Definition

• Breast pain is the common term of a condition called mastalgia. According to the Mayo Clinic, breast pain affects seven out of 10 women at some point in time and is more commonly experienced by younger, pre-menopausal females.
  
  

Causes

• Medline Plus advises that hormonal changes such as menopause, menstruation, premenstrual syndrome, puberty, and pregnancy can cause breast pain.
  
  

Evaluation

• According to Imaginis, women are advised to inform their doctor if their breast pain is persistent. Doctors will perform a breast exam and if needed schedule a mammogram or ultrasound to diagnose the root cause of your breast pain.
  
  

Treatments

• Medication or surgery is typically not needed for moderate breast pain. The Mayo Clinic suggests changes such as wearing a supportive bra, adjusting birth control dosage, using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication or taking a prescription medication such as tamoxifen, danazol, or bromocriptine for pain relief.
  
  

Considerations

• Some women fear that breast pain is a warning sign of breast cancer; however, Medline Plus advises that breast pain is not a symptom of breast cancer.