Survey study, 2001
What behaviors and factors are linked to breast pain during the menstrual cycle?
Smoking, caffeine consumption, and stress are each associated with more breast pain. Birth control pills are associated with less breast pain and PMS.
What they did
Cross-sectional study using random phone interviews throughout Virginia. Researchers contacted 874 women aged 18-44 and asked about breast pain, smoking, caffeine use, stress, and contraceptive use.
What they found
68% of women experienced cyclical breast symptoms, and 22% experienced moderate to extreme discomfort. Smoking, caffeine, and stress were associated with more pain (odds ratios of 1.52, 1.53, and 1.7 respectively). Hormonal contraceptive use was linked to significantly less mastalgia and PMS. Young women under 35 with breast pain were more likely to have had mammograms (20.2%) than those without breast pain (9.9%). Most women with breast pain (77.5%) did not have PMS.
What it means for you
Lifestyle factors like smoking and caffeine may make cyclical breast pain worse. The study is from one US state and cannot prove these factors cause the pain. It shows that breast pain and PMS are usually separate problems.
22%
experienced moderate to extreme breast pain
68%
experienced some cyclical breast symptoms
1.52
odds ratio for smoking and breast pain
About the study
- Original title
- Cyclical mastalgia: prevalence and associated health and behavioral factors
- Authors
- Ader DN, South-Paul J, Adera T et al.
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2001
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 874
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674820109049956
Topics
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