Why do my nipples hurt?

We are somehow accustomed to the fact that breasts are a woman's attribute and sometimes we are surprised if some problems with them arise in representatives of the strong half of humanity. In this article we will try to figure out: why do nipples hurt? What are the reasons for the occurrence of such symptoms in men, what are they in women?

Why do women's nipples hurt?

As statistics show, most representatives of the fair half of humanity are dissatisfied with the size and shape of their breasts, but this fact fades into the background when problems arise in this area of the body.

To understand how to most effectively relieve the discomfort that has arisen, you should know the reasons why women's nipples hurt? The answer to this question can be of both a domestic, physiological, and pathological nature.

• Such discomfort can be caused by an incorrectly chosen bra. It is no secret that a woman primarily chooses underwear with her eyes and it does not always come to assessing its comfort and safety.
• The pain that has arisen can be caused by ordinary toilet soap, which we use several times a day. On the shelves of modern stores, this cosmetic product is presented in such a wide selection that it is simply “dazzling”, and the choice is difficult. At the same time, this cosmetic product does not always meet the necessary requirements for benefit and safety. After all, the aroma and good foaming are not everything. The chemical compounds included in its composition can cause an allergic reaction on the skin: burning, irritation, redness, pain.
• Skin problems. If it is prone to dryness, improper skin care or complete lack of hygienic care can lead to dryness and the appearance of microcracks on the dermis and nipples.
• Painful sensations can also be provoked by interrupted sexual intercourse. Many respondents consider this a myth, but the only reassurance is that the discomfort symptoms will not last long.
• Poor quality bathroom accessories. This could be a hard washcloth or towel.
• Incorrectly selected skin care cosmetics. Allergic reaction to shower gel, cream, etc.
• Long-term contact with poor quality water: open water, chlorinated swimming pool water.
• The cause of pain may be a microtrauma. It may even be caused by unsuccessful and slightly more intense scratching of the skin area near the nipple.
• Trauma. Even a minor blow can eventually make itself known in the form of pain symptoms and associated factors.
• Incorrect feeding technique. After the baby has eaten his fill, he may simply play with the nipple, which causes discomfort to the young mother, and pain appears in the breast. Therefore, you should know when the breast should be taken away from the baby.
• Strong compression of the chest, pressing. This is akin to trauma. The pain may not appear immediately, but even after several days, when the woman has already forgotten about the incident.
• The body loves cleanliness. If you do not wash it, or put on long-unwashed underwear on a clean chest, then such sloppiness can cause the symptoms discussed in this article.
• For some reason, the skin of the nipple has become rough, and since the skin on it has increased sensitivity, the body's response is not delayed.
• Topless tanning is so fashionable among modern girls. Solarium.
• Taking antidepressants and some other groups of drugs.
• Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives.

But the cause of the symptoms in question may also be a problem related to human physiology:

• Dressing inappropriately for the weather can lead to cold symptoms.
• Nervous exhaustion, frequent stressful conditions.
• Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. Avitaminosis can be compensated by adjusting the diet or taking a course of vitamin and mineral complex.
• Individual increased sensitivity of the nipples.
• Meteopathy is the body’s reaction to a sudden change in weather.
• The process of breast growth in young girls.

Pathological changes occurring in the human body can also provoke pain:

• Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland with the formation of pus in the ducts. The pain is especially intense if the young mother is still breastfeeding her baby at this time.
• Cyst or polycystic disease. Development of a neoplasm of any nature and quality (benign and malignant tumors).
• Vascular spasm.
• A consequence of surgical treatment that was carried out in the area of a woman's secondary sexual characteristics.
• Psoriasis is a non-infectious disease that affects the human skin - psoriasis.
• Fungal skin lesions.
• Ovulation period, cyclical mastodonia (symptom of premenstrual syndrome).
• Pregnancy period.
• Lactation is too high a rate of production of breast milk.
• Lactostasis is stagnation of breast milk.
• Increased levels of prolactin and progesterone hormones in the blood.
• The appearance of congestion in the chest area.
• Non-cyclic mastalgia, developing as a result of a failure in the normal functioning of the kidneys, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and thyroid gland.
• Inflammation of any origin, localized in the chest area.
• Intercostal neuralgia.
• Pathological changes affecting the central nervous system.
• Reflex pain.
• Diabetes mellitus.

