 times worse. A few times early into peri, I was wondering if I was pregnant it hurt that bad. Sometimes it can go one for almost 2 weeks.

I sometimes have the sore breasts all month long. It depends on what kind of period I had. Last month they started 2 weeks before my period, and stayed that way I just got my period at 19 days & they are still sore.
So no one really can tell when they will go away or how long they will stay sore.
Hope this helps
Nancy

The good news is that they will go away when you stop having periods.

I was plagued with sore breasts throughout my entire menstrual years. Now, with months and months between periods - NOTHING! It's so nice - a relief.

Better days are coming!



Jacquie

Me too jacquie! No period, no soreness. Even the couple periods I have had these past several months, didn't bring on the soreness that I once experienced.

I had a period in November and then in April my breasts became very sore again. I knew then that I would have a period UGH. Well for the entire month they were sore, I had a three week period. Once it stopped, the soreness went away and I haven't had it since. I also think that once the periods stop the sorness stops. I still do have cramps every once in a while, but nothing else.

Kim

OK, my breasts should be hurting by now. Period is due in 5 days. Either it is going to be very late or maybe I will skip one. A girl can dream....

ok, normally my breast get sore 1 week before my period. Well, they are really sore today and it's over 2 weeks before my next period is due! And I also think that maybe I'm ovulating? Not positive, but I have some discomfort on my right side and am thinking it's related to ovulation. But my boobs are really sore! Last month the soreness was very gradual, this month it came on so fast! Is this normal to change from month to month? This seems very strange...

I guess so. This is how it is with me. Sometimes it can be two weeks for me, other times just a few days. Strange thing is that I started my period today and my breasts didn't hurt at all. I don't remember that ever happening.

My breasts have been sore for two weeks. My periods are so screwy I have no idea if I will have one or not. Last month they were not sore at all , but then again I didn't have a period either!

My breasts get sore whenever they "get the urge" to get sore......there's no rhyme or reason to it anymore.....just another peri gift i guess.....

It is common to have sore breasts after you ovulate. It is the progesterone that causes this as it is in full production to preserve your endometrial lining in the event you get pregnant. If you are not pregnant, your body sheds this lining and you have your period.

Prior to ovulation, your body produces estrogen. If you do not ovulate, you can develop breast tenderness as well due to the estrogen.

I had an annovulatory cycle this year and my breasts hurt so badly I could cry at times. I had never had such intense breast pain. I always experienced some after I ovulated but nothing like this. I wanted to wear my bra to bed to help keep them encased from too much movement or contact with anything.

I started reading and this is what made me finally accept that I was in perimenopause. I had been in denial about it even when my periods became only 2 days long starting 4yrs ago.

I read that taking extra vitamin E can help and started doing so. I have not had tender breasts since then.

Ha ha ha ha! That is the best answer I think anyone could give!

I have read (over, and over, and over, and over) that it is an estrogen surge (there's a big surge before the drop that starts of the period) that causes breast tenderness. Maybe that is true in younger or early peri, but I no longer believe that is the case when we are nearing menopause, because I have had my blood tested and it is low even when my breasts are sore.

So, I'm formulating a new theory, lol, that when we are really close to meno it is the FSH itself that is going crazy telling the ovaries to produce more estrogen is the culprit.

Just my theory, seems as good as anything else the know-nothing doctors come up with

Aimee ~ You are right about FSH and meno.

Having spent 3yrs learning more about fertility than I ever wanted to know, gave me a crash course on my body and all of the hormones we produce.

I have many online friends in their 40s who, like me, trying to have a baby. All of us doing CD3 and CD10 FSH tests with or without clomid. All of our FSH levels were high, high, high most of the time.

The closer we come to meno, the higher our FSH levels as the signals from the ovaries to our brain get confused until our ovaries shut down.

Hence, crazy hormones, crazy moods, achy bodies and crazy boobs

I was so relieved to learn that sore breasts were a perimeno symptom! The past couple of months, mine were extremely sore pre-period. It was so painful that I couldn't sleep on my stomach and my bras were uncomfortable.

The pain for me is on the sides of both breasts - about where your underwire ends at the upper part of the breast. When my period starts, the pain stops. Not a very pleasant experience, but at least I have the peace of mind of knowing it's "normal."

By the way, what's "normal," anyway? My definition is ever-changing!