What is mastopathy
Breast tissue is very sensitive to hormonal fluctuations. Each cycle, under the influence of estrogen and progesterone, it changes: the number of glandular elements increases, swelling increases. After menstruation, everything returns to its original state.
When this balance is disturbed, changes accumulate: connective tissue grows, ducts expand, and small cysts form. The gland becomes dense, lumpy, and painful - especially in the second half of the cycle.
- Diffuse form - changes are evenly distributed throughout the gland
- Nodular form - isolated seals requiring more careful evaluation
- Fibrocystic - a combination of proliferation of connective tissue and cysts
- With a predominance of glandular, cystic or fibrous component
Symptoms
- Pain and engorgement of the mammary glands, intensifying in the second half of the cycle
- Feeling of heaviness and fullness
- Compactions and lumpiness when palpated, most often in the upper-outer parts
- Changes in the severity of symptoms during the cycle are a characteristic feature
- Clear or whitish discharge from the nipples when pressed
- Increased nipple sensitivity
- Reduction of symptoms with the onset of menstruation
- Often - bilateral nature of the changes
Causes and risk factors
- Hormonal imbalance: relative excess of estrogen with lack of progesterone
- Elevated prolactin
- Thyroid diseases
- Gynecological diseases: fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS
- Chronic stress and sleep disorders
- Lack of childbirth and breastfeeding
- Late first birth
- Abortion
- Obesity and diabetes
- Liver diseases
- Hereditary predisposition
- Excess caffeine increases pain in some women
Survey
- Inspection and palpation of the mammary glands, preferably in the first phase of the cycle
- Ultrasound of the mammary glands is the main method in young women; distinguishes cysts and dense formations well
- Mammography is the main method after a certain age, on a schedule recommended by a doctor
- Biopsy of the formation with histological examination for suspicious findings
- Fine needle aspiration for cysts
- Examination of nipple discharge if present
- Prolactin, TSH, assessment of hormonal levels when indicated
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and thyroid gland
- Examination by a gynecologist - treatment of mastopathy is closely related to gynecological health
About self-examination: A monthly breast examination is useful as a way to learn about the characteristics of your tissue and notice changes, but it does not replace instrumental examination. You need to focus on scheduled ultrasounds and mammograms.
Treatment
- Correctly selected support underwear is a simple measure that significantly reduces discomfort.
- Limiting caffeine, salt and fatty foods in the second phase of the cycle
- Normalization of body weight
- Treatment of concomitant gynecological and endocrine diseases
- Correction of prolactin levels and thyroid function
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for severe pain
- Local gel forms
- Hormonal therapy - as prescribed by a doctor, more often when combined with gynecological pathology
- Observation with control ultrasound or mammography
- Puncture of large cysts
- Sectoral resection for nodular formations requiring removal
- Quitting smoking
When to contact urgently
- The appearance of a dense fixed node with fuzzy boundaries
- Retraction of the skin or nipple
- Skin changes like lemon peel, redness, swelling
- Bloody or brown discharge from the nipple, especially from one duct
- Enlarged dense axillary lymph nodes
- Unilateral formation that does not change during the cycle
- Changes that appear after menopause
Where to get examined in Tashkent
An examination, ultrasound of the mammary glands and, if necessary, a biopsy of the formation with histological examination are required.
In Tashkent, such an examination, including a biopsy of breast formations, is carried out at the UROLOGIC COMPLEX medical center and at the Tashkent Medical Park clinic.
Do not be alarmed by the diagnosis of “mastopathy”: this is not a precancer or a death sentence. But don’t ignore routine examinations - against the background of uneven tissue, it is important to notice changes in time that stand out from the overall picture. Clinic contacts are below.
