Nipples are sensitive, and they can hurt for lots of reasons. Tight clothes, rashes, and infections can all irritate the tender skin. For women, sore nipples are common during periods, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
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.
Nipple pain can be caused by hormonal changes from pregnancy or menstruation, trauma to the nipple from breastfeeding or sexual activity, allergy, infection, and more. While the cause of nipple pain usually isn't serious, in rare cases, it can be a sign of breast cancer.
First Trimester: Weeks 1 to 12
In the first handful of weeks post-conception, you may experience more tender, tingly breasts and nipples. You might notice your breasts are becoming fuller and your nipples are sticking out more, too.
Symptoms: Breast or nipple pain that's stabbing, burning, or feels like pins and needles—both during and after nursing—can be the result of a vasospasm, when contracting blood cells reduces blood flow to a particular area. You may also notice your nipples turning white, then blue or red.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tenderness and tingling in the breast is often experienced as part of your menstrual cycle or when breastfeeding, as you say. But what usually causes these sensations are hormones - specifically, changes in hormone levels. Your breasts are sensitive, and your endocrine system (which controls your hormones) is complex.
'One possibility for why this happens could be that those with very sensitive nipples find the sudden release of endorphins from having their nipples touched may in turn cause dysphoria. 'There is no real cause or answer to why this happens, and it could be down to a number of factors, psychological and physical.
Stress and anxiety can also be linked to breast pain. Non-cyclical breast pain may be continuous or it may come and go. It can affect women before and after the menopause. The pain can be in one or both breasts and can affect the whole breast or a specific area.
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.
The more the nipple is pressed or stimulated, the more fluid appears. Yellow, green, or brown discharge is not normal and may be a symptom of an infection or other problem.
If a person becomes pregnant, progesterone levels will continue to rise. This causes breast tissue changes that can make the nipples or breasts sore. However, it takes several weeks for these developments to occur, so breasts that become sore suddenly after ovulation do not indicate pregnancy.
In addition to that tender, full feeling, you'll likely notice a few other breast changes during pregnancy: Your nipples. Along with achiness and tingling, your nipples may be protruding more than usual and feel more tender.
The milk ducts are growing and being stretched as they fill with milk early in pregnancy. All this causes your breasts to be more sensitive, particularly your nipples. This may cause you discomfort.
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.
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.
Some women begin to have pain around the time of ovulation. The pain continues until the start of their menstrual cycle. The pain may be barely noticeable. Or it may be so severe that you can't wear tight-fitting clothing or handle close contact of any kind.
Both estrogen and progesterone levels increase just before a woman's period starts. Both these hormones draw fluid into the breasts making them feel swollen and tender. Estrogen causes breast ducts to enlarge and progesterone causes milk glands to swell. Nipple pain during this time is also common.
Nipple tenderness in women of all ages can be caused by dry skin, injury, or friction. Breast tenderness can also be an early symptom of pregnancy.