What kind of breast pain indicates pregnancy

Changing hormone levels around ovulation may cause sore nipples or tender breasts. However, this is not necessarily a sign of ovulation or pregnancy.

Everybody is different, and breast pain is not a reliable indicator of ovulation. People monitoring their fertility should look for other symptoms.

Sore nipples around ovulation are also not a sign of pregnancy because this is too early for a person to experience pregnancy symptoms.

This article explores the potential connections between sore nipples, ovulation, and pregnancy.

What kind of breast pain indicates pregnancy
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A number of hormones trigger ovulation.

Before ovulation, estrogen and luteinizing hormone levels are higher. For some people, estrogen may stimulate breast tissue and cause breast pain.

Shortly after ovulation, estrogen levels drop, and progesterone levels rise. In some people, these shifts in progesterone may trigger breast pain or sore nipples.

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.

Sore nipples may be a sign of cyclical breast pain. This type of pain usually coincides with a person’s menstrual cycle each month, though the specific point may vary.

For example, some females experience nipple pain before ovulation, while others get it right after.

Sore breasts are not a reliable sign of ovulation.

Some other symptoms include:

  • A positive ovulation test: Ovulation tests measure increases in luteinizing hormone. For most people, a rise in luteinizing hormone triggers ovulation within a day or two of the positive test.
  • Cervical mucus: Rises in estrogen cause cervical fluid to become watery and have a consistency similar to raw egg whites. As a person produces more of this fluid, ovulation may be imminent.
  • Basal body temperature: Progesterone rises right after ovulation, causing a person’s morning body temperature to increase slightly. Therefore, a rise in morning body temperature indicates a person has ovulated.

Some people notice other signs, such as ovulation pain in their side or bloating. These symptoms are less reliable, especially if they do not log their ovulation symptoms over time.

Sore nipples are a common pregnancy symptom. However, ovulation and the days immediately after are too early for a person to be pregnant or have pregnancy symptoms.

Implantation marks the beginning of pregnancy. It occurs when a fertilized egg embeds in the lining of the uterus. At this stage, the body begins producing pregnancy hormones that can trigger pregnancy symptoms.

Before implantation, the symptoms that a person feels are due to other factors than pregnancy.

Therefore, nipple soreness around ovulation cannot indicate pregnancy, even if a person conceives in that month.

Early pregnancy symptoms cannot appear until implantation, which causes the body to begin producing human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and other pregnancy-related hormones.

Many people experience pregnancy symptoms, even though they are not pregnant. For this reason, the most reliable indication of pregnancy is a positive pregnancy test.

Some early symptoms signal when a person is about to receive a positive test. They include:

There is no reliable way to distinguish nipple pain due to ovulation from nipple pain due to pregnancy. The pain is often identical.

One of the best ways to distinguish them is the timing. If nipple pain occurs at or right around the time a person expects to ovulate, pregnancy is highly unlikely.

Nipple pain that occurs after ovulation that gets worse, or nipple pain that does not go away around the time a person expects their period, may signal pregnancy.

The only way to know with a high degree of certainty is to take a pregnancy test.

Early in pregnancy, HCG levels start low and quickly rise. Pregnancy tests will measure the levels of this hormone.

If a pregnancy test is negative, and a person’s period does not arrive, they may receive a positive result if they test again in a few days.

Normal hormonal fluctuations can trigger nipple soreness. If the pain is not severe or only lasts a few days, the discomfort is likely due to hormonal changes.

However, if the pain persists, some potential causes may include:

  • an injury to the nipple
  • pain from nipple play during sex
  • breastfeeding pain or injuries
  • mastitis, a breast infection
  • a cyst in the breast
  • lifestyle or diet factors, including caffeine or alcohol consumption
  • muscle pain
  • in rare cases, cancer

See a healthcare provider if:

  • a person gets a positive pregnancy test or does not get their period
  • the pain is very intense
  • the pain follows an injury and does not go away in a few days
  • there is a lump in the breast or discharge from the nipple
  • there is acute pain when breastfeeding

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.

The best way to identify the cause of sore nipples is to track the symptom across several ovulation cycles and look for specific patterns. A healthcare provider can provide further assistance.

