10 Reasons Why Your Nipples May Hurt?

Experiencing hard and sore nipples? Does pain in your nipples cause you the fear of breast cancer? Well! There are various other reasons which may cause you pain in your nipple pain in pregnancy.

Here are 10 reasons nipple pain in pregnancy

1.  Loose Fit Clothes

Runner’s nipple, Credits: Pixabay

Poorly fitting clothes can rub against your nipples and irritate your skin. A loose t-shirt or a bra can cause friction, pain and soreness in your nipple, especially with a repetitive motion like running.

2.  Allergic to Body Products

Body products, Credits: pixabay

Certain body products like soaps, shower gels, lotions may cause skin irritation and when used on breasts can make your nipples hard. This is due to the chemicals present in the product that may cause skin allergy,  redness, itching, chapping and rash.

3.  Ovulation

Ovulating woman, Credits: pixabay

Breast tenderness is one of the most common signs of ovulation. The surge in the estrogen levels during ovulation makes your nipples hard.

4.  Pregnancy

Pregnancy, Credits: pixabay

A woman’s body undergoes a lot of physical and hormonal changes during pregnancy. A boost in blood supply and hormone fluctuations may harden your nipple and cause nipple pain in pregnancy.

5. Pre and Postmenopause:

Menopause, Credits: pixabay

As a woman approaches menopause, the estrogen levels in the blood gradually decline which causes wrinkle and skin of the breasts to dry out. The changes in your breast can cause your nipples to become hard and make it painful.

6. Menstrual periods:

Menstrual pain, Credits: pixabay

Your periods may be causing your nipples to swell, which is due to a surge in the levels of estrogen during menstruation. But it may soon go away once your periods are over.

7. Breastfeeding

Menstrual pain, Credits: pixabay

Erect nipples are crucial to feeding your baby when she’s hungry. As a result, when your baby feeds it becomes hard due to stimulation. Mastitis associated with breastfeeding can also cause hard and chapped nipples.

Mastitis is usually seen in mothers during the early stages of childbirth. It occurs due to the clogged milk ducts that later is inhabited by the bacteria causing infection, pain and nipple discharge.

8. Breast abscess

Painful swollen lumps that result in breast abscess can cause nipple pain due to pus formation. It causes extreme pain and is associated with breastfeeding infection. In this case, the bacteria enter through the chapped skin in the nipples and invades the breast tissue to form an abscess.

9. Cold temperatures

Nipples are the most sensitive part of the body that can be easily affected by temperature changes. Piloerector neurons present in the nipples are stimulated by cold temperatures making your nipples hard and painful.

10. Infections

Fungal infections like candidiasis caused by yeasts can make your nipples sore and itchy. Check with your doctor if you experience severe nipple pain accompanied by deeper pain within the breast.

Nipple pain in pregnancy reasons are many.  While many of them go away on their own,  some of them can be prevented by applying moisturizers or nipple guards and taking necessary medications.