sore and can cause pain if they are located on your breasts.
Muscle strain
The pectoralis major and minor are the two main muscles that make up the chest. Performing weighted chest exercises or putting excess pressure on the muscles can cause a strain.
Breast fat necrosis
Fat necrosis occurs when fat tissue becomes damaged. This may be a result of surgery on the breasts or a biopsy. Breast fat necrosis can produce a lump but is not cancerous.
Jogger’s nipple
While running your nipple can start to chafe against your top or vest. The chafing can cause the nipple to become sore.
Fibroadenoma
Another non-cancerous lump that can form on the breasts is a fibroadenoma, although they are rare in men. The cause of a fibroadenoma is unclear, however, most do not increase the risk of breast cancer.
Other possible causes
- liver disease
- heart or lung disease
- heartburn
- medications, such as antidepressants
- back, neck, or shoulder injuries
Breast pain in women
Women can experience breast pain for a number of reasons including:
Cynical breast pain
Cyclical breast pain is caused by changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. During this time many women may experience discomfort and lumpiness in both breasts a week before their periods. They may also experience pain that varies from mild to severe and is tender and sore to touch. The pain often goes away once a period starts.
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Non-cynical breast pain
What causes non-cynical breast pain remains unclear, but it is often linked to:
- a benign (not cancer) breast condition
- previous surgery to the breast
- injury to the breast
- having larger breasts
- a side effect from a drug treatment, such as certain antidepressant drugs and some herbal remedies such as ginseng
- Stress and anxiety
The pain can occur in one or both breasts and can affect the whole breast or a specific area with a burning, prickling or stabbing pain, or a feeling of tightness. This pain may come and go and can affect women before and after menopause.
Breast pain in transgender people
Hormone therapy may cause breast pain for transgender women. Transgender men may have pain in