Mild breast tenderness and a little swelling before flow are expected in healthy ovulatory cycles

Breast tenderness and swelling are common concerns associated with the menstrual cycle, but a new study sheds light on the relationship between these symptoms and ovulation. The study, conducted over a year, focused on healthy women with regular cycles and normal ovulation patterns.

Lead researcher Dr. Mary Wood, along with co-authors Dr. Azita Goshtasebi and Dr. Sonia Shirin, found that mild breast tenderness and swelling are usually experienced before menstruation in women with regular ovulatory cycles. This challenges previous beliefs that these symptoms may be part of a premenstrual syndrome.

The study tracked the experiences of 53 women over an average of 13 cycles each. Daily recordings of breast tenderness and changes in breast size were made using a Menstrual Cycle Diary. Ovulation was confirmed through temperature analysis.

Surprisingly, the researchers found that women experienced more breast tenderness and swelling in normally ovulatory cycles compared to cycles with ovulatory disturbances or anovulation. This highlights the importance of understanding what is considered normal in menstrual cycle experiences to identify any underlying issues that may impact long-term health.

Results showed that the median breast tenderness score was 1.4 on a 0-4 scale, and the change in breast size from usual was 4 on a 1-5 scale. Most cycles (71%) were determined to be normally ovulatory, while 26% had short luteal phases and 3% were anovulatory.

The study, published in the journal PLOS One, provides valuable insights into the relationship between breast symptoms and ovulation. Understanding these connections can help healthcare providers better support women in managing their menstrual health and overall well-being.

For more information, you can refer to the study titled “Breast tenderness and swelling experiences related to menstrual cycles and ovulation in healthy premenopausal women: Secondary analysis of the 1-year Prospective Ovulation Cohort” published in PLOS One. This research was conducted by the University of British Columbia and offers crucial insights into women’s health during the menstrual cycle.