If a woman begins to feel discomfort, she should first reconsider her lifestyle, clothing, diet and cosmetics; perhaps a change in a minor detail is enough to make the pain disappear. But painful sensations may also be accompanied by other symptoms. For example:

• Nipple discharge. Purulent, bloody and serous discharge should be especially alarming and make you seek medical help.
• The appearance of swelling, burning sensation, hyperemia.
• Visually observable changes that affect the shape of the mammary gland and the color of the areola.
• Violation of the integrity of the skin: ulcers, erosions, cracks, abrasions, and so on.
• The appearance of a hematoma.
• Constant pain, including the axillary region. The intensity of the pain syndrome increases.

The appearance of these factors in combination with the discomfort experienced by a woman should force her to make an appointment with a specialist: a gynecologist or mammologist.

Why do my nipples hurt so much?

In some cases, a woman begins to feel quite noticeable pain in the areola area. Why do nipples hurt so much? The reason may be different.

When pregnancy occurs, the body of the expectant mother is rebuilt to the new status, which requires changes in the woman's hormonal sphere. It is in the early stages after conception that a pregnant woman may be bothered by severe chest pain.

Tumors localized in the chest area can provoke intense pain syndrome.

Pain can also arise from an external stimulus, for example, breastfeeding a teething baby.

Acute pain can also be caused by an infectious lesion of the milk ducts or other tissues. After all, an inflammatory process occurring with the presence of pathogenic microflora or a virus can cause suppuration and the formation of an abscess.

In any case, it would not be a bad idea to see a qualified specialist who will help you effectively solve the problem.

Why do my nipples and stomach hurt?

Pathological symptoms rarely manifest themselves alone; they are usually accompanied by a number of other pathological manifestations. It is their combination that allows the doctor to assume the cause and narrow the focus of the diagnostic examination. Why do nipples and the abdomen hurt? This combination is most often encountered in two cases: during pregnancy and with premenstrual syndrome.

During pregnancy, if such a combination is observed in the later stages, pain in the lower abdomen may indicate the preparation of the expectant mother's body for childbirth, and discomfort in the chest - to the preparation of the mammary glands for the process of feeding the newborn. Such a combination is quite natural and is based on physiological processes occurring in the female body.

Pain in the abdomen and nipples in early pregnancy may be caused by slightly different reasons. Discomfort in the chest, as we have already discussed, is associated with hormonal changes in the body, while a nagging pain in the lower abdomen is caused by the growth of the fetus and the need to stretch the uterine tissue, which can be partially relieved by wearing a bandage or resting in a lying position.

This combination of two symptoms can also appear in non-pregnant women, mainly in women who have already given birth. Mainly in those who have had a cesarean section.

But such symptoms can also be provoked by pathology. For example, an ectopic pregnancy.

Why do nipples hurt during pregnancy?

We have already partially answered the question of why nipples hurt during pregnancy. But it would not be superfluous to voice it once again and analyze the situation in more detail.

• During pregnancy, a woman's body prepares not only for childbirth, but also for lactation. After the baby is born, only mother's milk is so balanced that it provides the newborn organism with the entire set of substances so necessary for full further growth and development. It is this fact that forces the female hormonal background to change. During this period, the size of the mammary gland increases and often the invasive nerve fibers simply do not keep up with this growth, which causes pain syndrome.
• In the first weeks after conception, Montgomery tubercles may appear in the areola of the nipple. Their inflammation can cause increased breast pain. In this situation, you should inform the obstetrician-gynecologist who is monitoring the pregnancy, and in no case should you self-medicate.
• During pregnancy, discharge from the nipple ducts may be observed. They are often associated with frequent use of soap, which has a high pH index, which dries the skin excessively, causing micro cracks. Discharge is just a natural lubricant of the body. If they are transparent, then this can be considered normal, while a change in shade and/or the appearance of an unpleasant odor may indicate the occurrence of a pathological process, the relief of which requires immediate medical attention.
• In the process of preparing for feeding, a woman's breasts increase in volume and if the expectant mother has not taken care of a new bra, this can cause sore nipples.

