Breast Health

A woman’s breasts will undergo many normal changes during her lifetime. A woman should be aware of these healthy changes so she will be able to distinguish those from any abnormal changes that may occur. Many usual changes happen due to a change in hormone levels and are a normal part of getting older.

Younger women may have more glandular (more dense, less fatty) breast tissue than older women who have stopped having their period (menopause). This more dense kind of tissue is where breast changes usually occur.

Before or during your period, you might have lumpiness, tenderness and pain in your breasts. The lumpiness and pain usually go away by the end of your period.

During pregnancy, your breasts will go through a number of changes due to a change in your hormones. You may experience some of the following effects more than others.

Your breasts may feel lumpy as the milk producing glands become larger. You may experience growth and enlargement; tenderness and hypersensitivity; darkening of nipples and areolas (the skin around your nipples) and nipples sticking out more.

As you approach menopause, your periods may become less frequent. Changing hormone levels during this time can make your breasts feel tender, even when you are not having your period; feel denser and feel more lumpy than they did before.

When you stop having periods (menopause), your hormone levels drop, and your breast tissue becomes less dense and more fatty. You may stop having the lumps and pain you used to have. Because your breast tissue is less dense, mammograms can be easier to read. This will allow doctors to find any changes or abnormalities more readily.

It is important to be aware of your breast health throughout your lifetime. Self breast exams and preventive screenings are proactive ways to be informed and help you gain a baseline of knowledge to follow throughout your life.