If you notice changes to your breasts leading up to and around menopause, you should not worry. It is typical for your breasts to lose their shape and become smaller or larger or feel lumpier than usual. You may even notice that your nipples change their shape.
In addition, low estrogen may cause changes in your nipples and areolae. During menopause, you may notice that your nipples start to turn slightly inward. Your nipples and areolae may also start to shrink. However, some studies suggest that hormone replacement treatment may help prevent these changes.
Changes also occur in the nipple. The area surrounding the nipple (the areola) becomes smaller and may nearly disappear. The nipple may also turn in slightly. Lumps are common around the time of menopause.
What causes breast soreness? Changing levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are the usual cause of breast pain during perimenopause and menopause. As you enter perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall in unpredictable patterns before starting to taper off.
After menopause, your nipple area may become smaller and paler. This is perfectly normal and one of the many common changes that can affect your breasts over time. Changing hormone levels. Your hormones can have a lot to do with the darkening or lightening of your nipples and areolae.
The main cause of darkened areolas and dark nipples are hormones. Progesterone and estrogen cause the body to produce more pigment. This is why many women see splotches and patches of darkened skin all over their bodies.
During breast development, trans women and others taking estrogen also notice changing nipple sensations. The nipple grows larger and more sensitive, and breast ducts appear on the nipple.
Can hormone imbalances cause sore nipples? Cyclic breast pain is caused by hormonal changes. It is primarily associated with the menstrual cycle, but it can be caused by other hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause.
Cyclical pain may worsen during perimenopause, when hormones can surge and drop erratically, and linger into menopause, especially in women who use oral contraceptives or hormone therapy. Noncyclical breast pain. This type of breast pain isn't obviously linked to menstruation and doesn't follow any predictable pattern.
Nipples color can temporarily change due to things like normal hormonal shifts, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. The same goes for nipple size and texture. Permanent changes of the nipple can also occur and are often seen with breast surgeries, weight loss, and aging.
Causes of Inverted Nipples. Beginning in your mid-30s, your breasts start to change, and they keep changing as you get older. Your milk ducts shorten as you get closer to menopause. Sometimes this causes your nipple to move into your body.
Most women will notice differences in their nipples during their lifetime due to aging, fluctuations in hormone levels, and even some medications. For both men and women, most nipple changes don't indicate anything serious, but sometimes they mean it's time to talk to your doctor.
Normal hormonal fluctuations can trigger nipple soreness. If the pain is not severe or only lasts a few days, the discomfort is likely due to hormonal changes. However, if the pain persists, some potential causes may include : an injury to the nipple.
This hormone-related sensitivity, which can include dryness, inflammation, and small bumps or pimples, is also fairly common just before, during, and after menopause. Your nipples might also itch due to changes in your breast size, which can happen as a natural part of your menstrual cycle.
Your nipple is filled with Montgomery's glands, small oil glands that keep it supple; and these glands can become blocked, and develop into what's basically a pimple. Aside from an oil gland becoming blocked, you could also have an infection in a milk duct, which would be somewhat more serious.
In most cases, sore nipples are caused by hormonal changes from pregnancy or menstruation, allergies or friction from clothing. In rare cases, it can be a sign of a serious disease like breast cancer. Your healthcare provider should evaluate any pain that's accompanied by discharge or lumps as soon as possible.
This is due to a rise in estrogen and progesterone right before your period. These hormones cause your breasts to swell and can lead to tenderness. “It's normal to have breast tenderness that comes and goes around the time of your period,” says Wright. “It's nothing to worry about.”
As you get older, it's natural for your breasts to change shape and size and become less firm. You might also find that you get sore nipples or breast pain, due to the hormonal changes that happen during the menopause (when you stop having periods).
During your late 40s, you'll start to notice some changes as you approach menopause—the period known as perimenopause. Your periods will be less frequent, and as the levels of estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin begin to fluctuate, your breasts may feel tender and more lumpy.
It can hereby be concluded that main breast growth takes place in the first six months of HRT. For most trans women, the size of the breast, nipple and areola will increase somewhat.
Rising levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause your areolae and nipples to grow, Dr. Shirazian says, adding, "That continues throughout the pregnancy."
It's common for nipples to become smaller, and the area around them, called the areola, almost vanishes. Lumps. Older breasts may be more prone to lumps or bumps.
Why do areolas change color? This is common during puberty and pregnancy when levels of estrogen are changing. Additionally, during pregnancy, the blood vessels in the areolas become more prominent, darkening the color of the areolas.