Why do nipples hurt and swell?

If a woman encounters any deviation from the normal state for the first time, this picture may alarm her. If there is a problem and doubts, then it would be right to seek clarification from a specialist. Some representatives of the weaker half face discomfort in the state of the body, when the nipples of the breast swell and become painful. So why do nipples hurt and swell? Is this a variant of the physiological norm or a sign of a disease?

It is impossible to give a clear answer to this question, since in order to find out the reason, it is necessary to seek help from a doctor, because a number of factors can provoke such a reaction of the body:

• Pregnancy due to restructuring of the body.
• In the last stages of pregnancy – preparation of the mammary glands for the lactation period.
• This may be one of the tandem symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
• Such discomfort can also be caused by a disease, for example, dyshormonal mastopathy, mastitis, gynecomastia, oncology.
• A cold can also cause such a reaction. As people say, "there's a draft somewhere."
• The period of puberty or approaching menopause, when the hormonal background remains unstable. It is worth remembering that this fact is not only the prerogative of women. Quite rarely, but there are cases of diagnosing similar symptoms in men.
• Poor quality and uncomfortable clothing. Clothing, especially underwear, should only be worn in your size, choosing models that are ideal for a specific figure, especially for a bra. The fabric of the underwear should be made of natural materials. In this case, you can reduce the risk of developing an allergic reaction to the material.
• Swelling of the nipples and the appearance of minor pain also occurs during sexual intercourse, which is absolutely normal and physiologically explainable.

Why do nipples hurt before menstruation?

In medical circles, the situation when a woman begins to feel pain in the nipples before the onset of menstruation is called mastodynia. Answering the question of why nipples hurt before menstruation, we can say that the source of such a clinical picture, in this case, is the hormone progesterone. On the eve of menstruation, the level of this hormone increases, which occurs in the second phase of the cycle. During this period, the sensitivity of the nipple also increases, which leads to its temporary pain.

Such discomfort causes a woman many unpleasant minutes, but this is a normal variant and physiologically explainable. Therefore, it is worth enduring, the period will pass and the condition will normalize.

Why do nipples hurt after menstruation?

Menstruation has passed, but there is no painful sensation in the nipples. Why do nipples hurt after menstruation? There are many reasons for this. It could be:

• Hormonal imbalance in the body.
• The presence in a woman's medical history of an anatomical pathology or disease that can affect the level of hormones in the blood or directly affect the functioning of the mammary gland and the breast as a whole.
• Inadequacy of sexual relations.
• Promiscuity, which entails a high risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
• It is possible that conception occurred during this cycle.
• Mastopathy. Quite a common disease.
• The presence of cystic formations, tumors of both benign and malignant nature.

It is worth analyzing your lifestyle and, if necessary, seeking help from a qualified specialist.

Why do nipples hurt before menstruation?

In one of the subsections voiced above in this article, we have already answered the question of why nipples hurt before menstruation. "But repetition is the mother of learning!" so it will not be superfluous to remind that in most cases this discomfort symptomatology is physiologically justified. Menstruation will pass, and the pain will be relieved.

But you should not brush off the symptoms that appear; it would be a good idea to analyze the frequency and phase of their appearance, and the accompanying factors. Perhaps this is not just discomfort, but a manifestation of some disease. If a person has even the slightest doubt about the natural nature of the symptoms, it is worthwhile to see a doctor without delay.

It is better if it is a false alarm than to miss the early stage of development of any disease.

Why do teenagers have sore nipples?

The phrase "nipple pain" is associated with female breasts by most people, but there are cases when this problem affects even children of adolescence. Let's try to figure out why a teenager's nipples hurt? What sources can cause such discomfort?

