Tenderness can linger for a few days up to several weeks after trauma to the breast. Without proper support, the ligaments that connect breasts to the chest wall can become overstretched and painful by the end of the day. The result is achy, sore breasts. This may be especially noticeable during exercise. Make sure your bra is the correct size and provides good support.
What feels like breast pain may actually be coming from your chest wall. This is the area of muscle, tissue and bone that surrounds and protects your heart and lungs. Common causes of chest wall pain include:. Breastfeeding can sometimes be the source of breast pain. Some of the things you can experience while nursing include:.
Breastfeeding women are most likely to get breast infections mastitis , but they occasionally occur in other women, too. If you have a breast infection, you may have a fever and symptoms in one breast, including:. Madeline Kennedy. This article was medically reviewed by Jason R. Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness. For more information, visit our medical review board.
For women, sore nipples may be caused by hormonal shifts around your period or breastfeeding. Running long distances in a shirt can cause painful chafing on your nipples. Products like soaps or antibiotic ointments can irritate the skin on your nipples.
Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice. Madeline Kennedy is a health writer for Insider covering a wide range of topics including reproductive and sexual health, mental health, nutrition, and infectious disease. Before joining Insider, Madeline worked as a health news writer for Reuters, and a domestic violence therapist.
She has a master's degree in social work from UPenn and is interested in the intersection of health and social justice. Additional comments. Email optional. There are more serious causes of nipple pain, such as infections and cancer , so seeing a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment is important. As a symptom, nipple pain differs from person to person. Some may feel their nipples are sore and tender, while others feel sharp pain or pain accompanied by itching. Friction is the most common reason for the nipples to be sore.
Friction can occur if the nipples rub against a shirt or poorly-fitting bra, during sports activities, such as running, surfing, or basketball. Friction on the nipple can often cause soreness and a stinging pain. The skin may also become dry or chapped. Furthermore, longer periods of exercise mean extended periods of friction, too. People who are sensitive to friction may choose to take extra precautions, such as wearing surgical tape on their nipples during exercise.
Nipples that have already been injured by friction, an allergic reaction, or are cracked or bleeding have a higher risk of infection. Lactation and breast-feeding may also increase the risk of infection. It is possible to get a yeast infection of the nipples, which is a fungal infection caused by Candida albicans. This can be the result of damage to the surrounding tissue, recent antibiotic use, or when a person has a history of fungal infections.
A yeast infection, also known as thrush, at the nipples is often felt as a burning, stinging pain that does not go away by reducing sources of friction. The nipples may be bright pink and the areola may be reddish or flaky.
Many breast-feeding women describe thrush as sharp, hot pain immediately after the feed. Signs of the infection may also appear on their baby. Mastitis is possible during pregnancy if milk becomes trapped in one of the milk ducts. Bacteria can start to grow in the duct and spread. This type of infection can cause a swollen, red, sore breast and nipple.
Mastitis needs to be treated with antibiotics. If it is left untreated, an abscess can form. In fact, doctors recommend breastfeeding, when possible, as the best way to meet a baby's nutritional needs. The timing of breast development varies from girl to girl.
Most girls begin getting breasts around 10 or But it's normal for breast development to start anytime between the ages of 8 and In general, it takes 4 to 5 years for a girl's breasts to reach their adult size. When guys start puberty it is common to develop a small amount of breast enlargement too. During puberty, hormones in the body can cause the breasts to grow larger.
The difference is that for guys, this condition is called gynecomastia and is usually temporary. One of the most common times that breasts might feel sore is when they are beginning to develop. First you might notice a small button-like lump beneath the nipple area. The medical name for this is the breast bud , and is common in guys and girls. The breast bud may be a little tender. But don't worry — it's a normal part of puberty.
It is also common to have sore breasts around the beginning of a girl's period, or menstruation. During her menstrual cycle , a girl's body produces lots of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Changes in these hormones can cause feelings that together are called premenstrual syndrome, or PMS.
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