12 Reasons Why Your Boobs Might Be Hurting

Do you blame most of your boob pain on your period? It's true, that can be why your boobs hurt or just feel extra tender. "Many changes are due to fluctuating hormone levels," says Richard Bleicher, M.D., a surgical oncologist and director of the breast fellowship program at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. But your time of the month isn't the only cause for boob pain.

Different stages of your menstrual cycle can affect your breasts in different ways, and other factors — diet, medications, and certain activities — can influence your breasts, too. In fact, while they may not be able to predict the weather à la Mean Girls' Karen Smith, your breasts tell you a whole lot about what's happening in your body, and about your health in general. Here, a few reasons why your boobs hurt so dang bad.

Potential Reasons Why Your Boobs Are Hurting

Exercise

In general, you're unlikely to notice any changes in your breasts even with an intense strength training regimen. That's because your breasts sit on top of the pectoral muscles, but aren't part of them, which means that you can develop stronger muscles underneath your breasts without affecting their size or shape, says Melissa Crosby, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Texas.

However, a study from researchers who examined breast movement during exercise found that breasts bounce as much as 8 inches up and down during physical activity. All that movement could be why your boobs hurt so bad post-sweat — but a well-fitting sports bra can help cut down that painful bouncing during aerobic exercise. (See: These Are the Absolute Best Sports Bras for Large Breasts, According to Customer Reviews)

The Luteal Phase

Your menstrual cycle is divided into two halves: your follicular phase, during the first part of your cycle (your period is day one), and your luteal phase, after ovulation. As estrogen and progesterone levels rise following ovulation, you experience an increase in blood flow to your breasts, which can increase their fullness, nodularity, and tenderness — a potential culprit for why your boobs hurt before your period. In a study where subjects received mammograms in both the follicular and luteal phases, researchers found that breast density and size were greater in the luteal phase. So, the pain might just be due to those hormone fluctuations.

If your boobs hurt before your period or really any time during your cycle, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen and aspirin) can help. They may work by inhibiting prostaglandins that are involved in inflammation and tenderness, says Dr. Bleicher. Diuretics, often used to treat high blood pressure, can also decrease breast pain and swelling by reducing fluid retention, adds Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale School of Medicine.

While some minor boob pain and discomfort is considered normal at certain times during your cycle, talk to your doctor if your boobs are hurting so badly that it's impacting your lifestyle. And if your boobs still hurt regardless of what phase you're in, have your doctor check it out.

Changes In Weight

Your breasts are made up of breast tissue (including lobules and ducts that are called into action while breastfeeding) and fat tissue. So, when you gain weight, your breasts often increase in size — and, by the same token, you may notice they shrink when you lose weight. This fluctuation could cause your boobs to hurt.

The amount of fat each person gains or loses in their breasts depends on breast composition, which isn't the same for everyone. For example, some people have denser breasts, which means they have more breast tissue and less fatty tissue. If that's the case, you may not notice as large a shift in breast size when you gain and lose weight compared to someone who has a greater proportion of fatty tissue. (BTW, weight isn't the only thing that impacts breast type.)

Bug Bites

"I don't know why, but spiders seem to love breasts," says Dr. Minkin. "It can be really scary because you may develop a red, inflamed bump and women often think they have inflammatory breast cancer when it's just a reaction to a spider bite that can be cleared up with antibiotics," she adds. It's unlikely that inflammatory breast cancer (a rare, but very aggressive form of the disease) develops overnight, so if you suddenly notice redness, inflammation, itchiness, and swelling, it could be a bug bite. But still, be sure to have your doctor look at it, advises Dr. Minkin.

Alcohol

People often underestimate the impact booze can have on their breast health — and therefore, sometimes, breast pain, says Dr. Minkin. A 2016 systematic review of research notes that even low levels of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of breast cancer. It's not known exactly how booze boosts your risk, but it could affect levels of hormones, such as estrogen, associated with tumor growth. Drinking may also lead to weight gain, and your risk of breast cancer rises with your weight. Bottom line: Even if your boobs aren't hurting, for your overall health, "stick to no more than one drink per day," says Dr. Minkin.

Pregnancy

Question: When do your boobs start hurting in pregnancy? Answer: Sometimes as soon as a few weeks after conception, but it's a common early symptom. The majority of changes that occur in your breasts during pregnancy prepare your body for breastfeeding. Blood vessels, ducts, and lobules in your breasts that are involved in producing and transporting milk expand and proliferate. This process can lead to tenderness, heaviness, and a significant increase in your cup size. You'll also notice your areola and nipples expand.

Sex

During foreplay, your heart rate and blood pressure increase, which causes your breasts to swell and your veins to become more prominent. Your nipples become erect and the areolae (the area around the nipple) also expand. A Rutgers University study even identified a link between areas of the brain that respond to nipple stimulation and those connected with clitoral stimulation. This connection may explain why some women can orgasm from nipple stimulation alone. All of this shouldn't cause your boobs to hurt though, so if sexual arousal or sex is causing you pain, let your doctor know.

Age

As you age, you may notice that your breasts become softer and might start to sag, which could cause tenderness from gravity pulling on the skin. Breast density decreases with age, so you have a greater proportion of fatty tissue than you did when you were younger. Plus, Cooper's ligaments — fibrous tissue that acts like an internal bra — stretch over time and may lead to drooping. Regularly sporting a supportive bra can help, though.

Birth Control Pills

Your doctor may have warned you already, but your birth control pills could be why your boobs hurt so much. "When birth control pills were first invented, they contained extremely high doses of estrogen, and there were a lot of women walking around with very large breasts as a result," says Dr. Minkin. Today, most contain about one-fifth of the original amount, so they don't have as big an effect. Still, it's completely normal if you experience a little boost in breast size or your boobs hurt when you start birth control. "Estrogen can lead to more fluid retention and also increase breast tenderness," adds Dr. Minkin. If it's troublesome, talk to your doctor about other options.

Medications

Besides birth control pills, certain other meds — especially some types of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs — are notorious for affecting your breasts. One in particular, Risperdal, is a drug used to treat bipolar disorder. Risperdal can increase prolactin levels, which may cause your breasts to leak milk even if you're not breastfeeding, says Dr. Minkin.

Caffeine

Sad, but true: Your morning cup (or three) can take a toll on your breast health. Some people's breast tissue is especially sensitive to caffeine, and fibrocystic breasts — a benign condition that can make your boobs feel lumpy or rope-like — can occur. For some, this can be incredibly painful and worsen around your period. Doctors don't know why this occurs, but if your boobs hurt and you experience lumpy breast tissue, try cutting out caffeine for several weeks, says Dr. Minkin. If you experience severe soreness and nixing your coffee intake doesn't help, talk to your doctor. (FYI, coffee does have health benefits, too.)

Puberty

This is another estrogen-fueled change that can cause your boobs to hurt. Puberty occurs in stages: At first, a breast bud (a small raised bump under your nipple) starts to grow. Next, the nipple and areola grow larger and darken in color, and over time breasts continue to grow. They don't always sprout at the same pace — one may be larger than the other for a long time or even forever. This is why your left boob could be hurting while your right feels fine. It can take several years for your breasts to reach their full size, meaning (sorry) that your boob pain might stick around.