Chest pain after ovulation

introduction

After ovulation, the second half of a woman's cycle begins. It is associated with hormonal changes that also affect the breast. In the two weeks that pass between ovulation and menstruation, there is increasing water retention in the chest. The resulting feeling of tension is one of the triggers for the perceived chest pain. The symptoms tend to increase with age, but then in many cases subside after menopause, as hormonal changes occur again.

causes

The cause is mainly to be found in the normal regulatory cycle of the female cycle. In the first half of the cycle, the hormone estrogen dominates. Ovulation occurs through a complex control loop, after which the second half of the cycle begins. In this phase, the hormone progesterone dominates instead of estrogen. Progesterone causes water to be stored in the breast tissue. The sudden increase in volume triggers a feeling of tension, which can be perceived as uncomfortable and painful. After 14 days, the progesterone phase ends with menstruation, which signals the start of a new cycle. The progesterone drops again and the water retention in the chest also recedes.

Another hormone that plays a role especially in women is prolactin. It is released from the pituitary gland and is responsible for preparing the breast for milk production in the event of fertilization. Women who are more sensitive to prolactin perceive the changes that prolactin triggers in the mammary glands with a feeling of tension. If prolactin is the cause of the chest pain after ovulation, the diagnostic work-up can differentiate whether the hormone is in the normal range or is elevated.

Also read: Chest pain when ovulating

Causes of Unilateral Chest Pain

Unilateral chest pain is typically not cycle-dependent, i.e. it cannot be influenced by hormonal changes. Causes can be an injury or bruise to the chest or the chest. After medical interventions such as tissue removal, pain can still occur a few days later. Other diseases of the mammary gland, such as widening of the milk ducts or inflammation of the mammary gland (mastitis), can be a cause of unilateral chest pain.

You might also be interested in this topic: Expansion of the milk ducts due to benign breast tumors

Post-Ovulation Chest Pain- A Bad Sign Of Pregnancy?

In the female cycle, pregnancy can only occur for a limited period after ovulation. Thus, if the egg cell is successfully fertilized, chest pain after ovulation is not a bad sign of pregnancy, but rather a sign of pregnancy or a normal symptom throughout pregnancy. Even during pregnancy, you can observe remodeling processes in the breast, which are supposed to prepare the breast for breastfeeding. In addition, a so-called pre-milk is produced by the mammary gland. From this, after the first breastfeeding, full-fledged breast milk is formed. Increasing swelling or hardening of the breast with feelings of tension and moderate pain are therefore a very common phenomenon during pregnancy.

Can it be a sign of pregnancy?

A swelling of the breast with feelings of tension can also be a sign of pregnancy. During pregnancy, shortly after the egg cell is implanted, the breast prepares itself for future breastfeeding with a wide variety of restructuring processes. Chest or nipple pain is a normal symptom. In order to be certain whether a pregnancy is actually present, a pregnancy test should also be carried out, since breast pain alone is not a sure sign of pregnancy.

Also read: Signs of pregnancy

Concomitant symptoms

In addition to the main symptom of chest pain, up to 50% of all women experience other symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. This syndrome encompasses a large complex of symptoms, but not all of them have to occur and can also be of varying intensity. This can lead to increased fluid storage in hands, legs and feet, which manifests itself with a certain weight gain and can also trigger feelings of tension. In addition to chest pain, head and back pain are typical for the period shortly before menstruation. The headache can also manifest itself in the form of a migraine, which is also characterized by an increased sensitivity to external stimuli such as light or sound.

You might also be interested in this topic: Menstrual irregularities or Abdominal pain when ovulating

Nausea and diarrhea, as well as cravings and loss of appetite are described by the patients as further accompanying symptoms. The mood of the women is rather depressed and one can observe a listlessness. In rare cases, these changes in mood can even escalate into depressive episodes or anxiety.

Read more on the topic: These symptoms cause my ovulation

How does chest pain occur between ovulation and your period?

The chest pain is triggered by the influence of the hormone progesterone, which is increased in the second phase of the cycle, i.e. after ovulation up to the period. The task of progesterone is to prepare the body for possible implantation of the egg in the event of fertilization. It works on the uterus, but also on the breast. The effect is shown by the accumulation of fluid in the breast tissue. Furthermore, the blood vessels in the chest are more open during this phase, so that better blood flow occurs. These changes make the breast appear swollen and heavier. The increase in volume within the chest leads to feelings of tension and, in some cases, chest pain. In addition to tension pain, there is a second mechanism of action that can trigger chest pain. The breast becomes more sensitive to external stimuli in the second half of the cycle.So on touch or temperature changes. This increased sensitivity can also trigger pain.

More information on this topic: Breast swelling- what is the cause?

What kind of post-ovulation chest pain is normal?

Post ovulation chest pain is only normal if it can be explained by a specific cause. These include an injury to the chest or chest, a doctor's surgery on the chest, or pregnancy. If the chest pain cannot be deduced from 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.

therapy

Since chest pain after ovulation is typically a symptom of a healthy hormonal cycle, conservative therapy with lifestyle changes should be considered as a first therapeutic approach. Since the hormonal situation of the woman often does not show any abnormalities with these symptoms, this cycle should not be intervened immediately if not absolutely necessary.

It is initially recommended to integrate regular physical activity, such as walking, jogging or cycling, into everyday life. Regular physical activity can relieve chest pain as well as the accompanying symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome. At the same time, a change in diet towards reduced levels of sugar and fats can also bring about an improvement in the symptoms. In addition, so-called trigger substances such as caffeine, chocolate or alcohol should be avoided, as they contain certain substances that can negatively affect breast swelling. If the chest pain is severe after ovulation, a mild pain reliever can be used for a short period of time. The short-term aspect of this therapeutic approach is important, as long-term use of painkillers can lead to dependence or other physical complaints. If the symptoms are particularly localized in the chest and if there is also a desire for contraception, a hormonal contraceptive such as the contraceptive pill can be used after consulting your gynecologist. When prescribing such a preparation, however, it must be weighed in advance whether possible side effects and risks are inferior to the benefits.

diagnosis

The first step in making the diagnosis is a detailed discussion with a gynecologist, i.e. a gynecologist. The complaints and the cycle are queried. In addition, previous pregnancies and possible hormone therapies, such as the contraceptive pill and other hormonal contraceptive methods should be discussed. This is usually followed by a palpation of the breast. The palpation examination is intended to exclude other and possibly malignant remodeling processes in the breast. This works best in the first few days of your cycle, shortly after your period. If no abnormalities are found, further diagnostics should only be carried out if there is a medical justification for this. As possible further diagnostics, the hormones can be determined in the laboratory and various imaging procedures can be carried out.

Duration

Usually, the chest pain lasts a maximum of 14 days after ovulation. This is the period of the second half of the cycle in which the hormone progesterone is dominant. With the decrease in progesterone at the end of the cycle, the fluid retention also decreases and, as a rule, chest pain as well. The cyclical chest pain is more common in women around 30 years of age and can last until they reach menopause. With menopause, the hormonal balance of women changes again, so that women after menopause have a good chance that the symptoms will finally subside.