The Truth About Sore Breasts After Ovulation

There could be so many reasons to explain why youhave sore breasts after ovulation. They should not, however, be a cause for alarm as it is a normal experience for every woman. They normally last few days and if the feeling prolongs, it will be a high time to visit your doctor.

Sore breasts after ovulation is a very stressing symptom that without care and knowledge may be confused with signs of breast cancer. This is a common Pre-Menstrual Syndrome that is experienced by nearly every woman.

So What Are The Causes Of Breast Soreness After Ovulation?

1. Progesterone and Estrogen hormones levels

Hormones are always the usual suspects; they cause a lot of conditions in women. Generally, ovulation,conception, implantation and pregnancy are controlled by hormonal levels. Even breakthrough bleeding is always a result of the imbalance in the hormonal levels.

Two main hormones control these processes, estrogen, and progesterone. Estrogen is triggered before ovulation while progesterone is triggered after ovulation.

Estrogen is released from the ovaries, fat cells and the adrenal glands. It is responsible for regulating the menstrual circle alongsideprogesterone. Estrogenis responsible for preparing the uterine walls in case the egg gets fertilized.

During ovulation, this hormone is released in excess. As a result, it triggers anexcess increase in the size of the breast leading to breast soreness due to the stretching of breast ligaments. This effect, however, will subside with time especially when you experience your period. The level of this hormone will go down, and the soreness will reduce.

Progesterone, on the other hand, is also a vital hormone in controlling menstrual circle and pregnancy. Produced in the ovaries like the sister Estrogen, progesterone plays a key role in thegrowth of uterine lining which will be responsible for receiving the fertilized egg.

If by a good chance your egg is fertilized and getsimplanted, the progesterone production will take place in the placenta, not the ovaries. The combination of estrogen and progesterone levels will stop any other ovulation from occurring. As a result, your menstrual circle is cut till theend of pregnancy.

Besides controlling menstrual circle, progesterone in women also controls the growth of lactation glands or the milk-producing glands in the breasts. During ovulation, there is ahigh level of progesterone in the body. This will trigger theexcessive growth of theseglands. As a result, it will cause the stretching of breast muscles. This might lead totenderness and soreness.

During ovulation, the release of thehigh level of progesterone leads to water retention in the body.This is one of the pre-pregnancy preparations. When water is retained in the body, there will be anincrease of fluid in the breasts leading to anincrease of breast weight and ultimately stretching of breast ligaments. With stretched breast ligaments, breast soreness will kick in.

The intensity of breast soreness will depend on the levels of these two most important hormones. The more they are triggered into the blood system, the more you will experience breast soreness. Their levels, however, will drop in case your periods occur and will also stabilize when you get pregnant and finally your breasts will be as fine as frog hair.

2. Birth control pills

The main work of birth control pills is to stop ovulation. They contain synthetic estrogen and progestin. Progestin is an equivalent man made hormone to progesterone.Can you remember earlier when we said that Estrogen is produced before ovulation?

Well, these two synthetic hormones will prevent the estrogen from acting during mid-cycle or estrogen bump up from taking place hence the ovaries will not release the egg. Thesepills, therefore, will increase the level of progesterone and estrogen in the blood. 

The result of this will be an increase in water retention and thegrowth of breast tissues leading to stretching which leads to breast soreness. If in case you have used birth control pills to prevent any pregnancy, they may be the main cause of breast soreness you are having.

3. Caffeinated foods

Caffeinated foods stimulate breast vessels to swell. These foods are coffee, soda, tea, and chocolate. The caffeine in the foods will cause breast vessels to dilate. The dilation of the breastvessels will causethebreasts’ soreness.

 If you take these foods during the time you have your period, you will experience breast soreness. You are therefore required to avoid these foods when your period nears.

4. Other Causes

What is the relationship between Breast soreness and being pregnant?

Breastsoreness despite being a PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome)can also be a sign of being pregnant. Progesterone, the hormone that controls the menstrual circle becomes more active during pregnancy. It is released into the blood in large quantities. The increased levels of progesterone in the body will cause breast soreness.

It is believed however that the pre-menstrual breast soreness does not last longer than the one of pregnancy. This is because the level of this hormone normallydrops after you have had your period.

Other signs and symptoms will show during the early stages of pregnancy that alongside breast soreness will help you tell if you are pregnant. These signs include; Fatigue, mood swings, bloating, nausea and vomiting and lightheadedness.

Many women arenormally worried about having cancerwhen they experience sore breast symptoms before and after their menstruation period. First, sore breast is indeed a sign of breast cancer, but it should not be thecausefor alarm when you experience it. 

You should, however, check on the duration you have it. If it is has persisted for more than two weeks, it will be a good time to visit a medic for advice or screening.

There are a good number of home remedies for treating breast soreness. It is important however to consult with your general practitioner on the matter especially if it persists. Here are the remedies you can use to treat and reduce the effects of breast soreness.

Conclusion

Breast soreness generally can mess with women’s feelings. They cause stress, doubts and even worries of having complications like cancer. Too much stress and feelings will worsen the situation. It will be important if you open up to your spouse, boyfriend or family member about it. 

Take your time as well to visit your doctor and get more detailed explanations on other possible causes of your breast soreness. You can follow the remedies above and confidently within no time; you will be over it. Stay healthy and cheers.