Chest pain when ovulating
introduction
The cycle-dependent chest pain is called mastodynia in medical terminology.
The breast is considered the erogenous zone and is subject to many changes in a woman's life. These occur particularly often in connection with hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and finally menopause (menopause).
The monthly menstrual period in particular can cause discomfort for many women.
These complaints can also affect younger women and increase again from the age of 30. Often there is an improvement with the onset of menopause.
What post ovulation chest pain is normal?
Chest pain after ovulation is normal as long as it is a pain caused by the increased retention of water. In the second half of the cycle, i.e. after ovulation, the hormone progesterone dominates the female cycle. Progesterone causes small amounts of water to be stored in the body. Often you don't notice this. However, the increased volume can lead to feelings of tension in the chest. So the pain should be explained by the tension in the chest. In addition, the pain is only normal if it subsides with menstruation or can be explained by another specific cause.
If the chest pain cannot be explained with a known cause, a doctor should be examined, as a number of causes, mostly benign in nature, are possible. An example would be mastopathy, which is triggered by a dysregulation of female hormones, or a benign soft tissue tumor in the breast.
This topic could also be of interest to you: Can you feel ovulation?
What can severe ovulation pain indicate?
Severe chest pain during ovulation or even shortly before it can occur due to the normal hormone fluctuations of the female cycle. Every woman reacts differently to fluctuations in female sex hormones. It is possible that one woman shows hardly any symptoms during the course of the female cycle, while another woman suffers from severe pain and pronounced premenstrual syndrome.
Classically, there is a feeling of tension in the upper and outer area of the chest. Small lumps in the breast can also occur and the lymph nodes in the armpit can swell. All these symptoms seem very distinctive, but can still be rated as normal.
Only if other symptoms occur, such as infertility (infertility), secretion from the nipples or thyroid dysfunction, the cause must be investigated. Because then it may be that the hormone prolactin, for example, is no longer in the normal range and this triggers these symptoms.
Can chest pain also be a sign of pregnancy?
Chest pain can only be a sign of pregnancy if it occurs after ovulation, as fertilization cannot take place beforehand. Shortly after the egg cell has implanted in the uterus, remodeling work begins in the breast, which should prepare it for future breastfeeding. This process can cause the chest to swell and cause pain. However, chest pain alone should not be interpreted as a sure sign of pregnancy, as it can have other causes. A pregnancy test can provide security.
Duration of pain
Chest pain that occurs during ovulation usually lasts a maximum of 14 days. This is exactly the length of the second cycle section. During this time, the hormone progesterone dominates over the hormone estrogen. Progesterone can lead to water retention, which can also trigger chest pain. As soon as the progesterone drops again at the end of the second half of the cycle, the pain should also decrease, as the water retention is flushed out again. Such cyclical chest pain is more common in women over the age of 30. They can occur at periodic intervals from then until menopause is reached. Since the hormonal balance of women changes with the menopause, the cycle-dependent chest pain usually ceases with the onset of the menopause.
Chest pain that occurs depending on the cycle often disappears when the period ends or after a few days.
Many women experience symptoms such as pain and a feeling of tightness in their breasts just a few days before their period starts. Sometimes the pain goes away when the period starts or lasts for a few days. In some cases, pain may be permanent while taking the pill and will only subside if the pill is not taken during the seven-day break. In such a case, the person concerned should think about stopping the pill and possibly try another pill. You can find out more about this from your gynecologist.
Read more on this topic at: What happens if you stop taking the pill?
treatment
Chest pain can initially be treated very well with cooling compresses, pads or soothing baths. In particular, it relieves the feeling of tension and the pulling in the chest.
When treating with heat, it should be noted that an examination has ruled out that there is inflammation causing the pain. Heat is contraindicated in inflammation as it promotes infection and often makes symptoms worse. A gynecological examination is required here in order to then initiate the appropriate therapy.
It may be necessary to take anti-inflammatory drugs such as antibiotics if, for example, there is inflammation of the breast tissue.
Read more on the topic: Inflammation of the chest
Chest pain associated with taking the pill may be resolved by changing the pill.
causes
Cycle-dependent chest pain occurs in many women and is a perfectly normal sign of the hormonal changes the body is going through during this time.
The chest pain or pulling and tension in the breast area can announce itself a few days before the start of menstruation. They are then called pre-mentrual syndrome (PMS).