The reasons for pain may be as follows:

• Puberty, both in girls and boys. Mostly pain occurs when touched. Temporary discomfort.
• Wound infection. Abscess, other purulent processes.
• Trauma: cut, bruise, blow.
• An allergic reaction to any external or internal irritant: taking medications, contact with an animal, if the child is allergic to wool.
• Gynecomastia is a pathology, the source of which is a failure in the endocrine system, accompanied by breast enlargement. The disease can be true and false. True - is caused by hormonal imbalance, false, mainly, is the accumulation of fatty tissue in the chest area against the background of obesity.
• Dysfunction of the adrenal glands or kidneys.
• Consequence of surgical treatment.
• A disease affecting the functioning of the pituitary gland.
• Pathological damage to the testicles (in boys) or ovaries (in girls).
• Malignant tumor of the mammary gland. Quite a rare, but very dangerous disease.
• Stopping taking anabolic steroids. These chemical compounds, in the overwhelming majority of cases, are substances analogous to testosterone. Their effect allows activating anabolic processes in the body. These compounds catalyze the formation and renewal of structural sections of cells, muscles and tissue structures. At the same time, against the background of taking artificial testosterone, the production of natural testosterone is suppressed.
• Diabetes mellitus. As sad as it sounds, this disease has become “younger” and is found in children of different ages.

Why does my left nipple hurt?

Nipples are among the most sensitive areas of the human body. That is why even a slight impact can cause pleasant sensations or, conversely, discomfort, pain. Nipples are a paired organ, but this does not mean that if pain appears on one side, it must necessarily appear on the other. So why does the left nipple hurt?

There may be several reasons for such discomfort:

• This may be a consequence of a bruise or blow, or a violation of the integrity of the skin in the nipple area.
• Nerve damage.
• A disease that affects the mammary gland, ducts, and surrounding tissues.
• Neoplasms of both benign and malignant nature, localized in the left part of the chest.
• Gynecomastia. Most often it affects both breasts, but it can also be one-sided.
• Consequence of surgical intervention.

Why does my right nipple hurt?

Similar reasons can cause pain in the right half of the chest. Therefore, to the question, why does the right nipple hurt? The answer is already known.

Causes of pain in the right nipple:

• Injury.
• Inflammatory process in the right breast.
• Damage to nerve endings.
• A disease that affects the mammary gland, ducts, and adjacent tissues. For example, mastopathy.
• A tumor localized in the right side of the chest. It can be either benign or malignant.
• Gynecomastia of the right breast.
• Consequence of surgical intervention.

Why do nipples hurt and itch?

A number of people experience excruciating itching in the chest area, the cause of this and the factors accompanying itching may be different. So why do nipples hurt and itch and how dangerous is it for the human body?

Causes of itching and subsequent pain:

• Improper breast hygiene, use of highly alkaline toilet soap, which dries the skin, causing it to crack. Dryness and peeling of dead skin areas leads to the desire to scratch, and small cracks cause pain. Such a situation, if you do not take appropriate measures, can have an unpleasant continuation. The wounds can become infected. Further development of the situation: swelling, hyperemia, suppuration, abscess. And this will lead to increased itching and pain intensity.
• Poor quality bed linen. Allergic reaction to the material.
• Wrong choice of clothes: size, model and material. Everything should fit and be made of natural fabrics.
• Proper body hygiene.
• Use of quality cosmetics. Allergies to cosmetics are possible: shower gel, body cream, etc.
• A rough washcloth or towel can irritate sensitive breast tissue.
• A possible cause of such symptoms may be food, or more precisely, an allergic reaction to some product.
• You should change and wash your clothes regularly. If they are not fresh, they can irritate your skin, causing you to scratch.
• Perhaps the catalyst for the problem is one of the diseases. This could be:
  • Atopic dermatitis.
  • Thrush.
  • Eczema.
  • And others.
• Premenstrual period in a woman.
• Pregnancy.

These symptoms themselves are not dangerous, but they may indicate the presence of a hidden pathology in a person's medical history. Therefore, an examination, examination and consultation with a specialist will not be superfluous.

