The work of the female body is pretty much dependent on the functioning of the hormonal system. An important role is played by increased emotionality and sensitivity. And all the emotions, stresses, hard work without rest, family disorder are reflected in health. Statistics say that every third woman is faced with diseases of the mammary glands. The chest is a very sensitive organ, so any malfunction in the body can adversely affect it. Consider dishormonal diseases of the mammary glands. What is their reason and how is the diagnosis? And what are the current treatments?
Target organ
The mammary glands can be safely called the target organ, because any changes in the woman’s body will necessarily affect the condition and functioning of the breast. Disruptions in the endocrine system, as well as gynecological pathologies, are often combined with dishormonal diseases of the mammary glands.
Steroid sex hormones have a great influence. Breast diseases directly depend on the menstrual function of the body and on the mechanisms that regulate it. Each hormone in the body of a woman performs its function in relation to the mammary glands. The optimal level and ratio of all hormones ensure their full functioning. Progesterone, estrogen and prolactin are the hormones that have the greatest effect on the mammary glands.
Causes of dishormonal diseases of the female breast
Several factors can be identified that affect the development of dishormonal breast diseases in women, which can cause the development of pathology.
- Diseases of the endocrine system.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Stressful situations.
- Late first pregnancy after 30 years.
- Lack of pregnancy and childbirth.
- Frequent abortions.
- Spontaneous abortion in the early stages.
- Overweight, obesity.
- Lack of breastfeeding or breastfeeding for too long.
- Early onset of menstruation up to 12 years.
- Gynecological diseases.
If there is a combination of several factors, then the risk of developing pathology increases.
Dyshormonal diseases of the mammary glands
Scroll diseases and their types:
1. Mastopathy. There are two types:
To the nodal include:
- Cysts
- Fibroadenoma.
- Leaf fibroadenoma.
- Lipoma lipogranuloma.
- Intraductal papilloma.
- Hamartom.
- Angioma.
Diffuse mastopathy can be:
- Mixed form.
- The glandular component - adenosis predominates.
- Fibrous component - fibroadenosis predominates.
- The cystic component - fibrocystosis predominates.
- Bonding adenosis.
2 . Mastodynia (Cooper disease).
3. Gynecomastia.
4. Galactorrhea.
5. Galactocele.
6. Intraductal papilloma. Mintz's disease.
There is still an involutive type of disease. May be fibrous in nature. Most often found after 35 years.
Consider what symptoms may be present if dishormonal diseases of the mammary glands develop. Their knowledge will help at an early stage to recognize the approaching pathology.
Symptoms of mastopathy and mastodynia
First, let's answer the question, what is breast mastopathy? This is a dishormonal disease, which is characterized by the proliferation of connective and glandular tissue with the formation of cysts and various seals.
The following symptoms are characteristic of mastopathy:
- Pain in the mammary glands. They can be aching, dumb. Before menstruation, the pain intensifies.
- Feeling of heaviness in the mammary glands.
- Pain during examination. It is noted that 10-15% of women do not experience pain.
- Discomfort and an increase in the volume of the mammary glands.
- Hypersensitivity of the mammary gland.
- Discharge from the nipples.
- Nodes for nodal mastopathy.
In this case, a woman can learn from experience what breast mastopathy is, constantly experiencing:
- Headache.
- Nervous tension.
- Abdominal discomfort.
These symptoms are characteristic of premenstrual syndrome.
Mastodynia, or Cooper's disease, can form on the background of mastopathy. In this case, degeneration of cystic and fibrous formations occurs. It may be physiological, against the background of puberty, pregnancy or menopause. And it can be pathological in nature, be a symptom of a disease of the mammary glands or neighboring organs.
Mastodynia is cyclic, that is, it manifests itself in the phases of the menstrual cycle, and non-cyclic. In a cyclical course, the above symptoms are characteristic of similar to mastopathy. For non-cyclic characteristic:
- The pains are constant or periodic.
- Localized pain. You can highlight the pain area.
- Redness may occur.
- Pain in one mammary gland.
- Swollen breasts.
- The nipples are painful, with pressure, discharge appears.
- No hypersensitivity.
Mastodynia can be a sign of inflammatory processes in the tissues or neoplasms in the chest.
