Why Do My Breasts Hurt And Feel Heavy? Possible Causes

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Nutrition

Why Breasts May Hurt and Feel Heavy

Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Henigsman, DO — Written by Rachael Zimlich, RN, BSN on April 25, 2022

Overview
Composition & weight
Hormones
Abnormal tissue
When to see a doctor
Takeaway

Lots of body tissues change over the span of our lives, and breasts are no exception. The structure and function of breasts is dictated largely by hormonal changes, first at birth and then during puberty and again later in life.

Weight fluctuations can make your breasts appear larger or feel heavier, but there are other causes too.

This article will review what types of things can make your breasts feel uncomfortably heavy and when you need to worry.

What might cause breasts to hurt and feel heavy?

There’s no real “average” when it comes to the size and weight of breasts. Breast tissue varies by age, sex and gender, and life stage. The overall size of breast tissue is somewhat determined by genetics but can also be affected by things such as:

weight
exercise
the amount of fatty tissue
muscle development
hormones
pregnancy
breastfeeding
menopause
diseases such as breast cancer or fibrotic breasts
hormonal conditions such as gynecomastia

Any of these things can impact the feel of your breasts, especially when it comes to heaviness. Breasts that are large, heavy, or sag and pull can become painful. Large or heavy breasts can also lead to problems such as:

headaches
poor posture
neck pain
back pain

How much you worry about sore or heavy breasts depends on the cause of this tissue change.

Composition and weight

For many people, breast size can increase with weight gain or changes in your body composition. Fatty tissue is usually lighter in weight than regular breast tissue, so breasts with a higher fat content may be lighter than those with dense breast tissue.

Breasts that weigh more will be pulled down by gravity, making them feel heavier and maybe even sore. On average, three cup sizes is equal to about a pound of breast tissue.

Hormones, pregnancy, or breastfeeding

While weight can affect the amount of breast tissue you have and make them feel heavier, hormonal changes can change the structure and function of this tissue — which can also affect how heavy your breasts feel.

When certain hormones such as estrogen and progesterone increase, the size of the glands and ducts in your breasts increase along with the amount of water and other fluids.

When you’re breastfeeding, these glands and ducts also increase in size. Fluctuating breast-milk amounts can make breasts feel heavier, too.

In menopause, the production of estrogen and other hormones drops and the size of your ducts and breast glands shrinks. Menopause is often accompanied by weight gain or a change in the mix of muscle and fat. These changes can also change the texture and weight of your breasts, making them feel heavier.

Abnormal tissue

There are many conditions that can lead to abnormal tissue in the breast. One of these, of course, is breast cancer. Inflammation and tumor growth can increase the weight of your breast tissue, but there are other noncancerous culprits, too.

As breasts swell and change throughout your lifetime, these changes can lead to scarring. As breast tissue scars, fibrocystic tissue forms. This tissue can be heavy or hard and sometimes raises concerns about breast cancer. However, fibrocystic breast tissue isn’t cancerous, although it can be worrisome or uncomfortable.

When should you see a doctor?

One of the first steps to deciding if your breast heaviness or pain warrants a trip to see a doctor is to consider the circumstances. Breast tenderness and other breast tissue changes are usually divided into two categories:

cyclical: changes that occur regularly and are linked to the timing of the menstrual cycle
noncyclical: changes that occur outside of hormonal changes or menstruation

For example, if you’re having your period, become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, the source of your breast heaviness and pain may be pretty obvious and actually expected.

Changes that occur outside of your menstrual cycle or other hormonal changes may be more concerning, especially if these changes happen quickly or cause a lot of pain.

Regular breast tissue screenings called mammograms are usually used to monitor your breast health and natural tissue changes.

If a doctor or other healthcare professional is concerned about your family history or tissue changes, genetic testing, ultrasound imaging, or even biopsy may be used to gather more information about your tissue changes and any disease risks. Be sure to tell a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have a family history of breast cancers.

Takeaway

In some circumstances and life stages, breast heaviness is expected and not a cause for concern. This includes times such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and major weight changes.

However, breast heaviness that comes suddenly or with a lot of pain and doesn’t appear to be related to weight or hormonal changes may be a cause of concern.

Talk with a doctor if you have any concerns. Be sure to discuss your personal and family medical history, your individual cancer risk, and how often you should receive breast health screenings or mammograms.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Breast pain. (2020).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-pain/
Breast pain (mastalgia). (n.d.).https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/mastalgia-breast-pain
Breast reduction. (n.d.).https://www.surgery.org/consumers/ask-a-surgeon/breast-reduction/1029091
Sepulveda OAB, et. al. (2019). Mastodynia.https://www.redalyc.org/journal/2611/261162058005/html/
Tahir MT, et al. (2021). Mastalgia.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562195/
Worried about breast pain? (n.d.).https://breastcancernow.org/about-us/news-personal-stories/worried-about-breast-pain
Wright PA. (n.d.). Breast pain: 10 reasons your breasts may hurt.https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/breast-pain-10-reasons-your-breasts-may-hurt

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Henigsman, DO — Written by Rachael Zimlich, RN, BSN on April 25, 2022

Why Do My Breasts Hurt And Feel Heavy? Possible Causes

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Nutrition

What might cause breasts to hurt and feel heavy?

Composition and weight

Hormones, pregnancy, or breastfeeding

Abnormal tissue

When should you see a doctor?

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Why Is Your Body Feeling Heavy? A Doctor Explains Common Causes

7 Reasons Why Your Body Feels Heavy And Tired - Lifehack

Anxiety And Feeling Heavy

Why Does My Body Feel Heavy? - Quora

Head Feels Heavy: 5 Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

Why Does My Chest Feel Heavy? 13 Causes And Treatment

What It Means When You Feel Heavy - Mosso Nutrition And Fitness

Head Feels Heavy: Symptoms, Treatment, And More - Healthline

Heavy-headedness - Wikipedia

My Legs Feel Heavy, Help! [5 Things You Can Do About It]

Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy? - Vein Clinics Of America

When Can An Object Feel Heavier Than Itself? Perceived Heaviness Of ...

Depression- What To Do When Your Heart Gets Heavy

Contact