Mastalgia history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2]

• Timing of pain

  • Cyclic

    • Associated with menstrual cycle, worst before the menses
    • Tends to occur in younger women, usually resolves spontaneously

  • Noncyclic

    • Unrelated to menses or in post-menopausal patient
    • Most common in women ages 40-50
    • Can be due to underlying fibroadenoma or cyst
    • May resolve with therapy of underlying lesion

• Location of pain

  • Cyclic pain tends to be bilateral, poorly localized, +/- radiation to arm/axilla
  • Noncyclic tends to be unilateral, sharp, well localized

• Menstrual irregularities
• Medications

  • Changes in medications may exacerbate mastalgia