It is estimated that almost three-quarters of all women experience painful or sore breasts at some point in their lives. It is very common among premenopausal women aged 20-50 years old.
Breast pain is usually caused by high oestrogen and low progesterone. This situation often occurs around the perimenopause, when the hormones are “wild” and the cycles can be anovulatory. Rising oestrogen around the ovulation can lead to breast tenderness, which can last until the beginning of menstruation. If you are metabolising oestrogen through the 16OHE1 pathway more, which activates the oestrogen receptors and can have high proliferative effects, this can also cause the breasts to become sore and tender.
Other causes of breast pain
Obesity and insulin resistance– supporting healthy weight and blood sugar balance through diet and exercise is very important.
Diet low in fibre – increasing dietary fibre reduces the risk of benign breast disease.
Methylxanthines are substances found in coffee, tea, chocolate, colas and some medications have been shown to cause breast discomfort. Avoiding these or reducing them to minimum can be helpful.
Iodine deficiency. Iodine stabilises and down-regulates oestrogen receptors, which are very abundant in the breast tissue. If your diet is low in iodine (vegan, dairy free), check your levels through laboratory urine testing and work with the professional to correct the deficiency; iodine supplementation has to be done with care and understanding.
High prolactin levels. Elevated levels of prolactin (milk producing hormone) can cause breast pain.
How can you reduce breast pain?
- Consider eliminating caffeine and alcohol.
- Implement lymphatic massage and skin brushing.
- Improve your body composition.
- Avoid endocrine disrupting chemicals that interfere with the production, metabolism and elimination of bodily hormones.
- Include cruciferous vegetables in your diet daily- broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, radish, kohlrabi. They supply DIM, which supports oestrogen metabolism.
- Try seed cycling.
- Increase dietary fibre– consume variety of legumes and whole grains.
- Check your iodine and prolactin status.
- Consider genetic testing to establish how effective you are in detoxifying hormones.
- Evening primrose oil, essential fatty acids and vitamin E can help with breast pain.
- Vitex, echinacea and poke root are herbal medicines used to support the health of breasts- work with the trained herbalist if you want to apply this, especially when considering the poke root.
Practical applications for breast pain
- Castor oil packs.
- Rosemary and thuja essential oils. Combine 2-3 drops of each oil in a carrier oil and massage into the breasts. Cover with a cloth and apply heat pack for 10-15 minutes.
- Clay poultice using bentonite clay mixed with warm water, applied and left until dry, and then washed off.