There’s a good reason why menopause is called “the change of life.” It can affect just about every part of your body, including your breasts. According to WebMD, during perimenopause, the years before your periods stop, you’ll start to notice changes in the size and shape of your breasts. You may also notice that they feel tender and achy at unexpected times. Or they may be lumpier than they used to be......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
You’ll want to know what’s normal, what’s not, and what helps. That knowledge empowers you to make a smooth midlife transition and feel your best during menopause and beyond.
In this article, we are going to have a look at how menopause changes a woman’s breasts. Keep on reading and explore new knowledge, especially if you are a lady that is about hitting menopause.
Ways in Which Menopause Change The Woman’s Breasts
1. Your breasts may feel tender and painful: when a woman is about to have her period, hormones make your breasts feel tender, painful and even swollen in some cases, but when you are hitting or passing through the menopausal stage, you may have irregular periods and much more that will make your breasts feel tender and painful more often. This tenderness and pain that was kind of predictable before menopause would now be unpredictable and as such, can always strike anytime.
2. The breasts may feel lumpy: this is one of the changes that take place in a woman’s breasts when she hits menopause or going through the stage. Reason being that, there are lots of hormonal changes that might make the breasts fill lumpy as though you are suffering from cancer, when there is nothing really wrong with you. But you can still see a doctor to be on the safest side.
3. Changes in breast size and shape: as you near menopause, your levels of estrogen drop dramatically. As your milk system starts to shut down, glandular tissue in your breasts shrinks. That causes them to become less dense and more fatty, which can lead to sagging. You may also notice that your breasts aren’t as full as they used to be, and their size may change.
What you can do about It: Time to hit the gym or invest in some hand-held weights!
Although there’s no proven way to reverse sagging, exercise makes your breasts look better by developing and toning the muscles underneath. Working out regularly also has another important perk: You’ll be less likely to get breast cancer. Good ways to tone your chest muscles include pushups and lifting weights.
When should you see a doctor?
It is true that most changes in the breasts during menopause are natural but there are some signs that should not be ignored. Below are some of the signs that should prompt a visit to the hospital;
1. If you notice a hard lump or thick area in the breasts or underarm. This could be a sign of cancer and should not be ignored.
2. Unexplained shrinkage of one breast that doesn’t also reflect in the second breast should not also be ignored.
3. Nipple discharge or inversion should not also be taken for granted. Inversion means a Nipple that begins to go inward; this is a delicate sign of breast cancer that should not be ignored.