What kind of breast pain indicates pregnancy

Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPHBy Danielle Dresden on February 26, 2020

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A woman may experience many symptoms of the body’s changes during pregnancy, from stuffy noses to backaches. One common effect of pregnancy is breast pain.

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes, which can affect the breasts. For many, breast pain is most common in the first trimester, though it can occur at any stage during pregnancy and lactation.

While pregnancy can be the source of breast pain, other possible causes include:

Note that breast pain is very rarely due to breast cancer. It most likely results from hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle.

What kind of breast pain indicates pregnancy
Share on PinterestBreast pain is a common effect of pregnancy.

The most telling sign of pregnancy is typically a missed period. But some indications can appear even sooner.

For some women, breast pain is the first noticeable effect of pregnancy, and it can show up within 2 weeks of conception.

Other early effects of pregnancy include:

  • fatigue
  • nausea
  • more frequent urination
  • changes in tastes for food and drink

Women who experience these signs and breast pain should consider taking a pregnancy test.

Learn more about the early signs of pregnancy here.

Pregnancy and PMS can have some of the same effects on the body.

The Office on Women’s Health report that 90% of all menstruating people develop some symptoms of PMS, including swollen or tender breasts. These symptoms usually occur 7–14 days before a period starts.

Pregnancy can also cause breasts to be swollen, sore, and tender. In addition, both PMS and pregnancy can cause the nipples to be more sensitive.

However, breast pain and soreness from pregnancy can be much more intense than that caused by PMS. Pregnancy-related breast pain is also likely to last longer.

When pregnancy is causing breast soreness, the veins on the breasts may be more visible than usual and the areolas may be larger and bumpier.

Learn more about how PMS and early pregnancy can feel similar, as well as the differences.

Sensitivity or pain in the breasts is a common effect of pregnancy.

Researchers found that 76.2% of women who participated in the study experienced it. Breast pain and sensitivity was the third most common experience, after nausea and fatigue.

Breast changes by trimester

During the first trimester, which runs from the first week after conception to the 12th week, hormones fluctuate, changing the body in many ways.

Shifts in levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen, which prepare a woman’s body for breastfeeding, bring noticeable changes to the breasts. These changes can include swelling and soreness, and the nipples may become more erect.

In the second trimester, which runs from weeks 13–28, the skin around the nipples can darken.

In the third and final trimester, running from weeks 29–40 or delivery, the breasts may start hurting again. As the body prepares for breastfeeding, small amounts of colostrum, a forerunner to breast milk, may leak from the breasts.

The nipples and breasts can also become bigger just before a woman goes into labor.

Before starting any treatment for breast pain, discuss the issue with a healthcare provider.

The most effective treatment will depend on the underlying cause. If a doctor finds that pregnancy is likely the cause of the pain, treatments that they might otherwise recommend, such as birth control pills, would be inappropriate.

A pregnancy bra can help keep larger, more sensitive breasts as comfortable and supported as possible. Sleeping in a bra can also help reduce discomfort.

Wearing a sports bra can also help when breasts are swollen or sensitive. Hot or cold compresses may provide some relief, as well.

For people who experience breast pain due to their menstrual cycles, the following practices may also help reduce discomfort:

  • adopting a low-fat diet
  • limiting or eliminating caffeine
  • taking certain supplements, such as calcium and vitamins B-6 and E
  • exploring complementary or alternative treatments, such as evening primrose oil
  • using over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications — NSAIDs — to reduce pain
  • taking medication to block or increase levels of specific hormones

Read about other treatments for PMS symptoms here.

While breast pain can result from pregnancy, it is also a common symptom of PMS.

Anyone who suspects that they may be pregnant should take a pregnancy test. Learn more about when to take a pregnancy test here.

Breast pain linked to the menstrual cycle often fades when a period starts and resolves completely after menopause. In the meantime, over-the-counter pain medications, supplements, and other treatments can help.

Pregnancy may narrow treatment options, but certain strategies, such as sleeping in a pregnancy bra and using compresses, can help.

Anyone who experiences severe or persistent breast pain should speak to a doctor about treatments.

Last medically reviewed on February 26, 2020

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  • Women's Health / Gynecology
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