Unique Fashion: Pain

Breast pain is one of the most common breast problems. Pain can range from mild to severe, and sometimes requires treatment. It may affect one or both breasts, or can radiate into the armpit. In general, breast pain is not a sign of cancer.

Breast pain categories

There are 3 categories of breast pain: pain related to the menstrual cycle, pain not affected by the menstrual cycle, and pain originating in the chest that feels as though it is in the breast.

Breast pain related to the menstrual cycle: This pattern of pain seems to be related to changes in hormone levels. Women usually feel increased breast pain before their menstrual period and a reduction in pain afterwards. Pain can be present with or without accompanying lumpiness of the breast due to a fibrocystic condition. Because stress can also affect hormone levels, this may influence breast pain. Breast pain is a common symptom of PMS.

Sometimes this pain is caused by trauma to the breast, or will center on the site of a previous breast biopsy. In most cases, doctors don’t know the cause of this continuous type of pain. Although breast cancer is very rare in women with this form of pain, it still must be ruled out with tests.Breast pain not affected by the menstrual cycle: This type of breast pain can show up in either premenopausal or postmenopausal women. It may be felt in one specific area of the breast, and is sometimes called “target zone” breast pain. It may occur in one or both breasts. In some women it lasts for as long as one or 2 years, then disappears.

Breast pain originating in the chest: This category is not really a form of breast pain, but is actually a type of chest pain that feels as though it is coming from the breast. This type of arthritic pain originates in the middle of the chest, and is called costochondritis. It occurs where the ribs and breastbone connect. Poor posture and the aging process can contribute to increased stress on these joints, resulting in pain. This pain does not change with the menstrual cycle.

Evaluating breast pain

Physicians evaluate breast pain by identifying its location and assessing its pattern, including its strength and how long it lasts. It is also important to know how much the pain interferes with a woman’s daily activities. A doctor’s assessment will include a woman’s medical history, physical exam, and, in some cases, a mammogram (X-ray of the breast) if the woman is over 35 years old, or an ultrasound exam. Surgical biopsy is not usually recommended. For most women with breast pain, the most important reason for a careful evaluation is to gain reassurance that the pain is not due to breast cancer.

Breast Pin Treatment – medication, lifestyle changes, and diet changes

Medication: Medication for pain relief is generally needed only in cases of severe, disabling pain. In women with costochondritis, aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed. Since pain relief medication can have unwanted side effects, it is worthwhile incorporating various lifestyle changes that can help reduce or eliminate the pain in many
women.

Lifestyle changes: Wearing a good, supportive bra reduces excess movement of the breasts, which can contribute to the pain. Also, learning how to relax the body fully can reduce stress-related hormones, which may affect the breasts. Many women have found
meditation and visualization helpful in quieting the mind. An exercise program may be beneficial, as well.

Diet changes: Although evidence of reduced breast pain from dietary change is not conclusive, many women have found it helpful to:

Eliminate caffeine (found in coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate)
Reduce dietary fat by reducing intake of baked goods, meat, and high-fat dairy products, and increasing fruit, vegetables, and grains.
Reduce salt intake.
Take vitamin supplements. Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist about recommended doses (vitamin E, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and evening primrose oil).

information from http://www.women-info.com/en/breast-pain/

Bra & Braless - 16:26

BREAST PAIN

Breast pain is one of the most common breast problems. Pain can range from mild to severe, and sometimes requires treatment. It may affect ...

Dyspareunia is pain or discomfort in a woman’s labial, vaginal, or pelvic areas during or after sexual intercourse. The word dyspareunia comes from early Greek language, and its meanings include “difficulty mating” or “badly mated”. Dyspareunia is described in medical literature dating back to the ancient Egyptian scrolls. Early Hebrews regarded this condition as sufficient cause for divorce. Today, the causes of dyspareunia may be easily discovered and treated.

Almost every woman experiences discomfort during sex at some point in her life. Pain and/or discomfort are not normal. But many women suffer in silence for years because they’re embarrassed to ask for help or because they’ve been told it’s all in their heads. If you experience pain (Dyspareunia), don’t be afraid to tell your partner who has no way of knowing that you’re uncomfortable unless you talk about what you’re feeling. While women pain can be a symptom of stress, depression, or some other psychological problem, there are a number of physical conditions to rule out before heading for the therapist’s couch. See if any of the following describes your problem.

Vaginal Infections
Sometimes pain during sex could be the first sign of vaginal infection. Certain vaginal infections such as vaginal yeast infections and trichomoniasis are often present without noticeable symptoms. However during sexual intercourse, the rubbing motion of the penis against the vagina and genitalia sometimes causes the symptoms of these vaginal infections to intensify causing stinging and burning. Genital herpes sores are another frequent cause of pain during sex.

Vaginal yeast and bacterial infections can reduce lubrication and irritate the opening of the vagina, and will usually be accompanied by itching or an unusual discharge or odor. A urinary tract infection will hurt most when you urinate but can also cause pain during sex because of the pressure on a tender, inflamed bladder. Abdominal pain with intercourse may be a symptom of the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia. Left untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which causes inflammation and scarring that can make sex unbearable. Once diagnosed, most infections are easily treated with antibiotics or, in the case of yeast, antifungal creams or pills.

