We can safely add breast pain to the exponential list of menopause symptoms. In fact, new research estimates that approximately 40% of women experience it at some point. Whilst hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia still occupy the top spots, breast pain and tenderness are well documented as a very common symptom. One in depth medical study found that all ethnic groups of menopausal women experience menopause causing breast pain, the most reported being in Caucasian women.

There’s plenty of anecdotal and clinical evidence to show how normal it is for breasts to hurt during menopause as well as some sound logic behind it. Perimenopause and menopause are stages of profound transition for the female body and being hormone-led, those endocrine system shifts directly affect the breast tissue too. Much of perimenopause (the slow transition of the body reaching menopause), mimics that of puberty and if you can recall that far back, that’s when your breasts started to take shape and were likely often tender in the process.

The medical reason behind breast tenderness and pain during perimenopause is the recalibration of hormones, namely estrogen and progesterone. Breast tissue is highly sensitive to hormone fluctuations and although there’s a general downwards shift in both of these hormones, there are spikes and dips in associated levels, causing the overall balance to shift. Most breast pain occurs during these imbalances which is why the discomfort can seemingly come from nowhere, be intense and then dissipate again.

Unfortunately, yes it can. Just as with PMS, the severity of menopausal symptoms can differ greatly from one individual to the next depending on hormonal sensitivity. However, the sensation of menopausal breast pain is often very different to any menstrual breast tenderness you might have experienced previously. Whereas during your periods, breasts can feel heavy and a dull ache in both breasts, breast pain during perimenopause and leading up to menopause, can feel much more intense, sharp and in some cases, a throbbing or stabbing pain sensation.

Many women report sore breasts over the years they’re going through perimenopause as well as their breasts getting bigger after menopause. In some cases, breast growth is linked to menopausal weight gain and a concentrated effort to be more active and eat healthier can reduce breast size back down again. Similarly, breasts getting bigger after menopause can also be associated with inflammation. Taking a patented, proven whole system nutraceutical such as LYMA, is perfect for taking the edge off all menopause symptoms and effectively reduces inflammation throughout the body. If you are truly unhappy with the appearance of your breasts, it’s best to wait until your body is fully through the menopause and your estrogen levels have stabilized. At that point, speak to your GP about your options in how to decrease breast size after menopause.

Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can change breast size, shape, volume and symmetry. Levels of estrogen in the female body unapologetically decline with age and unfortunately, that’s the hormone that most powers our skin. Estrogen is crucial in the formation of collagen and elastin, keeping the skin matrix plump and firm. Therefore, as we lose our reserves of this vital hormone, the quality of our supporting connective tissue also decreases. So, just as we might notice with facial skin aging - a sagging jawline and the emergence of unwanted jowls - as you lose estrogen, there’s a direct decline in the scaffolding of the breast tissue too. During the menopause years, breasts can sag, lose plumpness and change shape all due to depleting hormones and not necessarily identically to each other, so breast asymmetry becomes increasingly common.

Breast pain and tenderness usually improves with age and post-menopause when hormones have plateaued once more. If you get beyond menopause and feel your breast pain isn’t improving or is worsening, it’s absolutely right to speak to your GP or book in with a specialist at a menopause clinic. Likewise if you discover hard lumps, concentrated areas of swelling, redness or nipple discharge, it’s important to get checked immediately.