--- title: When during the menstrual cycle do breast tenderness and swelling occur? description: Breast tenderness and swelling happen mainly in the late luteal phase (after ovulation). They were higher in cycles with normal ovulation compared to cycles w url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/breast-tenderness-and-swelling-experiences-related-to-menstrual-cycles-and-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - When during the menstrual cycle do breast tenderness and swelling occur? Cohort study, 2025 # When during the menstrual cycle do breast tenderness and swelling occur? Breast tenderness and swelling happen mainly in the late luteal phase (after ovulation). They were higher in cycles with normal ovulation compared to cycles with ovulation problems. Moderate study design 53 healthy, non-smoking women ages 20-41 with normal menstrual cycles ## What they did Fifty-three healthy women ages 20-41 recorded their daily breast experiences over a full year, averaging 13.6 cycles each. Researchers tracked whether they ovulated normally using temperature analysis. ## What they found Median breast tenderness was 1.4 on a 0-4 scale across 720 cycles. In normally ovulatory cycles, breast tenderness and swelling were higher than in cycles with ovulation problems (tenderness 6.0 vs 3.0). However, when comparing each woman's own normal cycles to her disrupted cycles, there was no difference. ## What it means for you Breast tenderness in healthy women is tied to ovulation and happens during the late part of the cycle. However, the pattern varies - it shows up across the group but not consistently within individual women. This study was in healthy women without PMS, so results might differ for women with more severe symptoms. 53 Women 720 Cycles analyzed 6.0 vs 3.0 Tenderness score (normal vs disrupted) ## About the study Original title Breast tenderness and swelling experiences related to menstrual cycles and ovulation in healthy premenopausal women: Secondary analysis of the 1-year "Prospective Ovulation Cohort" Authors Wood M, Shirin S, Goshtasebi A et al. Journal PloS one Year 2025 Study design Cohort study Participants 53 What was tested None - observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321205](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321205) Original abstract Breast tenderness and swelling are associated with premenstrual symptoms but are not well described in healthy women. In this 1-year prospective observational study, we examined daily breast tenderness and swelling to determine whether differences existed between normally ovulatory and ovulatory disturbed (short luteal phase and anovulatory) cycles in a cohort of community dwelling, non-smoking, healthy premenopausal women. Enrolment required two consecutive normal-length and normally ovulatory cycles by Quantitative Basal Temperature© analysis. Women (n = 53) ages 20-41 recorded their daily breast experiences in the Menstrual Cycle Diary© across an average of 13.6 cycles. In all 720 cycles, the median breast tenderness was 1.4 (on a 0-4 scale, range 0.0-3.0), in cycles with a mean length of 28.1 days (95% CI 27.5-28.8). Comparison of breast tenderness and breast size (changes from usual) parameters between all normally ovulatory cycles and all ovulatory disturbed cycles in the whole cohort showed significantly higher levels in normally ovulatory (luteal length ≥10 days) in both Breast Tenderness Score [intensity X duration in days; 6.0 (range 1.0-14.0) vs. 3.0 (0.0-11.0) (P=.005)] and breast size [4.0 (2.0-4.0) vs. 4.0 (0.0-4.0) (P=.034]). However, within-woman in the forty-seven women with both normally ovulatory and ovulatory disturbed cycles, breast tenderness (intensity, duration, and Breast Tenderness Score), did not differ between normally ovulatory cycles and cycles with ovulatory disturbances. This study also demonstrated that in all ovulatory cycles, the timing of breast tenderness increased in parallel with breast swelling; the maximum for both was in the late luteal phase. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2006 What herbs and dietary supplements have evidence for treating premenstrual syndrome? Survey study, 2013 Are menstrual symptoms common in middle-aged women and do they relate to hot flushes? Study, 2009 Does evening primrose oil help treat PMS? Survey study, 2007 Are diet and lifestyle factors associated with premenstrual symptoms? Randomised trial, 2001 Does lisuride maleate help premenstrual breast pain? 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