Have you ever had your boobs feel super sore before your period? For a lot of us, it’s a sign that our period is coming. If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone. According to research, about 70% of people have had sore breasts leading up to menstruation. Keep reading to find out why this is!
During the two weeks leading up to a period, and sometimes even starting as soon as ovulation, it is common for breasts to swell and to feel sore. This is called cyclical Mastalgia. The pain can occur in both boobs or just one and can even be felt as a pain in the underarm area. The reason our boobs swell and feel sore is most likely because of the changing levels of hormones.
An increase in estrogen can cause breasts to swell. Progesterone makes the milk glands swell. The combination of these two can result in lumpy, swollen and/or tender breasts. Basically, as our hormones fluctuate throughout our cycle, it can affect our breasts and cause them to be sore and/or swollen.
In order to decrease these symptoms, you can increase your intake of foods with vitamins B6, E and magnesium or take vitamin supplements. It can also help to decrease your intake of salt and caffeine.
It’s good to be aware of your body and why it changes throughout the month. If you’re interested in learning more about your cycle check out our blog post, How Your Period Affects You Every Day of the Month.