Breast changes

[marinoushka]

Hi there. I'm wondering if anyone can give some insight into what's normal for breast changes in your 30s.

I switched from Kyleena IUD to the birth control pill in July, and a week or so later my left breast became mildly tender. I chalked it up to the pill messing with my hormones. 3 months later, the same breast started to feel firmer, slightly heavier, with an area of what feels like thickened, lumpy tissue above the nipple. Nothing that feels like a clear, defined lump.

These changes occurred quickly. I first noticed the extra firmness about 2 weeks ago. Now, the breast feels quite a bit denser than the other and looks visibly larger (though slight) to the eye.

I had it examined by a nurse practitioner who wasn't concerned by what she felt. I had an ultrasound this morning and the radiologist saw nothing concerning. I'm going to see my GP in two days to talk about it.

But I can't shake the worry that something isn't right. Why would one breast change so much? The other breast hasn't changed at all. I keep convincing myself that the NP and the radiologist just weren't feeling or imaging exactly the right area.

Does this sound normal? Has anyone else experienced changes like this? I'm very upset and worried about this.

[Krn210]

I did have a birth control pill change my breast tissue and it was just in one breast. I switched birth control and didn’t have any further issues.

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

🤔 It’s possible that you could have fibrocystic breasts.

Fibrocystic breasts are composed of tissue that feels lumpy or rope-like in texture. Doctors call this nodular or glandular breast tissue.

It's not at all uncommon to have fibrocystic breasts. More than half of women experience fibrocystic breast changes at some point in their lives. In fact, medical professionals have stopped using the term "fibrocystic breast disease" and now simply refer to "fibrocystic breasts" or "fibrocystic breast changes" because having fibrocystic breasts isn't really a disease. Breast changes categorized as fibrocystic are considered normal.

Although many women with fibrocystic breasts don't have symptoms, some women experience breast pain, tenderness and lumpiness — especially in the upper, outer area of the breasts. Breast symptoms tend to be most bothersome just before menstruation. Simple self-care measures can usually relieve discomfort associated with fibrocystic breasts.

Fibrocystic breasts care at Mayo Clinic

Signs and symptoms of fibrocystic breasts may include:

Breast lumps or areas of thickening that tend to blend into the surrounding breast tissue

Generalized breast pain or tenderness

Breast lumps that fluctuate in size with the menstrual cycle

Green or dark brown nonbloody nipple discharge that tends to leak without pressure or squeezing

Breast changes that are similar in both breasts

Monthly increase in breast pain or lumpiness from midcycle (ovulation) to just before your period

Fibrocystic breast changes occur most often in women in their 20s to 50s. Rarely do postmenopausal women experience fibrocystic breast changes, unless they're on hormone therapy.

When to see a doctor

Most fibrocystic breast changes are normal. However, make an appointment with your doctor if:

You find a new breast lump or area of prominent thickening

You have specific areas of continuous or worsening breast pain

Breast changes persist after your period

Your doctor evaluated a breast lump but now it seems to be bigger or otherwise changed

Causes

The exact cause of fibrocystic breast changes isn't known, but experts suspect that reproductive hormones — especially estrogen — play a role.

Fluctuating hormone levels during your menstrual cycle can cause breast discomfort and areas of lumpy breast tissue that feel tender, sore and swollen. Fibrocystic breast changes tend to be more bothersome before your menstrual period, and the pain and lumpiness tends to clear up or lessen once your menstrual period begins.

When examined under a microscope, fibrocystic breast tissue includes distinct components such as:

Fluid-filled round or oval sacs (cysts)

A prominence of scar-like fibrous tissue (fibrosis)

Overgrowth of cells (hyperplasia) lining the milk ducts or milk-producing tissues (lobules) of the breast

Enlarged breast lobules (adenosis)

Risk factors

Having fibrocystic breasts doesn't increase your risk of breast cancer.