Many women experience tender breasts at some point in their life. It can be caused by many reasons, the majority being of a hormonal nature. When this happens, the breasts can feel sore when you touch them or when you move around, and they feel heavier and/or fuller.
Breast tenderness is one of the signs of pregnancy but can also be an indication that you are ovulating. Further complicating the matter, tender breasts can likewise be a symptom of PMS.
Since pregnancy, ovulation and PMS all trigger the release of hormones into the body, all three conditions can affect your breasts. To find out which of these conditions is causing your breast tenderness, you must take into account other symptoms, the type of soreness you are experiencing and your menstrual cycle.
Type and Location of Soreness
Ovulation often causes pain or soreness on the sides of your breasts [1]. If pregnancy is the reason for the tenderness, your breasts will have a strong sensation of fullness or heaviness. This pain would also be felt throughout the entire breast and not just on the sides. In some women, tenderness or soreness in the breasts can be the first symptoms they experience of pregnancy and the breast are sensitive and tender to touch.
However, this is not a reliable way to tell that you’re pregnant, as breast tenderness can be caused by other reasons. If you suspect that you’re pregnant and are feeling breast tenderness, be sure to see a doctor.
Breast Tenderness from PMS
Many women experience breast pain or tenderness from PMS, which typically happens in the days leading up to the start of their period. A good indicator that PMS is the issue causing your breast tenderness is the timing of your period.
This is why it’s always good to keep track of your menstrual cycle. There are actually smartphone applications available that can help you easily keep track of your menstruation and even ovulation. You’ll be able to make a note of any pain you are experiencing, moodiness or any other issues. Knowing all these things can be helpful in determining the reason behind your breast tenderness.
Breast Tenderness and Pregnancy
Aside from tenderness, other changes in the breasts can help you determine whether you’re pregnant, ovulating, or experiencing PMS. For pregnant women, their areola and the surrounding nipple tissue may show a change in color or tone [2]. Again, a color change in this area is typically only found in women who are pregnant.
The size of the areola can also be an indication that you’re carrying a child since pregnancy can sometimes cause the veins in the chest to become larger and more pronounced. All these changes are a sign of pregnancy, not ovulation or PMS.
Pregnancy is a common cause of breast tenderness, but just because you have breast tenderness, doesn’t mean you can automatically assume you are pregnant. There are many more indicators, including some typical early indicators that can give you an idea you’re pregnant.
These signs can include increased frequency of urination, abdominal cramps, back pain, moodiness, aversion to certain types of foods, increased sensitivity to odors and high basal temperature. When pregnancy occurs, the body is flooded with hormones, which can cause all the above symptoms as well as tender breasts.
If a woman is trying to get pregnant, she will want to know when she is ovulating. You can monitor your body temperature and cervix to get a clearer indication of when ovulation occurs for you.
Other indicators can include changes in the texture or color of cervical mucous, abdominal pain and an increased sex drive. Many women start ovulating at about the halfway point through their menstrual cycle. This point typically occurs from a few days to a week or more after the last day of her period. The ovulation cycle can be quite varied from woman to woman, so checking other indicators is important for accuracy in detecting ovulation.
There are also ovulation prediction tests now available that can help you to predict your ovulation. These tests are quite inexpensive and will test you for a particular type of hormone that surges during a day or so before ovulation starts. Using a test like this can vastly improve the accuracy of your ovulation predictions.
Other Causes of Breast Tenderness
Though pregnancy, ovulation and PMS are the most common causes of breast tenderness, they are not the only causes. In fact, in teenage boys and girls, the start of puberty can cause breast tenderness. Breastfeeding can also cause this type of breast pain and discomfort. Women who are nearing menopause can also experience breast tenderness or pain.
Medication use can also contribute to breast pain and tenderness. Those who take antidepressants, for example, can experience these symptoms as a side effect of their medication.
Those who take oral birth control pills or undergo infertility treatments may also experience breast tenderness, as well as older women who are past the menopause stage and are going through estrogen and progesterone hormone therapies.
Fatty acid imbalance in breast cells is another culprit. It makes the breast tissue more sensitive to hormones, which can result to the feeling of pain tenderness. Women who have undergone breast surgery in the past are also prone to breast tenderness, even when their incisions are already healed.
Smoking is known to increase epinephrine levels in the breast tissue. This can make a woman’s breasts hurt.
