Mastodynia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mastodynia Classification and external resources |
|
| ICD-10 | N64.4 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 611.71 |
| DiseasesDB | 22464 |
Mastodynia, mastalgia or mammalgia are names for a medical symptom that means - pain in the breast (from the Greek masto-, breast and algos, pain).
Mastalgia is usually a benign disorder in young women due to hormonal imbalance during their menstrual cycle. During a menstrual cycle the breasts swell and become lumpy and tender. During a period, the breasts reabsorb the extra fluid inside instead of discharging it, causing breast pain. A breast exam and a breast ultrasound should be performed to make sure nothing is hidden[citation needed].
Contents |
[edit] Types
It can be subdivided into 2 main clinical patterns:
- cyclical when the pain is worse prior to each menstrual cycle
- This may occur with a woman's natural menstrual cycles and is not due to any hormone or breast disease.
- It may be caused by use of hormonal contraception
- non-cyclical when the pain is unrelated to periods.
- It may be related to the underlying muscle
- Trauma and resulting haematoma
- Infection is sometimes responsible, particularly during times of breast feeding.
- Breast engorgement during breast feeding (mastitis)
- Arthritis pain in the chest or neck felt as if it is coming from the breast[citation needed].
[edit] Associations
Breast cancer is, in 19 out of 20 cases, not normally painful in the early stages[citation needed]. New onset of a painless lump should therefore be promptly assessed.
[edit] Causes
- methylxanthines (caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, paraxanthine) that cause blood vessels to dilate[citation needed]
- salt: increases swelling by causing fluid retention[citation needed]
[edit] Treatments (non-medical)
- evening primrose oil, natural herbal pills taken once a day for 3-4 months[citation needed]
- vitamin E[citation needed]
- vitamin B[citation needed]
- any over-the-counter pain-reliever
