• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work & Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
      • Readers’ Choice Awards
        • Moving house? Get your Wi-Fi connection right!
        • earth hour festival earth hour Singapore WWF SingaporeSwitch Off for Earth Hour by WWF Singapore
        • Lydia Ko plays golf tournament in singaporeWatch a women’s golf battle for the Team Series title!
        • real estate in united states owning property in USOwning Real Estate in the United States
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Elke & man k9 empawer walkWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • St Patrick's Day 2023 - irish pubs and drinking spotsSt Patrick’s Day: Great bars to celebrate at
        • Lydia Ko plays golf tournament in singaporeWatch a women’s golf battle for the Team Series title!
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
        • Mental health support for toddlers to teens
        • Fun obstacle course in Singapore for kids and adultsHomeTeamNS challenges you to the ultimate obstacle course!
        • education system in Singapore Astor international schoolAstor: Small Singapore school with big impact
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Beautiful interior design by Arete CultureNeed decorators, home stylists or interior designers?
        • Affordable art in SingaporeBuying affordable art in Singapore – it is possible!
        • Where to buy a really good bed and mattress in Singapore
        • co living Singapore coliwoo5 reasons to choose co-living in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • property in sydneyBuying property in Sydney
        • international health insurance for singapore expatsHealth insurance for Singapore expats
        • Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • Chloe from E&A InteriorsBuilding a holiday villa in Sri Lanka from start to finish!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • local desserts in singapore - Rainbow ice cream breadMust-try local desserts in Singapore
        • St Patrick's Day 2023 - irish pubs and drinking spotsSt Patrick’s Day: Great bars to celebrate at
        • Best Restaurants in Singapore – Where to eat for foodies!
        • 3 Greek restaurants for your Mediterranean food fix!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • Niessing gold jewellery in SingaporeI discovered a 150-year-old jeweller in Singapore!
        • Boutique Fairs Singapore fairs in Singapore6 New brands at the Spring edition of Boutique Fairs Singapore!
        • hairdressers in singapore balayage and blonde highiightsBest salons for blonde highlights and balayage
        • ultherapy amaris bLook attractive with or without your face mask!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • Here’s why sleep is so important
        • core exercises in singapore7 Singapore Pilates studios for core exercises & more!
        • at-home personal training yoga in singaporeYoga classes in Singapore, and the benefits!
        • Here’s what inspires a top urologist in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close

Reasons why your breasts are sore

10th February 2020 by Amy Greenburg 2 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/breasts-hurt-sore-pain-tender/

If you’re experiencing breast pain, tenderness or soreness, don’t worry! It’s actually perfectly normal for your boobs to hurt sometimes. Here’s why it happens, and what you can do to help ease the discomfort.

That time of the month…

Getting your period is already a pain, so having to feel like you’ve been punched in the boobs is like being kicked while you’re already down!

“It’s perfectly normal to experience breast pain that fluctuates with the menstrual cycle,” says breast and general surgeon Dr Georgette Chan. She sees patients for everything from breast cancer screening (including mammograms and ultrasounds) to surgical treatment of breast cancer and post-surgery rehabilitation, to the management of  lumps, pain, nipple discharge and more.

A woman’s hormones change after she ovulates (around two weeks before her period); progesterone increases to prepare the body for pregnancy, so oestrogen levels are high. This hormonal activity can create sensations of soreness and pain in one’s breasts.

Sore, painful breasts

“The pain can start about a week before the onset of menses and can last until the second or third day of the menstrual period. Usually, both breasts will feel sore, although one side may be more uncomfortable. The discomfort could be like a dull ache or a sharp poking sensation.”

This pattern of breast pain is due to normal physiological changes or fibrocystic changes in the breasts, says Dr Chan. So, while it can be rough, breast pain is not something to worry about.

“Breast pain is rarely a sign of breast cancer. In fact, only about 10 percent of breast cancers present as breast pain,” she says. “If the pain persists after the end of your menstrual period or gets more intense, it would be wise to consult your doctor.”

Likewise, hormonal changes can sometimes cause lumps, too. So, don’t panic, as the majority of painful breast lumps are benign.

“If you find one while you’re close to your menstrual period, it could be due to temporary hormonal changes. So, I suggest waiting until after your period to see if it’s still there,” says Dr Chan. “If it is, go to see your GP or breast specialist.”

Self-help tips for relieving breast pain

There are some simple measures that may help hormonal breast pain, explains Dr Chan. These include:

  • avoiding caffeine, as it can increase fluid retention in the breasts, making them feel fuller and more sore;
  • wearing a supportive bra that’s not constrictive; and
  • taking Panadol or Ibuprofen for more severe cases.

Also important…

Regardless of whether or not you experience breast pain, it’s a great idea to do monthly self breast-checks.

“Young women should ideally start doing this in their twenties to become familiar with how their own breasts feel. Seven to ten days after the start of your menses is the best time to do it, because that’s when the breasts are least sensitive.”

Also important are routine medical breast screenings, which may include mammogram or ultrasound, or both. Dr Chan recommends starting yearly screenings from the age of 40, or earlier if there’s a family history of breast cancer.

Dr Georgette Chan
#11-09 Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, 
3 Mount Elizabeth
6836 5167 | georgettechan.com.sg

 

Like this? See our Health & Fitness section:

30 ways to be healthier and fitter
Health news: What’s up!

 

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

Categories: Health & Fitness Medical Tags: Breast Breast Cancer Breast surgeon Dr Georgette Chan Mammogram pain sore tenderness

Amy Greenburg

Originally from Los Angeles, Amy is passionate about Netflix, sipping rosé at rooftop bars, travelling, and all things health and wellness-related. She enjoys learning about different health topics through her writing, particularly critical health conditions, food allergies, alternative therapies, and pregnancy and postpartum-related issues

You May Also Like

Here’s what inspires a top urologist in Singapore

breast reduction or change of breast size

Not happy with your breast size?

Here’s why sleep is so important

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.