Sometimes breast pain isn’t because of your breasts, but because of irritation of the chest, arms, or back muscles. This is common if you’ve engaged in activities such as raking, rowing, shoveling, and waterskiing.
Tietze’s syndrome is another condition which can be mistaken for breast pain and is a rare, inflammatory disorder characterized by chest pain and swelling of the cartilage of one or more of the upper ribs (costochondral junction), specifically where the ribs attach to the breastbone (sternum). [3]
Breast cysts can likewise contribute to tenderness as well as pain. Some cysts are palpable and can be easily felt when you perform a breast examination. They can be hard or soft, and they may move about when you push them gently with your fingers. Breast cysts are usually not cancerous, but because of the pain and discomfort they cause, you might want to have them surgically removed.
Another possible cause of breast tenderness is fibroadenoma. This is a tumor of the milk glands and can be noticed when performing a breast exam. It’s usually firm and can be moved around, although it doesn’t usually cause pain.
Many women who experience breast tenderness and pain immediately fear that they have breast cancer. But, according to experts, these symptoms don’t automatically indicate that cancer cells are present. In most cases, the tenderness is caused by other symptoms, like those listed above. Still, if you have any concerns about your health, it’s important to see your doctor ASAP.
Final Note
No matter the reason you think you are experiencing breast tenderness, be sure to talk to your doctor if you notice anything unusual or new occurring with your body. This way, you can determine what’s causing the symptoms you experience and get the appropriate treatment right away or at least be assured that what you’re experiencing is normal.
References
- https://www.newkidscenter.com/Sore-Breasts-After-Ovulation.html
- 6 signs that you may be pregnant > https://www.livingandloving.co.za/pregancy-blogs/6-signs-that-you-may-be-pregnant
- https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/tietze-syndrome/
Hey I had period on the 9 of July and it ended on the 13th but I still have breast soreness it as if I am breastfeeding.
Hello Khanyo, see the following link; https://womanjunction.com/tender-breasts-and-pain-should-you-be-worried/
Hi, I’m Vicky…my period was 20th of June 17,I ovulated somewhere in 3rd june & we had intercourse. After few days later I felt my boobs feeling heavier and pain when touched. I’m expecting my periods in 10 days time. I’ve been trying for a baby for the pass 4 yrs..This is the 1st time I got very early breast tenderness,cant wait for the results, hoping for good news. Please advice.Thank you.
Hi there Vicky, the only thing you can do at the moment is to wait and see if you’ll have a missed period. If you do then take a pregnancy a week later. Wishing for you all the best.
Comment Text*My period came twice last month I haven’t experienced that before and I feel pains in my breast, my nipples have become hard and my breast has also become heavy I checked with a pregnancy test but am not pregnant what’s wrong with me
Hello there Vera, seems as though you having irregularities. If your period does not come around the appointed time this month then repeat another test. All the best.
Hi, Bit of background info:
– I had a natural full miscarriage on 22 March.
– First period since mc 29 April – 3 May.
– Sexually active with my partner since around the start of April.
These last couple of days my breast have become very full and tender I had pinkish dishcharge on Monday now nothing. Is this just my hormones still trying to settle after my miscarriage or is it possible I could be pregnant. I guess it’s too early to test as not long menstruated.
Hi there CC, this could be either, please take a pregnancy test to see if you might be pregnant.
Hello I have noticed the absence of a cervical mucous for some month now,can I achieve pregnancy without this? Can I also achieve pregnancy with watery and scanty period?
Hi there Grace, the best way to get pregnant is by knowing when you might be ovulating, use the following link to check your most fertile days. http://womanjunction.com/
My period changed suddenly from 8th to 15th sometimes to 18th now it has been irregular I have been trying to conceive for the past 5 months, I always have pregnancy symptoms and negative hpt, last month my period was on 15th this month it was on 8th, I have gained alot of weight now my boobs are a little sore, but negative hpt.
Hi Wealthif, it might be a bit more difficult for you to conceive given irregular periods but you can do this by charting your cycle even though your cycle is irregular, it is good to track it on a calendar for a few reasons. First, you may notice some clues that give you a pattern. Second, if you experience fertility problems, the data from your tracking efforts is valuable information to share with your gynecologist or fertility specialist. Hope the below link helps too: http://womanjunction.com/
We are trying for baby from last 5 months.This time I am getting heavy breast soreness for after periods of 17 days and I’m getting little bit of headache and also tiredness.Is this a pregnancy symptom?. Usually I will get breast pain during my periods but this time I got early.
