One of my friends, a 32 years old lady, has some pain in breast before menses. Should she undergo a mammography?

[HelpingHand]

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

Hi HelpingHand,

Your friend is having a very common symptom (Cyclical Mastalgia), which is likely to resolve on it's own, whether you treat or not. However, all she needs is a regular Breast Self Examination (BSE) and report anything abnormal.

A screening mammography is not advisable below 40 years of age, unless there is a lump and malignancy is suspected; ultrasound would be a better option. But let the decision be taken by a doctor, who can be consulted if symptoms do not settle.

The cause of the same may range from lack of sleep, to excess coffee, to irregular food habits to hormonal imbalance due to polycystic ovaries; it could really be anything. But once a lump is ruled out, this symptom is seemingly harmless, and will go away with time. Variety of treatments have been tried - Vit E, GLA, Pyridoxine, Methylcobalamin etc. etc.; you can ask Dr. Google

[HelpingHand]

Thanks a lot for your advice sumeet_shah. She'll be indeed relieved to hear this