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.
Ranging from mildly irritating to terribly uncomfortable, sore nipples are a common problem for many women. As long as the skin isn't visibly damaged and there is no unusual discharge, sore nipples are not much cause for concern. In worst case scenarios, sore nipples might keep you from your normal daily activities.
Friction is the most common reason for the nipples to be sore. Friction can occur if the nipples rub against a shirt or poorly-fitting bra, during sports activities, such as running, surfing, or basketball. Friction on the nipple can often cause soreness and a stinging pain. The skin may also become dry or chapped.
Nipple pain can be caused by hormonal changes from pregnancy or menstruation, trauma to the nipple from breastfeeding or sexual activity, allergy, infection, and more. While the cause of nipple pain usually isn't serious, in rare cases, it can be a sign of breast cancer.
Both estrogen and progesterone levels increase just before a woman's period starts. Both these hormones draw fluid into the breasts making them feel swollen and tender. Estrogen causes breast ducts to enlarge and progesterone causes milk glands to swell. Nipple pain during this time is also common.
Sore nipples are common with breastfeeding. But breastfeeding should not hurt. And the skin on your nipple should not break down any more than the skin anywhere on your body should break down. Mild soreness or sensitivity is fairly common for the first week or 2 of breastfeeding.
Stress and anxiety can also be linked to breast pain. Non-cyclical breast pain may be continuous or it may come and go. It can affect women before and after the menopause. The pain can be in one or both breasts and can affect the whole breast or a specific area.
First Trimester: Weeks 1 to 12
In the first handful of weeks post-conception, you may experience more tender, tingly breasts and nipples. You might notice your breasts are becoming fuller and your nipples are sticking out more, too.
2. You have tender, swollen breasts. In the early weeks of pregnancy, your breasts may feel fuller, sore and even tingly (weird, right?!). You may also notice that your bra doesn't quite fit like it used to.
Your levels of progesterone peak during the week before your period. Progesterone causes your milk glands to swell, resulting in breast pain and tenderness. Experiencing premenstrual breast pain a week before your period is completely normal and nothing to worry about.
Nipple tenderness in women of all ages can be caused by dry skin, injury, or friction. Breast tenderness can also be an early symptom of pregnancy. If your period is late and you've had unprotected sex, you should take a pregnancy test.
The milk ducts are growing and being stretched as they fill with milk early in pregnancy. All this causes your breasts to be more sensitive, particularly your nipples. This may cause you discomfort.
According to Michelle Wong, MD, an ob-gyn with UTHealth Houston, breast pain in early pregnancy isn't localized. It occurs in the glandular breast tissue, so it may feel similar to the soreness you can experience before getting your period. That means you'll probably feel an overall sensation of breast tenderness.
Breast tenderness is often one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , breasts may become sore, heavy, or tingly as early as 1–2 weeks after conception. The nipples may also feel sensitive or even painful to touch.
Tingly, sore, full-feeling, tender, even painful-to-the-touch breasts and nipples are often one of the first symptoms of pregnancy(though, of course, they can also come along for the PMS ride, too).
Nipples are sensitive, and they can hurt for lots of reasons. Tight clothes, rashes, and infections can all irritate the tender skin. For women, sore nipples are common during periods, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Any pain in your nipples can make you wonder if you have breast cancer.
Getting to the Root of the 'Iron Bra'
This type of nerve pain is part of what Prologo referred to as “iron-bra syndrome,” which is the discomfort that can come from the mastectomy-related strain and damage that happens to nerves that run under the ribs.
While breast pain is definitely a common symptom of early pregnancy, many women experience breast pain before starting their period, too. During early pregnancy (one to two weeks after conception) your breasts might feel sore, tender to the touch, and heavy.
Normal soreness or pain usually occurs for about a minute when the baby first latches on to the breast. Pain that is severe or continuous or that occurs again after it seemed to resolve is a sign of a problem and should be corrected. Other problems may include cracked, bleeding, or bruised nipples.
Hormonal fluctuations around periods: Hormonal fluctuations are the number one cause of sore nipples in women. Increasing estrogen levels cause the breast tissue to swell a few days before the menstrual period. The pain usually stops once the woman gets her period.
Sore nipples are a common symptom throughout the menstrual cycle. Sometimes they indicate a person is pregnant or about to ovulate. They may also signal a health problem or mean nothing at all.