Hello there Eshita, take a pregnancy test if you think you might be pregnant. All the best.
Hello alison,
My husband and I are actively trying for a baby for the last one year. Recently, on my day 19 of the cycle, I felt my breasts are too heavy and full. I am on day 27 of my cycle and the breast tenderness has increased. My cm is almost dry. We had sex last night but i got to find that there was a little light spotting today morning. I could not find any other symptoms of pregnancy. I have a 28-30 day cycle. Am I pregnant? Please advise.
Hello Ami, it’s best to have sex around the time you are most fertile. To find your most fertile days use the following link, if you think you might be pregnant take a pregnancy test. http://womanjunction.com/
I’m trying to get pregnant. My periods are regular. last date is 13 feb. Had sex for last 4, 5 days. My breast are so tender around and full. why ?
Hi there Kavya! Please refer to http://womanjunction.com/breast-tenderness-what-could-it-mean/ Best Regards
Hi, what would be the best time to take pregnancy test? My last menstration is january 20, i checked it last february 20 cause i have breast tenderness, dizziness and occasionaly nauseated. But it says negative. Untill now i have thant feelings. Pls help. Thank you
Hi there Febie, 2 weeks after a missed period is a safe time to take a pregnancy test, if it shows negative and you still believe you are pregnant you could probably try a more sensitive and detectable pregnancy test or test 7 days later.
I had my mense on the 2 and i had sex on 12,13,15,16,17,18,21 of which he released in me all the days.and i started having tender and sore breast since ovulation and it has not gone.please could it be pregnancy
Hello there Teresa, are these February dates? To confirm pregnancy take a pregnancy test, I wish you all the best.
My breasts became sore the day after I ovulated and they are getting sorer and sorer. It hurts to wear a bra and it hurts to not wear one too! They mainly hurt on the sides and underneath but even pushing the top of them they are sore there too. I don’t usually get sore breasts after ovulation but I do usually get it a few days before Menses. We have been actively trying for 5 months now. This month I did a home ovulation detection kit and we had sex 5 days in a row while I assumed I was in my ovulation peak. After reading articles about having sore boobs so early on it makes me sad to think once again we may not have succeeded however it is usual of my breasts to be sore and be THIS sore after ovulation. (menses are still 8 days until due) I guess what I am wondering is, is there a chance I AM pregnant this time even though my boobs are sore so early? Or should I take it as a song we haven’t succeeded. I know I could just wait and see but it’s killing me.
Hi there Rebecca! Please refer to this article for information. Best Regards
Hi Rebecca let me know if you are pregnant now because I feel the same for past 3 days.
Efua
Hello I ovulated on the 25/01/17 but I had sex from 20/01/17 – 22/01/2017 and also had sex on my day of ovulation and two days after. Again I had sex on the 05/02/17 – 06/02/17. I was suppose to get my menses on the 08/02/17 but it came on the 07/02/17 and it lasted for 4days instead of the normal 5days. Immediately after my menses I have been experiencing some abdominal pains. Even when I try to bend down sometimes I feel this pain and when I wear my heels 👠too I feel this pain. Initial it wasn’t like that. Can it be a sign of pregnancy?
Hi Efua, the only way to confirm pregnancy is to go ahead and take a pregnancy test, I wish you all the best.
Is it possible to get pregnant on day 4 of your cycle…say i had my period on jan 18..had unprotected sex on the 21st. I was kinda dry the following days. I only noticed sticky cum on the 26th and had ewcm on the 29th til 30th..
Hello Carms, it is possible any time at all, though rare during your cycle. If you think you might be pregnant take a pregnancy test.
Just wondering if anyone has had really sore breasts from the side all over could I be pregnant?
Already have two kids but both pregnancys were very different my boobs feel fuller than normal there really tender haven’t missed my period yet just wondering what everyone thinks?
Hello Emily, sore breasts can be caused by various things apart from just being pregnant. All the best.
Hello I had my period on the Jan 19 and had sex on the 22. It’s the 7 Feb and I experienced spotted bleeding. My breast are slightly sore or tender. My period is only due in another 7 dayd. Am i pregnant or is this ovulation
Hello there Kayla, I hope the following link will be able to help you: http://womanjunction.com/category/ovulation-signs/