Why does cyclical breast pain occur?
Breast tissue is influenced by the hormones which control your periods. From the time of ovulation, (generally halfway between periods,) the hormones (particularly progesterone) build up and then fall rapidly once the period starts. During this build up some women find the breast tissue is more sensitive even though their hormone levels are normal. This is the reason why in the few days leading up to the period many women feel discomfort in their breasts. Sometimes this can be severe enough to interfere with personal relationships, such as hugging partners and children. Until recently, the cause of breast pain was something of a mystery. Most women with breast pain have normal levels of circulating hormones. It is now accepted that the problem is abnormal sensitivity of breast tissue to normal hormone levels. This increase in sensitivity is linked with the pattern of fatty acids in the blood stream. Fatty acids are substances present in all fats and oils which can affect the way the bo