Symptoms of galactorrhea and gynecomastia
We describe the symptoms of the dishormonal disease "breast galactorrhea." What it is? Any discharge from the nipples and ducts of the mammary gland. This is not considered an independent ailment, but may be one of the symptoms of dishormonal disorders in the body. This phenomenon occurs not only in women, but can be in children and men at any age.
On the other hand, there is an answer to the question in the very name galactorrhea of the mammary gland. What is it, you can understand, if you translate the name from Greek - this means the expiration of milk.
Pathology is characterized by the following manifestations:
- Discharge from the chest does not contain blood impurities.
- It is possible to detect periodically or constantly small discharge.
- Discharge occurs without pressure on the nipple or with pressure.
- There is a violation of the menstrual cycle.
- The allocation process can be one-sided or two-sided.
- Headaches and visual impairment will occur if there are pathological disorders in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.
Dyshormonal diseases of the mammary glands occur not only in women, but also in the male - this is gynecomastia. There is an increase in the mammary glands due to the proliferation of glandular tissue. The phenomenon is not uncommon, but it comes to light mainly when the patient has a question: "Why is one breast bigger than another?" Denote who may have this pathology:
- In men after 40.
- In newborns.
- Young men during puberty.
In these cases, gynecomastia is considered physiological and, as a rule, passes independently.
Symptoms
- Breast swelling.
- May swell on one side of the chest.
- Nipples and areola dark.
- Possible discharge from the nipple.
- Discomfort, chest pressure.
If the answer to the question why one breast is larger than another is not physiological changes in the body, then this may be the development of a tumor process, which is quite rare.
Symptoms of galactocele and Mintz disease
Galactocele of the mammary glands is a fatty cyst, benign. It is filled with clotted milk. May occur 7-10 months after cessation of lactation. And there are also cases of the appearance of pregnant women and nursing mothers. As a rule, the process is asymptomatic, but some features can be highlighted:
- If the cyst is large, it can be detected by palpation.
- As a rule, they are detected by ultrasound.
- It can be single and multiple.
- The initial stage of the process proceeds painlessly.
- The doctor upon examination notes the presence of fluctuations in the neoplasm.
- There is a likelihood of the formation of a milk fistula when a cyst ruptures.
- If the cyst does not grow, its walls harden.
- Untimely treatment can lead to deformation of the mammary gland.
Galactocele is not a dangerous disease, but requires attention and timely treatment.
Very different symptoms are present when intraductal papilloma develops. This is a benign tumor that forms on the wall of the duct of the gland from its inside. Often it is associated with the course of fibrocystic mastopathy. One of the names of this disease is Mintz disease. Symptoms characteristic of this disease:
- Discharge from the chest with bloody clots or transparent, possibly greenish-brown.
- Feeling and pressing causes severe pain.
- You can feel the nodes of a rounded shape.
- Redness in the painful area.
- If the cyst bursts, then the development of the inflammatory process is possible. In this case, the temperature rises, weakness occurs.
It is worth noting that intraductal papilloma can ripen very quickly, but at the initial stage does not manifest itself in any way.
Medical history
If during examination you notice any change in the mammary glands, or if you are familiar with at least one of the symptoms described above, you must visit a doctor.
Inspection of the mammary glands should be carried out 2-3 days after the end of menstruation in the 1st phase of the cycle. In the 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle, an examination is not considered advisable, since the gland at this time becomes more dense. In this case, a high probability of error in the diagnosis.
The doctor must collect information about how the disease developed taking into account its first manifestations. You need to install:
- How are the manifestations of the disease associated with the menstrual cycle.
- Find out the presence of concomitant diseases. Gynecological, thyroid, and liver diseases are especially important.
- Take into account social conditions.
- Temperament and character of the patient.
- The presence of signs of neurasthenia.
- Inherited diseases of the mother.
During a visual inspection, pay attention to:
- On the development, size and symmetry of the mammary glands.
- On the symmetry of the nipples and their deformation.
- On the color and structure of the skin.
- Vascular pattern.
Next is palpation. Start from the top square and move in the direction from the periphery to the nipple. It is necessary to palpate in the following positions:
- Standing up
- Lying on its side, while the hand on the palpation side should lie under the head.
- Lying on your back.
It is also necessary to palpate axillary lymph nodes and internal.