Endometriosis

About 5 million American women have this painful condition in which tissue from the lining of the uterus grows into areas outside of the uterus such as the vagina or pelvis where it becomes inflamed. More than half of these women report pain with intercourse. Endometriosis can usually be treated with drugs that temporarily suppress estrogen production or surgery to remove the wayward tissue. Birth control pills can also help. Using the woman-on-top position or limiting intercourse to the week or two after you menstruate may also minimize the discomfort.

Interstitial Cystitis

When you feel as if you have a urinary tract infection, but antibiotics won’t make it go away, the problem is probably interstitial cystitis. Experts don’t know what triggers this condition, in which your bladder becomes chronically inflamed, leading to severe pelvic pain that tends to worsen during sex. Like vulvodynia, this condition is difficult to diagnose and treat. Sufferers may find relief from one of a variety of treatments, such as the drug Elmiron, but no single therapy seems to work for everyone. The woman-on-top position may help you avoid the discomfort that comes with deep penetration.

Vulvodynia
If burning pain at the opening of the vagina has made sex impossible but your doctor can’t find a cause, you may have vulvodynia, a condition in which part of the vulva is chronically inflamed. No one knows how many women suffer from it or what first sets off the pain, which may be a constant torture or may flare up just during sex. Experimental treatments include cutting certain foods out of your diet or learning to use a biofeedback device to control muscle spasms that may be contributing to the pain. Surgery to remove the inflamed skin has resolved the problem for some women, but should be considered only as a last resort.

Vaginal Irritation Factors
Often women are using ingredients which could contain chemical irritating products. These products could cause vaginal irritation, discomfort and/or pain during sex. Please pay special attention to following products – Contraceptive foams, creams, or jellies; Condoms, diaphragms, or latex gloves which could provoke allergic reactions; Vaginal deodorant sprays; Scented tampons; Deodorant soaps and Laundry detergents. By the way the excessive vaginal douching also can provoke vaginal irritation and following pain during sex.

Hormones
If you’re breastfeeding or approaching menopause, your sexual discomfort may be due to hormonal changes. In both cases, falling estrogen levels can dry up your natural lubrication and make your vaginal tissue fragile. New moms may want to use a drugstore lubricant until their estrogen levels return to normal when they stop breastfeeding. Older women with this complaint may consider going on hormone replacement therapy or using an estrogen cream.

Lack of Vaginal Lubrication
Vaginal dryness often causes painful sexual intercourse. Usually women lubricate before sexual contact which is normal reaction of the vagina. However, during certain times the vagina may be dry and make vaginal penetration painful. Lack of vaginal lubrication can be observed in following situations: 1. Trying to achieve vaginal penetration too fast before enough stimulation has occurred to allow normal vaginal lubrication to take place; 2. Feeling nervous or tense about the sexual experience can slow down the release of vaginal lubrication; 3. Using a condom may make vaginal intercourse difficult without the addition of a vaginal lubricant. Saliva is an acceptable for vaginal lubrication; however, never use a petroleum-based product such as Vaseline (petroleum products can cause deterioration of condoms and also may create a breeding ground for vaginal infections).

Vaginal Tightness
Occasionally this happens when you feel tense, or are not fully relaxed when penetration occurs. Difficulty penetrating a tight vagina can happen even when vaginal lubrication is not a problem. Often, the first few times you engage in sexual intercourse, the vagina may be tight due to an unstretched hymen and cause pain at the time of penetration.
Sometimes a more severe condition called vaginismus is responsible for vaginal tightness; women with vaginismus experience strong, involuntary muscle spasms of the vaginal muscles during sexual intercourse or vaginal penetration by any object including fingers and tampons.

Pain of the Clitoris
The clitoris is the most sensitive part of the female genitalia. Gentle touching or rubbing of the clitoris is extremely pleasurable for some women, while for others it is unbearably painful. Clitoral pain may also occur due to poor hygiene; vaginal secretions may collect under the clitoral hood and if not carefully washed away may lead to pain.

Pelvic Pain
Occasionally women will experience pelvic pain upon deep, thrusting penetration. Many conditions may cause this pain including:1). Tears in the ligaments that support the uterus (causes include problems during childbirth, inappropriately performed abortion, previous violent sexual intercourse or rape); 2). Cervical, uterine, or tubal infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); 3). Pelvic adhesions (often the result of previous pelvic surgery or PID); 4). Endometriosis; 5). Ovarian cysts and 6). Uterine Fibroid Tumors.

Dyspareunia prevention
Applying lubricating gels to the outer sexual organs, including the vulva and labia, and in the vagina may be helpful to women and ease pain during intercourse. To possibly help prevent pain during intercourse it is better to avoid or discontinue use of the following – Perfumed soaps; Douching; Vaginal perfumes; Bubble baths; Scented or tinted toilet papers; Panty liners or tight synthetic undergarments such as panty hose.

Source and copyrights from www.women-info.com

Female - 15:08

Dyspareunia

Dyspareunia is pain or discomfort in a woman’s labial, vaginal, or pelvic areas during or after sexual intercourse. The word dyspareunia co...

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Breast pain categories

Evaluating breast pain

Breast Pin Treatment – medication, lifestyle changes, and diet changes

BREAST PAIN

Dyspareunia

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