Why do nipples hurt after ovulation?

Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary into the abdominal cavity as a result of the rupture of a mature follicle. Some girls and women begin to feel discomfort in the nipple area during the expected ovulation period (approximately 12-14 days of a 28-day menstrual cycle). The intensity of pain may vary from woman to woman. Let's try to understand the reasons for this and answer the question: why do nipples hurt after ovulation?

Such symptoms are explained by fluctuations in the hormonal profile during one menstrual cycle. This is a normal physiological process, but it is precisely this that causes the manifestations discussed in this article.

Like all tissues of internal organs, the cellular structure of the mammary glands, under the influence of female sex hormones (estrogens) and progesterone, undergoes changes within one cycle. The duration of such a cycle is on average 28 days (but this indicator is individual and can vary). The level of estrogens is highest in the first half of the cycle. It is what “prepares” the egg for ovulation.

The hormone progesterone helps the already fertilized cell penetrate the mucous membrane of the uterus. During this phase of the natural process, there is no full stretching of the tissues, this provokes compression of blood vessels and nerve endings, which causes a painful sensation.

Gynecologists believe that the appearance of pain in this phase of the menstrual cycle, in most cases, may indicate that ovulation has occurred.

Why do nipples hurt in the middle of the cycle?

As observations show, some soreness of this part of the breast may appear in the middle of the menstrual cycle (i.e. a few days before and after day 14 of the 28-day menstrual cycle). Why do nipples hurt in the middle of the cycle? This has already been discussed in the previous subsection. After all, it is during this period that ovulation occurs. It is during these few days, if you take a blood test, that the maximum content of estrogens and progesterone is noted, which prepare the egg for ovulation and after fertilization “place” it in the uterine mucosa. This is a normal, physiologically justified process.

Couples planning to conceive a child should remember that if a woman has this painful sensation in her nipples, there is a high probability that conception has occurred. During this period, additional influence on them should be avoided: caresses and stimulation. Such thoughtlessness in actions can cause contractile activity of the uterus, which can provoke the rejection of the egg that has not yet settled there, and, consequently, the pregnancy will fail.

But we should not dismiss other reasons for this symptomatology, which have been mentioned above more than once, and the time period of maximum manifestation can be explained both by chance and by a link to fluctuations in hormonal status.

Why do men's nipples hurt?

The problem under consideration has not bypassed the male half of humanity. But the causes of pathological manifestations differ from those of women, although a number of them, concerning everyday and a number of physiological factors, are common to them. So why do men's nipples hurt? Let's try to figure it out.

• The first and most frequently occurring factor that catalyzes the uncomfortable state is the period of male puberty.
• The second place is given to the hormonal imbalance, associated with both the restructuring of the body (puberty, the onset of male menopause), and with more serious problems. If a failure occurs and the body reduces the volume or stops producing the male hormone (testosterone), the balance is disturbed and female hormones (estrogens) begin to predominate in the blood of a representative of the stronger sex. This pathology - gynecomastia - provokes an increase in the size of the mammary glands and an increase in the sensitivity of the nipples. Such a disease is extremely rarely diagnosed in adulthood, mainly gynecomastia develops in adolescence during puberty.
• Similar symptoms can also be caused by hormonal drugs based on female hormones, which a person had to take to relieve another pathology.
• Excess weight and obesity can lead to similar symptoms, causing false gynecomastia – the accumulation of excess fat cells in the area of interest to us.
• Diseases of the testicles, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland.
• Endocrine pathologies.
• Neoplasms, both benign and malignant.

In order to accurately determine the cause, you should seek help from a specialist. It is very important to take this step as quickly as possible.

Beautiful female breasts are the pride of any woman. They attract the glances of men, they are the ones who have fed all of humanity. But the attitude changes when this attribute of femininity begins to cause discomfort. Pain, burning, itching - where can you escape from this? But in order not to harm yourself, it would not be superfluous for any person to know why nipples hurt, in which case you should let the situation take its course, and when you should sound the alarm, immediately contacting a qualified specialist. In any case, you should not self-medicate!