There is a lump in the breast that hurts when pressed

Many girls find a lump on their breast that hurts when pressed. This is most likely breast hyperplasia. Breast hyperplasia is a proliferative lesion of the female breast epithelium and fibrous tissue. It is a common breast disease among women and is more common in older women. Patients with breast hyperplasia may also experience breast pain before and after menstruation. Many people believe that breast hyperplasia is a precursor to breast cancer. Next, let’s take a closer look at breast hyperplasia.

More than 70% of women have breast hyperplasia

70% to 90% of women have breast hyperplasia problems. Breast hyperplasia patients are mainly middle-aged and young women, but now the patients with breast hyperplasia have become significantly younger, and it is not uncommon among teenage girls. Judging from the physical examination situations in hospitals, women with breast hyperplasia problems account for 70% to 90% of all women who come for examinations. It seems that the incidence rate is quite high.

The causes of breast hyperplasia are very complex, and experts have not yet reached a complete consensus on them, but there are two factors that everyone agrees on.

1. Endocrine disorders

This problem is likely to occur if the amount of hormones secreted by a woman's ovaries is not normal. Other manifestations of endocrine disorders include excessive or insufficient menstrual flow, irregular menstrual periods, etc.

2. Mental factors

Modern people are generally under great mental stress, and women may no longer be as stable as before in terms of work, interpersonal relationships, and family situations, but are full of changing factors. As a result, some women experience endocrine disorders and autonomic nervous system disorders caused by mental factors, as well as poor sleep and bad temper, all of which can have adverse effects on the breast.

Three major symptoms of breast hyperplasia: swelling, pain, and discharge

Fibrocystic breast disease accounts for more than 75% of all breast diseases and is the most common type of breast disease, occurring in women of any age after the onset of puberty. It generally has the following three symptoms:

1. Breast pain

It is often a distending pain or stabbing pain, which may affect one or both breasts, with one side being more severe. Those with severe pain cannot touch the breast, and may even affect their daily life and work. The pain may radiate to the ipsilateral armpit or shoulder and back; some may manifest as nipple pain or itching. Breast pain often occurs or worsens a few days before menstruation and is significantly relieved or disappears after menstruation. The pain may also fluctuate with mood changes, fatigue, and weather changes.

This pain related to the menstrual cycle and emotional changes is the main feature of the clinical manifestations of hyperplasia of the breast.

2. Breast lumps

The lumps can occur in one or both breasts, single or multiple, and are usually located in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. It appears as flakes, nodules, cords, etc. of varying sizes, among which flakes are the most common. The border is not obvious, the texture is medium or slightly hard, there is no adhesion to the surrounding tissues, and there is often tenderness. Most breast lumps also change with the menstrual cycle. The lumps become larger and harder before menstruation, and shrink and soften after menstruation.

3. Nipple discharge

A small number of patients may experience nipple discharge, which is spontaneous and mostly light yellow or light milky white. In a few cases, discharge can be seen after squeezing the nipple. Be cautious if bloody or brown discharge occurs.

Can I get pregnant if I have breast hyperplasia?

Can you get pregnant if you have breast hyperplasia? This question should be viewed from two perspectives!

Can I get pregnant with breast hyperplasia?

For pregnant women, many drugs are contraindicated, but mild breast hyperplasia does not require treatment, so it has no adverse effects on the fetus and pregnant women, and pregnancy is possible at this time. It should be said that pregnancy is good news for patients with breast hyperplasia! Pregnancy and breastfeeding have excellent protective effects on the breasts. The original breast hyperplasia will become milder or disappear, and often heal without treatment.

Can't get pregnant due to breast hyperplasia?

Pathological breast hyperplasia should be treated in the hospital in time, and pregnancy is not allowed at this time. Because drugs have side effects to varying degrees, especially drugs for treating breast hyperplasia, they may have adverse effects on the fetus, such as causing miscarriage, fetal malformations, etc. Breast hyperplasia should be treated actively, and pregnancy should be considered after the disease is recovered and medication should be stopped for more than half a year.

1. Pre-pregnancy breast hyperplasia

Pre-pregnancy breast hyperplasia is a self-healing and self-limiting disease, which is divided into mild and severe types. Mild cases do not require treatment and can be temporarily observed. Pay attention to diet: do not eat barbecued, fried, or puffed foods; avoid exposure to radiation; do not abuse hormones, and use less hormone-containing cosmetics; avoid depression and psychological tension. Avoid grabbing or pinching. In severe cases, if there are many lumps, Chinese medicine such as Xiaoyao Pills, Ru'an, Rupixiao, etc. can be used for conditioning. If the lumps are small and large, such as 5cm in diameter accompanied by pain, surgical removal can also be performed to relieve symptoms.

2. Breast hyperplasia during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the breasts will further proliferate because they will swell in preparation for the birth of the baby and breastfeeding. The mammary ducts will further expand and promote the development of mammary alveoli. This is a normal physiological phenomenon. If breast hyperplasia is severe during pregnancy, you can try hot compress. Fill a hot water bottle with hot water every morning and evening, put a cotton cover on the outside of the hot water bottle, and apply the hot water bottle to the area with hyperplasia before going to bed and when you wake up. Move it to another place when it is very hot. You must take a bath with hot water on a regular basis.

3. Postpartum breast hyperplasia

Postpartum mothers should perform scientific and regular breast massage and health care to maintain good blood circulation in the breasts, which can not only ensure that the baby has sufficient nutritious milk, but also facilitate recovery in all aspects after delivery. Massage can be done every day from the 5th month of pregnancy to the breastfeeding period.