Breast Pain

Breast pain, also called mastalgia, is a very common condition that can affect anyone. The pain can vary from feeling mildly sore to throbbing or stabbing. Frequent or recurring breast pain can interfere with your life and make it hard to go about your daily activities. Breast pain that doesn’t go away can also point to an underlying condition that needs treatment from a healthcare provider.

Things like hormonal changes (due to medications or menstruation), wearing a poor-fitting bra or infection can cause breast pain in people assigned female at birth (AFAB). In people assigned male at birth (AMAB), a condition called gynecomastia is the most common cause of breast pain. Most cases of breast pain aren’t due to breast cancer.

Types of breast pain

There are two main types of breast pain: cyclic and noncyclic.

Cyclic breast pain

This type of breast pain lines up with your menstrual cycle. It’s most common in people AFAB between 20 and 50. You may have pain in one breast or both, and it typically occurs due to natural hormonal changes. It likely occurs about a week before your period.

Cyclic breast pain goes away naturally once you get your period but returns before your next menstrual cycle. You can also get this type of pain if you take or change hormone medication (like for birth control or hormone replacement therapy). Cyclic breast pain is a predictable pattern. This type of breast pain typically goes away after menopause because you no longer menstruate.

Noncyclic breast pain

This type of breast pain has nothing to do with your menstrual cycle or period. It’s most common if you’re older than 40 and can continue after menopause. Noncyclic breast pain doesn’t follow a predictable pattern. It can come and go or be chronic and constant. This type tends to affect one breast in a specific area. Noncyclic breast pain tends to happen due to injury, breast size or a benign (noncancerous) breast condition.

How common is breast pain?

Breast pain is common. About 70% of people AFAB will have breast pain at least once. Breast pain is more common in people who haven’t reached menopause.

The rate is slightly less in people AMAB with about 50% to 65% experiencing breast pain at some point. It’s worth noting that the majority of causes of breast pain aren’t serious or life-threatening.