Breast tenderness and swelling are common concerns associated with the menstrual cycle. A recent study conducted on healthy women who were consistently cycling every 21–36 days and had normal ovulation shed light on the relationship between these breast symptoms and ovulation.
The study, published in the journal PLOS One, involved 53 healthy women who were monitored over the course of a year. The researchers found that mild breast swelling and tenderness usually occurred before the onset of the menstrual flow in regular, ovulatory cycles.
Lead researcher Dr. Mary Wood, along with co-authors Dr. Azita Goshtasebi and Dr. Sonia Shirin, noted that the women recorded their breast symptoms daily in a Menstrual Cycle Diary. Ovulation was confirmed using the Quantitative Basal Temperature analysis method.
Surprisingly, the study revealed that women experienced more breast tenderness and swelling during normal ovulatory cycles compared to cycles with ovulatory disturbances or anovulation. This finding underscores the importance of understanding what constitutes a “normal” menstrual cycle and identifying women with recurrent ovulatory disturbances.
Dr. Jerilynn C. Prior, the principal investigator of the study, emphasized the significance of recognizing the potential health consequences associated with disrupted ovulation within regular cycles, such as bone loss and an increased risk of heart attacks.
The study included women aged 20-41, with data from an average of 13 cycles each. Results showed that the median breast tenderness score was 1.4 on a 0-4 scale, and the change in breast size was rated at 4 on a 1-5 scale.
Of the 694 cycles analyzed, 71% were determined to be normally ovulatory, 26% had short luteal phase lengths, and 3% were anovulatory. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of anovulatory cycles recorded, the researchers were unable to analyze this data directly.
In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between breast symptoms and ovulation in healthy women. Understanding these associations can help healthcare providers better assess and manage menstrual cycle-related concerns. For more information, the study titled “Breast tenderness and swelling experiences related to menstrual cycles and ovulation in healthy premenopausal women” can be found in the journal PLOS One.