According to experts, there is a connection between chest pain and hormonal fluctuations. In particular, an imbalance or imbalance between progesterone and estrogen is said to trigger the symptoms. But the prolactin, which is released from the lactotropic (milk-forming) cells of the anterior pituitary gland, may also cause the symptoms. Prolactin ensures the growth of the mammary gland and prepares the mammary gland for breastfeeding. According to this, many women can experience increased chest pain during pregnancy, especially if an overproduction of prolactin (Hyperprolactinemia) is present.
Read more on the topic:
- Breast pain in pregnancy
- Tension in the chest when ovulating
Unilateral chest pain
Unilateral chest pain can occur while taking the pill, just before menstruation, and around ovulation. They can have various causes and are usually not dangerous.
Just before ovulation and menstruation, the hormonal position of a woman's body changes.This can cause chest pain by causing the breasts to swell. Some women have pain on both sides, but the discomfort can only be on one side. At the beginning of menstruation this pain can be very intense and uncomfortable. Cooling pads, well-fitting bras and pain-relieving ointments can provide relief. In most cases, this pain subsides after a few days.
One-sided chest pain can also be caused by an inflamed mammary gland. Inflammation of the breast tissue can also be related to the hormonal changes during ovulation. Some women then experience pain, feel generally limp and are very sensitive to pressure on the affected breast. The affected women may notice a small, nodular change in their breasts when they feel themselves. An inflammation should always be assessed by the doctor, as it can quickly develop into an abscess.
In general, one-sided chest pain should always be clarified by a gynecologist. The breast can be shown very clearly in ultrasound and mammography and the tissue can be viewed for changes.
Often there are hormone-related causes, most of which can only be treated by stopping the pill or changing the pill. Last but not least, it can also be a lump in the breast that is causing the pain. Then the mammary gland tissue must be examined more closely for benignity or malignancy of the changed cells.
Chest pain despite taking the pill
Some women report chest pain while taking the pill. You have more pain to a permanent feeling of tension. The problems occur more frequently in the second half of the cycle, since the hormonal metabolism there is in a state similar to that after ovulation. The pill did not ovulate, but the hormones increase slightly, which can trigger the symptoms.
Usually the pill helps to regulate the hormonal balance and can therefore help to avoid precisely these symptoms. Nevertheless, women can still experience these symptoms.
In some cases, despite the pill, the chest pain can also be an indication of an existing pregnancy.
Read more about this at: Signs of pregnancy
However, if the pain persists for a long time or if it recurs after taking the pill, the person affected should consult a gynecologist for advice.
The symptoms may improve when the patient tries a new pill. At the same time, it can be ruled out that there is a pregnancy despite taking the pill.
Chest pain during pregnancy
With the onset of pregnancy, the body goes through some changes due to hormones. This also prepares the female breast for the time after the birth, especially for breastfeeding. The hormones estrogen and progesterone promote breast growth. More fat cells and mammary glands are formed, which can then give off sufficient milk for breastfeeding. For many women, this breast growth is painful. The hormone prolactin from the pituitary gland is also involved in these changes and prepares the mammary glands for later breastfeeding. Most of the enlargement of the glands should take place in the first three months of pregnancy (the so-called 1st trimester). Accordingly, the pain occurs more frequently during this time.
The chest pain during pregnancy is therefore mainly due to the hormonal changes and not to the presence of ovulation, as this does not occur during pregnancy.
Read more on the topic: Breast Growth During Pregnancy
In addition to the symptoms, prolactin also causes the production of temporary milk (lat .: Colostrum). This can also be secreted more frequently in the course of pregnancy. In order to counteract the symptoms, pregnant women should take sufficient care of themselves. To avoid irritation to the breast, well-fitting maternity bras are suitable. They are comfortable to wear and adapted to the sensitivity of the pregnant woman's breasts. Cooling compresses and lukewarm baths with soothing oils can help against the feeling of tension caused by the swelling of the breasts.
Read more on the topic: Chest pain during pregnancy
Chest pain during your period
The chest pain can still occur during and after your period. Post-period pain is usually less common than with premenstrual syndrome. The causes of this persistent pain can be many. It should be noted that if the chest pain recurs during your period, it is unrelated to ovulation as it was approximately 14 days ago when your period started.
Persistent pain after menstruation can be an indication of an existing pregnancy.
Read more about this at: Signs of pregnancy
In this case it is advisable to take a pregnancy test. If this is negative and the pain persists, the pain should be clarified by a doctor.
The hormonal changes then persist and, in addition to chest pain, can also cause malaise, migraines and sleep disorders as well as circulatory disorders.
Older women have longer symptoms after their period when the menopause is approaching. Even then, the body goes through a change. In this process, the body and also the glandular tissue adapt to the new conditions.
Also read: Chest pain after ovulation
