Why are my nipples hard and painful?

Women should pay attention to their breast health. If unexplained nipple pain occurs, the cause of the pain should be dealt with in a timely manner. So, what is the cause of hard and painful nipples? Women’s breast pain can be physiological or symptomatic. However, if a woman experiences breast swelling and nipple pain for a long time, she may be suffering from breast disease. The following editor will give you a detailed introduction.

What causes nipple pain?

Generally speaking, there are several possible causes of nipple pain:

1. Breast pain during puberty: Girls first experience breast pain between the ages of 9 and 13. At this time, girls' breasts begin to grow and develop, and at first the nipples become protruding and there is a slight feeling of swelling and pain. After the first menstruation, it will disappear on its own as the breasts grow and develop during puberty.

2. Breast pain in the early stages of menstruation: Many women experience breast swelling, hardening, and tenderness during their first menstruation. In severe cases, the breasts may swell and become uncomfortable with just a slight vibration or impact, and the original granules or lumps may become more noticeable. It is caused by the increase in estrogen levels in the body before menstruation, breast hyperplasia, and edema of the breast tissue. After the menstrual period, the shift subsides.

3. Breast pain during pregnancy: Some women experience breast pain around 40 days of pregnancy due to changes in estrogen levels in the body, which causes breast hyperplasia and breast enlargement. In severe cases, the pain may last throughout the pregnancy and does not require treatment.

4. Breast pain after giving birth: Breast swelling, lumps, and pain may often occur 3 to 7 days after giving birth. This is mainly caused by mammary lymph node retention and interstitial edema and obstruction of mammary gland duct. Prevention methods: Pregnant women should breastfeed as soon as possible; if there are lumps, you can apply hot compresses and massage the lumps before breastfeeding; you can also use an automatic breast pump to absorb milk and promote smooth mammary tubes.

5. Breast pain after abortion: After abortion, some women experience breast pain and lumps. This is because pregnancy is suddenly interrupted; the body's estrogen levels drop sharply, causing the newly developed mammary glands to suddenly stop growing, resulting in breast lumps and breast pain.

6. Breast pain during intercourse: This is related to the physiological changes in the breasts during sexual intercourse. For those with low sexual desire or disharmonious marital life, the hematoma and swelling in the breasts will not easily disappear or will not disappear completely due to the inability to meet their sexual needs. Persistent hematoma will cause breast pain. 7. Breast cancer: It is more common in women aged 20 to 40 years old, with a slow history of disease. In the early stages, there are one or more lumps in the breast, with no pain or dull pain, unclear boundaries with surrounding tissues, frequent skin adhesions, and swollen axillary lymph nodes in the same direction.