In doing so, pay attention to:
- Gland mobility.
- Soreness.
- Contours.
- Discharge from the nipples.
- Skin temperature over the neoplasm.
If a doubtful compaction is found in the chest, an urgent need to do a puncture or an extended biopsy, with a histological examination.
Diagnosis of breast diseases
In addition to visual examination and palpation, the doctor prescribes additional special instrumental studies to make a diagnosis.
- Ultrasound of the mammary glands.
- Mammography.
- Pneumography.
- Thermography.
- Galactography.
- Ductography.
- Pneumocystography.
- A blood test is taken to determine the level of hormones, tumor markers, thyroid hormones.
- Histological and cytological examination of discharge from the nipple.
- Puncture of focal seals, lymph nodes with further histological and cytological examination.
Only after collecting all the information, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment. What methods exist, we will consider further.
Treatment methods
Dyshormonal diseases of the mammary glands treatment require a long. An integrated approach is needed, hormonal features, concomitant gynecological diseases must be taken into account, and the reason for the development of the disease must also be identified.
Each form of the disease and the patient requires an individual approach. But first of all, it is necessary to eliminate exogenous factors. These are stressful situations, poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol, promiscuous sex life, and the use of oral contraceptives.
Groups of drugs that are used in therapeutic treatment:
- Vitamins A lack of vitamins contributes to the development of mastopathy and the occurrence of breast tumors. Necessary to restore the functions of the thyroid gland, nervous system, ovaries. Strengthen the immune system and have an antioxidant effect.
- Adaptogens of plant origin. They increase the body's resistance, antitumor resistance, as well as normalize metabolic processes in the body. These are such preparations as “Ginseng Tincture”, “Eleutherococcus”, “Chinese Schisandra”.
- Sedatives. If the patient has asthenic syndrome, emotional arousal. Assign "Tincture of motherwort", "Valerian."
- Diuretics are prescribed for soreness and engorgement of the mammary glands in the second half of the cycle. As a rule, herbal preparations. Such as dogrose, motherwort, calendula, immortelle.
- Phytotherapy. Helps reduce swelling, normalize hormones, reduce pain. Use drugs "Mastadinon", "Cyclodinone." It is used if your level of hormones is preserved, there are contraindications for taking hormonal drugs, and as a form of therapy that allows you to reduce the dose of hormones.
- Hormone therapy. It is used only after a thorough study of the hormonal background of the patient. Apply various treatment regimens with hormones. It is used if treatment with herbal remedies is ineffective, physiotherapeutic treatment, and if there are endocrine and gynecological diseases.
- Combine hormone therapy and herbal medicine.
- Surgical treatment is required for the nodal form of mastopathy.
I would also like to note that it is necessary to treat benign tumors and dishormonal diseases of the mammary glands, adhering to a balanced diet. Limit the intake of animal fats. The diet should contain as much as possible fresh vegetables and fruits, cabbage and whole grains. It is necessary to eat liver, eggs, milk, fish, tomatoes, foods with a high content of potassium. As much fiber as possible should be in the diet, especially for obese patients.
Prevention of dishormonal diseases
Dyshormonal diseases of the mammary glands require not only treatment, but also the use of preventive measures. This is, first of all, an annual examination by a doctor. For women at risk, an examination is required every six months. If there is a nodal form of mastopathy, it is necessary to observe and undergo an examination every three months. At the same time undergo ultrasound and mammography.
Prevention methods for breast diseases include:
- Good nutrition, avoid processed foods, fatty and smoked foods.
- The use of vitamins in the form of fresh vegetables and fruits. In the autumn-winter period, take multivitamins.
- Avoidance of pesticides and chemical additives in food.
- Perform timely reproductive function.
- Control over the administration of hormonal drugs. It is advisable to start taking them only after consulting a doctor.
- The implementation of breastfeeding.
- Regular sexual relations.
- Timely treatment: pathology of the thyroid gland, gynecological diseases, endocrine diseases, abnormalities in the liver.
And it is also necessary to avoid traumatic situations, to stop smoking and alcohol. Lead a healthy lifestyle, have daily physical activity. If a woman is more attentive to her health, she will not miss the first bells of an impending disease. Timely detected pathology is much better amenable to therapy.