Fibrocystic breast disease is a condition that can result from factors such as a woman's lifestyle or a hormonal imbalance. The disease causes lumps in the breasts, and while it is not considered dangerous or life-threatening, it is still very painful and extremely uncomfortable for the woman experiencing the symptoms.
Identification
Fibrocystic breast disease is a non-cancerous condition that is characterized by lumps found in the breasts. These lumps are able to move freely in soft tissue of the breasts, and they cause tenderness, pain and, sometimes, discharge from the nipple. The sensitivity to the pain and discomfort increases during menstruation. This is a very common condition that affects approximately 1/3 of the female population in the United States. It is primarily found in women in their child-bearing years, and it does not increase the chances of contracting breast cancer.
Effects
A woman who is pre-menopausal experiences a fluctuation in the hormones estrogen and progesterone during menstruation, and her breasts will expand with the increase in hormone production. When menstruation ends, the hormone level goes back to normal and the breasts contract. Over time, this expansion and contraction of the breast tissue can cause the milk glands within the breasts to swell and retain water. This is one of the causes of fibrocystic breast disease.
Types
In some cases fibrocystic breast disease can be caused by a diet that is too rich in salt, saturated fats or an excessive consumption of caffeine. All of these cause the retention of water in the body, and this can work together with the hormonal change during menstruation to cause water retention in the breasts and result in fibrocystic breast disease.
Considerations
There are hormones aside from estrogen and progesterone that may contribute to the onset of fibrocystic breast disease. During menstruation, the breasts are influenced by hormones such as insulin and thyroid hormones, which stimulate the blood vessels and cause the breasts to swell. This process is similar to what happens in the uterus. However, the uterus is able to flush the dead cells when menstruation is over. The breasts rely on enzymes to help break down and eliminate the excess cell material, and if these enzymes fail to keep up with the production of excess cells each month, then scar tissue will result, and fibrocystic breast disease can develop.
Potential
In some cases it has been found that introducing synthetic estrogen into the woman's system through oral contraceptives or other means increases the risk of developing fibrocystic breast disease.
Tags: breast disease, breast disease, condition that, during menstruation, fibrocystic breast disease
