What causes breast tenderness after menopause?
Here at Alloy, breast tenderness after menopause can come from a few different things. A common non-hormonal cause is the breast tissue itself changing with age and menopause. As glandular tissue gets replaced by fat, a normal process called involution, some women get ongoing, non-cyclical soreness or aching. Pain can also actually come from outside the breast, like chest wall inflammation or a strained pectoral muscle, and feel like breast pain.
Medications can play a role too. In our menopause content, breast tenderness is noted as a possible side effect of menopausal hormone therapy, certain antidepressants like SSRIs, SERMs, aromatase inhibitors, and some blood pressure medicines. If you’re using MHT, sometimes adjusting the dose or formulation helps. This short video chapter on breast tenderness and hormone therapy adjustments explains that part well.
Most breast pain is benign, but it should be checked promptly if it’s in one specific spot and doesn’t change, if there’s a new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, skin dimpling or redness, nipple discharge, or pain that keeps going despite simple relief measures. For a fuller overview, visit our article on why breasts can hurt during perimenopause and menopause.
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