Rosh Women's Health Practice Exam

Mastalgia, or breast pain, is commonly associated with hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. The symptom of localized breast tenderness that increases before menstruation is a hallmark of cyclical mastalgia. This condition is often related to the breast tissue's response to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels, particularly during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle when these hormones are elevated.

In cyclical mastalgia, women frequently experience tenderness and pain that subsides after menstruation begins, distinguishing it from other types of breast pain. This cyclical nature and the increase in tenderness just prior to menstrual periods make this symptom a defining characteristic of mastalgia linked to menstrual cycle changes. Understanding this pattern is essential for diagnosing and managing breast pain in relation to menstrual cycles.