5 Reasons Your Boobs Hurt
There are few things more annoying in this world than tender breasts. When your girls are sore, [...]
One word: PMS
Add it to the list of annoying symptoms brought on by PMS. The change in hormones right before your period can cause swelling or tenderness the day before and the first day of your period. It's called cyclic pain, and the shift in estrogen levels is completely normal.
The good news is that it should stop when your period ends. If it gets to a point that you can't stand it, see your doctor about going on birth control. Because birth control prevents ovulation, it keeps your estrogen levels stable and therefore you're less likely to experience pain in your breasts or typical PMS cramping.
prevnextYou're drinking too much caffeine
While coffee and tea aren't proven to directly cause breast pain, some studies show that taking in less caffeine can help alleviate it — especially in women with fibrocystic tissue.
If you drink three or more cups of coffee per day, it might be time to cut back on the lattes. (You could always make like Kourtney Kardashian and drink green tea instead. It has less caffeine than coffee but she swears by its myraid of benefits like a flat tummy and less cellulite.)
prevnextYour bras don't fit right
It's true that your breasts can change in size, even if you're a grown woman. Your bra could be way too tight and suppressing your breasts with the underwire, or the opposite could be true: Your bras might not be offering enough support for your leading ladies. All that up-and-down movement all day long could lead to some serious tenderness.
Head into a department or lingerie store and get your bra size professionally fitted. Your new bra size might surprise you, and you'll be thanking us when you feel like a whole new woman!
prevnextYou're working out like a boss
If you notice breast pain after a workout, it could be due to the intense moves you just broke out. Anything like doing a bunch of tuck jumps or diving into a new HIIT session can cause soreness in the pectoral muscles, the muscles beneath your breasts. In that case, your breasts wouldn't be sore, but your muscles instead. Make sure you're getting protein and carbs after your workout to repair muscle and restore your energy!
If you're pretty sure it's not your pecs that are bugging you, make sure your sports bra is fitting you right. Everything should be fitting perfectly inside your sports bra — not poking in, spilling over, etc. Get fitted to make sure your breasts aren't bouncing around more than they need to.
prevnextYour breasts are lumpy
Don't panic — lumpy breasts doesn't necessarily mean breast cancer. Women with fibrocystic breast tissue are well acquainted with breast soreness around their periods. The lumpy, uneven breast tissue is actually made up of fluid-filled cysts that are pretty sensitive to hormonal changes.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation says it's not necessarily linked to breast cancer, but it's important to give yourself breast exams and stay connected to the shape, texture and density of your girls.
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