Painful breasts

Question

My breasts are often painful. They have bruised lines from the nipple to the edge of the breast, and sometimes cause me a good deal of discomfort.

I was wondering if this is common, what it is, and also how do I get rid of the lines?

Answer

You don't say whether this pain is any worse at certain times of your menstrual cycle, how old you are, whether the breasts get lumpy, or how long it has been going on.

Having painful breasts is called mastalgia. It is quite common and is usually worse as your period approaches.

The breasts often feel a bit lumpy and swollen, are painful, and sometimes tender to touch, which can hinder lovemaking. The cause is almost certainly hormonal, but it is not really clear why some women get it and others don't.

It tends to vary in severity, so that you go through a bad patch where it is troublesome for months, and then seems to ease off a bit. Some women seem to have more trouble at times of stress.

The lines are probably not bruises, but veins you can see through the skin.

These are often more prominent as the painful spell approaches because the veins become more distended. I am afraid there is really nothing much you can do to get rid of them.

Treating the problem meets with varying success. Wearing a good supporting bra can be helpful.

The commonest and probably the safest treatment for breast pain that is clearly related to the menstrual cycle is Efamast (gamolenic acid), derived from evening primrose oil.

It is quite expensive, and you need to take about 160-240mg a day, but it is worth it if you suffer troublesome breast pain.

Although your GP is no longer able to prescribe Efamast for you, why not ask them about it and tell them your problem? If Efamast doesn't help, there are other medicines that can, but they may have side-effects.

Another reason to see your doctor is to be quite sure that your breasts are otherwise healthy.

Yours sincerely

Dr Keith Barnard, GP

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