Throughout life, the female body undergoes a large number of hormonal changes. Hormonal mechanisms can be upset, which sometimes leads to the most unexpected manifestations. Consider in which cases changes in the mammary glands and nipples are possible.
Soreness and swelling of the breast and nipples can occur during puberty in girls. Nipples swell with the onset of menstruation, this symptom can be a component of the premenstrual syndrome. This happens due to an increase in the level of progesterone, and against the background of the release of pain amines and histamine, soreness can also join the swelling. Gestagens prepare the body for conception and pregnancy, but at the same time affect the water-salt balance, retaining water.
In young girls, with improper wearing of clothes as a result of friction on the fabric of clothing, the nipples also swell and redden. Simple hygiene measures neutralize this effect. It is more difficult if there is a predisposition to eczema, then the delicate tissues of the nipple injured by friction can suffer from a skin disease with rash bubbles.
Unfortunately, with excessive growth of connective tissue in the mammary glands (mastopathy) , discomfort also appears, nipples swell before menstruation, and then all the time. For a long time, a woman may not pay attention to it, and the disease continues until the visible deformations of the mammary glands.
With not very competent selection of hormonal contraceptives or their long-term use, changes are possible, which also lead to the fact that the nipples swell and ache, and dry mucous membranes are noted in the vagina. Infertility medications can have their own specific effects, which are best discussed with your doctor. Hormonal imbalance is also possible with certain antidepressants.
In some somatic diseases, swelling of the breast and nipples can be in men. This condition is called gynecomastia, and more often it is observed in liver diseases, accompanied by a reorganization of the main metabolism. In women, a persistent metabolic imbalance is more often associated with inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, endocrine disorders, and breast cancer. In such cases, it is possible to determine why the nipples swell only with a more detailed examination. Any asymmetric increase in glands or nipples, the appearance of secretions from them should alert. If palpation of both glands reveals seals with clear or fuzzy boundaries, then mammography is required.
During pregnancy, the whole body is rearranged. In the photo, the swollen nipples are visible as part of the enlargement of the entire mammary gland. In the early stages, unpleasant sensations can become harbingers of a pregnancy. After childbirth, hygienic care is necessary to avoid infection of the injured nipples when feeding the baby. And in children of any gender during the neonatal period, swelling of the nipples is possible due to an excess of maternal hormones in the blood. This condition quickly passes without consequences.