Breast Tenderness Your nipples may start to darken in color, become more erect and be extremely sensitive.
Tenderness and discomfort
Breast tenderness is often one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , breasts may become sore, heavy, or tingly as early as 1–2 weeks after conception. The nipples may also feel sensitive or even painful to touch.
In the first trimester (weeks 1 to 13): Your breasts may start to feel swollen and tender. Your nipples may stick out more than usual. Some women find that their breasts start to get bigger during this time.
Sore nipples are a common symptom throughout the menstrual cycle. Sometimes they indicate a person is pregnant or about to ovulate. They may also signal a health problem or mean nothing at all.
In most cases, sore nipples are caused by hormonal changes from pregnancy or menstruation, allergies or friction from clothing. In rare cases, it can be a sign of a serious disease like breast cancer. Your healthcare provider should evaluate any pain that's accompanied by discharge or lumps as soon as possible.
Most commonly, cyclical breast pain will begin a few weeks before menstruation, around ovulation or the luteal phase, and starts to subside once bleeding begins. This is due to an increase in estrogen prior to menstruation that stimulates and often irritates ducts in the breast.
You may notice soreness in your breasts and nipples as soon as one to two weeks after conception. Here's what to expect from trimester to trimester.
According to Michelle Wong, MD, an ob-gyn with UTHealth Houston, breast pain in early pregnancy isn't localized. It occurs in the glandular breast tissue, so it may feel similar to the soreness you can experience before getting your period. That means you'll probably feel an overall sensation of breast tenderness.
During early pregnancy (one to two weeks after conception) your breasts might feel sore, tender to the touch, and heavy. A sign that it might be early pregnancy versus PMS? Many women notice their nipples are very sensitive (and even painful at times) in the early weeks of pregnancy.
Sore breasts in early pregnancy
Your breasts may become larger and feel tender, just as they might do before your period. They may also tingle. The veins may be more visible, and the nipples may darken and stand out.
“Early pregnancy symptoms of breast tenderness and fatigue often mimic the symptoms of PMS,” Giles said. “However, breast tenderness and fatigue generally go away once your period starts.”
However, in people with PMS, breast-related symptoms are usually most significant just before a menstrual period, and they typically get better during the period or just after it ends. In early pregnancy, the breasts may feel particularly tender to the touch, and they often get heavier.
2. You have tender, swollen breasts. In the early weeks of pregnancy, your breasts may feel fuller, sore and even tingly (weird, right?!). You may also notice that your bra doesn't quite fit like it used to.
At 5 days past ovulation (DPO) a person may experience cramps and implantation bleeding. These early pregnancy symptoms can often occur before a person misses a period. The first sign of pregnancy is often a missed period, which happens around 15 days past ovulation (DPO).
Hormonal changes
The normal hormonal changes in a woman's monthly cycle can also trigger nipple and breast soreness. These symptoms are usually felt in the days just before her period starts, when increases in estrogen and progesterone levels draw more liquid to the breasts and cause them to feel swollen.
To learn what we do to deliver the best health and lifestyle insights to you, check out our content review principles. One of the more common PMS symptoms is breast tenderness or breast pain. This sore and dull ache can begin around two weeks before your period and can be a cause for daily discomfort and unease.
You may feel very tired and have nausea, breasts that feel tender or sore, and heightened sensitivity to smell. You may also notice light spotting (from implantation bleeding). Other common early pregnancy symptoms include mood swings, frequent urination, bloating, food aversions, and excess saliva.
Montgomery tubercles, also known as Montgomery glands, are raised white bumps that look similar to goosebumps on the nipple and surrounding areola. They are named after William Fetherstone Montgomery, an Irish physician and obstetrician who first described them in 1837.
But when it comes to the first symptoms of pregnancy, everyone is different. Some people start to notice changes within a week after conception. Others might not notice anything until they miss their period.