Breast pain and tenderness: menstruation or pregnancy?
Tender and painful breasts before menstruation affect up to 70% of women and are one of the main symptoms of premenstrual syndrome . ( 1 ) Like other menstrual symptoms, they can be triggered by reproductive hormones, which fluctuate throughout the cycle and prepare a woman’s body for a possible pregnancy. However, breast changes can also be a sign of early pregnancy, or they may have no connection to the menstrual cycle or reproductive hormones.