Breast Pain
Woman with breast pain
Many women experience pain and tenderness in their breasts, sometimes accompanied by swelling. This can also be referred to as mastalgia and can be a common symptom in women during perimenopause.
Fluctuating estrogen levels can be a factor and women often find that breast pain is one of the symptoms that first starts to disappear as they move into menopause (as a result of decreasing estrogen levels). Women taking estrogen replacement therapies may experience tender or swollen breasts as a side effect. Fortunately, some women can easily decrease the dose of their hormone therapy to help with the discomfort. It is always a good idea to consult your doctor before making any changes in prescribed medications. There are a few estrogen balancing supplements or other supplements available to aid in breast pain relief.
Estrogen Balancing Supplements
Different types of green vegetables
Supplements that aim to balance the body’s estrogen levels and support better estrogen metabolism can provide relief from breast pain.
Certain phytonutrients from cruciferous vegetables (green leafy vegetables like cabbage or bok choy as well as broccoli or cauliflower) encourage healthy estrogen metabolism and the production of gentler estrogen metabolites [1]*. They can also help the body to remove excess estrogen, which can be highly beneficial for women who are experiencing hormone related breast pain.
Diindolymethane (DIM) is a very active cruciferous indole and is naturally found in many cruciferous vegetables. It is produced in the body after being converted from Indole-3 Carbinol (I3C). DIM is often included in supplements to balance hormones. Supplements provide superior amounts of DIM and I3C to the amounts found in cruciferous vegetables.
Vitamin E
Foods with vitamin E
Vitamin E is a very commonly used supplement for breast tenderness and pain. Although the exact mechanism for which it provides relief is unclear, it is thought to be due to its antioxidant properties. Studies have indicated that vitamin E supplementation can improve breast pain for perimenopausal women, particularly if it fluctuates during the menstrual cycle [2]*.
Disclaimers:
You should always consult your health care provider before starting any herbal supplements or products. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
