The cause is probably an imbalance between the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Treatment is not always necessary, but only if the symptoms are severe. Among other things, medication is used to alleviate the symptoms.
Mastopathy is a benign breast disease in which the breast tissue changes. Symptoms such as a feeling of tension and heaviness in the chest or chest pain often occur. Lumps and cysts can also form in the breast.
The cause is probably an imbalance between the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Treatment is not always necessary, but only if the symptoms are severe. Among other things, medication is used to alleviate the symptoms.
Mastopathy is a benign disease of the female breast in which the breast tissue is remodeled. It usually affects women of childbearing age. Mastopathy is caused by an imbalance of female sex hormones. Affected women have an excess of oestrogen and at the same time a deficiency of the corpus luteum hormone progesterone.
Mastopathy can be very unpleasant. It manifests itself in symptoms such as swelling of the breast, breast tenderness and chest pain. The breast is also particularly sensitive to pressure and touch. The symptoms usually start about a week before the start of menstruation and usually affect both breasts.
There are different forms and degrees of severity of mastopathy – depending on the type of change in the glandular tissue:
The severity of mastopathy can vary from person to person. Experts distinguish between different degrees of severity from I to III. Grades II and III are associated with a slightly increased risk of breast cancer (breast carcinoma). Gynecologists can usually diagnose mastopathy by palpating the breast, performing an ultrasound examination and mammography. Sometimes a tissue sample (biopsy) is also necessary.
Although mastopathy can be very unpleasant, it does not usually require any special treatment. However, symptoms such as chest pain can be alleviated with medication. The good news is that the symptoms usually disappear with the onset of the menopause. The changes then disappear because the estrogen level drops. Women with high-grade mastopathy should regularly palpate their breasts themselves and have the changes checked by a doctor.
Mastopathy is a very common benign disease of the breast. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of all women between the ages of 30 and 55 are affected to a greater or lesser extent by breast changes. Mastopathy is therefore considered to be the most common mammary gland disease of all. Younger or older women are less likely to develop the disease. They usually suffer from fibrocystic mastopathy, in which both the connective tissue and the glandular cells multiply.
The estrogen level is too high. There are two main reasons for this: Either the body produces too much oestrogen or the oestrogen level is normal and there is a lack of progesterone. Then the amount of oestrogen is too high in relation to the corpus luteum hormone progesterone. Both hormones are significantly involved in the female cycle.
Other hormones can also be involved in the development of mastopathy. For example, an increased level of prolactin or male sex hormones (androgens) in the blood can shift the hormonal balance in favor of estrogen. Impaired thyroid function with a lack of thyroid hormones can also be responsible.
Some medications can also promote mastopathy via this detour of hormone production. Examples are some antidepressants or heart-strengthening medication with digitalis.
This imbalance in the female sex hormones causes the breast tissue to change. As mastopathy predominantly affects women of childbearing age, it is likely that the two hormones oestrogen and progesterone are involved. This is also supported by the fact that the symptoms increase and decrease over the course of the menstrual cycle and subside after the onset of the menopause.
The symptoms of mastopathy vary from woman to woman. They can also vary in severity from person to person. The most common complaints are
The symptoms change with the female cycle: they start about a week before the start of menstruation and then subside again with the onset of menstruation. In most women with mastopathy, both breasts are affected.
See your gynecologist, who is very familiar with benign and malignant changes in the breast. You will first be asked about your medical history (anamnesis). For example, the following points are important:
Their answers already provide initial indications of the causes of the complaints. This is followed by a palpation examination in which both breasts are carefully palpated with the hands. Changes such as lumps or hardening can be detected in this way. Doctors also check whether any existing lumps can be moved.
This is followed by an ultrasound examination (sonography) of both breasts. Ultrasound allows fluid-filled cavities such as cysts to be easily detected. Other benign breast diseases such as fibroadenomas can also be differentiated in this way.
Sometimes a mammogram is helpful. This method works with X-rays and makes the breast tissue visible. Among other things, it detects microcalcifications, which can indicate a malignant breast disease.
In some cases, a tissue sample (biopsy) is taken for safety reasons. A pathologist then analyzes the tissue sample under a microscope. Benign and malignant cells can thus be distinguished. A pathologist can also recognize the extent to which the cells have changed. If the cells are clearly different from normal, healthy cells, they are called “atypical” or “untypical” cells. The technical term for the disease is “atypical proliferating mastopathy”. Such cells are more likely to undergo malignant changes and degenerate. This increases the risk of breast cancer.
The changes in the breast can take on different dimensions. They are divided into three degrees of severity:
Even if the risk of breast cancer is very low, women with grade II or III mastopathy should undergo regular medical examinations. Changes can thus be diagnosed in good time. And when it comes to breast cancer, the earlier it is detected, the easier it is to treat and the higher the chances of recovery.
You can hardly prevent mastopathy. To date, no measures are known that could prevent mastopathy. There are also no special measures for the early detection of mastopathy. However, it is advisable for all women to carefully feel their breasts themselves at least once a month. Most women develop a good feeling for their breasts and possible changes. Always consult your gynecologist promptly if you experience symptoms or notice breast changes.
In the case of grade II and III mastopathy, regular check-ups are advisable. This is because there is a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Through early detection, breast cancer can often be detected at an early stage.
The course and prognosis of mastopathy are good in most cases. The symptoms start a few days before menstruation and disappear again after the onset of menstruation. However, the next cycle starts all over again. The good news, however, is that with the onset of the menopause, the symptoms of mastopathy also disappear.
However, some women experience a more severe course of mastopathy. There is a slightly increased risk of breast cancer in grades II and III. However, it is very rare for the changes in the breast to actually develop into breast cancer. The women themselves and the doctors treating them should keep an eye on the changes and check them regularly.
Mastopathy is not necessarily treated. Whether therapy is necessary depends on the type and extent of the symptoms. However, the symptoms can be very unpleasant and affect the quality of life. It therefore makes sense to treat women with severe symptoms. The therapy is primarily intended to alleviate the symptoms and correct the imbalance between oestrogen and progesterone.