Survey study, 1997
How common is breast pain before your period and does it affect daily life?
Very common. 69% of women get premenstrual breast discomfort and 11% have moderate-to-severe pain. It affects sexual activity in 48% of women.
What they did
1,171 women at a gynecology clinic answered a questionnaire about premenstrual breast pain, whether it affected their activities, and whether they had seen a doctor about it.
What they found
69% reported regular premenstrual breast discomfort and 36% had seen a healthcare provider. 11% had current moderate-to-severe pain. Pain interfered with sexual activity in 48% of women, physical activity in 37%, social activity in 12%, and work or school in 8%. Young women under 36 with breast pain were 4.7 times as likely as symptom-free women to have had a mammogram.
What it means for you
Cyclic breast pain is common and significantly impacts many women's lives but gets little medical attention. The study was only at one clinic type, so results might not apply everywhere.
69%
With premenstrual breast discomfort
11%
With moderate-to-severe pain
48%
Pain interferes with sexual activity
About the study
- Original title
- Prevalence and impact of cyclic mastalgia in a United States clinic-based sample
- Authors
- Ader DN, Browne MW
- Journal
- American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 1997
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 1,171
- What was tested
- None (questionnaire survey)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(97)70450-2
Topics
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