An 8-year-old girl has one swollen breast.  Why does a teenage girl have chest pain?

An 8-year-old girl has one swollen breast. Why does a teenage girl have chest pain?

Hello, Natalia! Puberty is a purely individual thing; for some teenagers it begins earlier, for others later. There is no absolutely clear time frame here. There are different points of view on the age when, in fact, girls should begin puberty. In some sources, this age is precisely indicated from eight years. Other sources claim that the onset of puberty in girls before the age of ten can be considered premature. But, I hasten to reassure you that your girl is probably developing within normal limits. Because, in this case, a lot may depend not so much on age, but on the initial build of the child, on the hormonal state, on heredity, etc. Thus, it is known that initially large girls can begin to develop in this regard much earlier than their peers. In addition, our century, with its high-calorie diet, fairly prosperous (in many cases) living conditions, also have a significant impact on the fact that adolescents of the twenty-first century begin to develop sexually earlier than their peers from previous generations.

Since the maturation process female breast can last for as long as ten years, at the moment your daughter is just beginning, and you see only the first signs of the girl turning into a girl. At first, the nipples increase slightly in size, areola may swell and protrude slightly. After which the adipose tissue will begin to develop, and the breasts will grow, becoming rounded. Probably, this process will occur quite gradually, and the girl will be able to calmly get used to these new sensations. The appearance of secondary sexual characteristics (hair growth of the pubis and armpits) may begin in parallel with the development of the breasts, or may be somewhat delayed. In any case, the girl’s breasts should not grow too quickly for now, and they will take on their adult shape a little later.

Some painful sensations can also be considered natural signs of breast maturation in girls. Of course, you can visit a gynecologist-endocrinologist, just in case. Let the specialist look at the girl’s breasts himself. But, if you do not observe any pathologies in the child, for example, there is no discharge from the breast, no lumps are palpable, there is no excessive pain and the like, then you can simply carefully monitor the development of the breast yourself, listen to the girl’s words or complaints and Based on this, draw conclusions about whether to visit a doctor or not.

At the following link http://mastopatiya.com.ua/rasti-grud-bolshaya-i-malenkaya/ you can read the recommendations of a pediatric gynecologist.

When a girl experiences chest pain, the most sensible thing she can do is see a doctor. After all, this unpleasant phenomenon can be caused by many reasons, and they are not always safe for health. Therefore, in any case, it would not hurt to consult a specialist mammologist. Why might chest pain occur?

Hormonal balance and chest pain. Is there a connection?

A very common cause of pain is hormonal imbalance. That is, pain signals that the “usual” composition of hormones in the body has changed. This is why many representatives of the fair sex have breast pain during menstruation. Painful sensations can be either barely noticeable, causing virtually no discomfort, or quite severe. A common cause of chest pain is pregnancy. Moreover, such sensations can occur literally a few days after conception. This also occurs due to hormonal changes. Over time, the appearance of the breast changes: it increases in size, veins become visible through the skin, and stretch marks may appear. All these are signs that the body has begun to prepare the mammary glands for feeding the unborn baby. The causes of hormonal imbalance (and, accordingly, chest pain) can be various diseases of the nervous system, overwork, stress, disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands, deficiency of the microelement iodine . Excessive consumption of strong coffee or alcoholic beverages can cause chest pain, as this also affects hormonal levels.

What else could be causing chest pain?

Some girls, especially those with an excellent figure, nowadays like to sunbathe topless or in microscopic swimsuits that practically do not cover their breasts. But this is a big risk for the body! Especially if a girl from a northern country came to sunbathe in the south, where the sun’s ultraviolet radiation is very “hard”. As a result, chest pain may appear, and the likelihood of developing skin cancer – melanoma – may increase dramatically. It is better not to take risks and wear a closed swimsuit. If a girl really wants to swim and sunbathe topless or in a bikini swimsuit, she should visit the beach in the morning and evening, making sure to lubricate her skin with sunscreen. Sometimes the cause of chest pain is an uncomfortable, tight bra, especially with hard inserts. Pain can be caused by an accidental injury - bruise, compression (for example, in a crowded transport during rush hour). Chest pain also occurs due to inflammation of the lymph nodes and neoplasms. The most dangerous case is if these tumors are malignant. Therefore, if you experience pain in the chest, you should consult a specialist.

The life of a teenage girl is full of difficulties and problems, and then her breasts periodically hurt! “I probably have cancer,” the unfortunate sufferer decides and says goodbye to all her friends on social networks.

“It hurts because it’s growing,” says the callous mother, who has never understood her poor dying daughter even once in her life.

True-Lady is always on the side of its readers, no matter who they are. That is why we recommend trusting the opinion of a gynecologist who knows exactly why a teenage girl has breast pain.

Chest pain is not scary

The chest, like any part of the body, can hurt, both in girls and young people. In guys, irritation may even appear on the skin near the nipple - however, it goes away within two to three days. Girls usually feel mild pain in the mammary gland, for example, while lying on their stomach or taking a shower. Sometimes your chest feels suddenly heavier.


In both cases, chest pain - meaning pain specifically in the mammary gland - is not a reason for panic, does not indicate anything terrible, and in the vast majority of cases goes away without a trace with age. Well, sometimes reminding you of yourself during pregnancy or before your period.

Breast pain in a teenager is not a symptom of a terrible disease, much less a sign of cancer. If there are no additional symptoms, there is no need to pay any special attention to chest pain.

Breasts are growing

All mammals, including humans, have breasts - or mammary glands. In humans, the breasts are steamy and consist of fat, mammary glands, nerves, connective tissues, and so on.

A person needs breasts, first of all, to feed their offspring - after all, we belong to the class of mammals, as intended by evolution. And the body of the expectant mother prepares for this important process even in adolescence.

Girls' breasts begin to develop at the age of 8-13 (most often at 10-11), and at about the same age discomfort in the mammary gland begins, which in some girls can be quite intense.

The cause of the discomfort is the immediate growth of the breasts, which is also indicated by swelling around the nipples (which, by the way, can also change very much). This is not a cause for concern, but a normal part of development.

Breast pain before period

Let's first realize that not everything that is normal is pleasant and comfortable - that's how our body works. So, it’s completely normal for girls to have a little sore breasts before or during menstruation. This happens because the body produces a lot of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) during menstruation. Swelling, headaches and pain in the lower abdomen, mood swings - it's all due to hormones. The chest also swells, becomes heavier, and mild pain is felt.

Most symptoms, including breast pain, should subside at the beginning of menstruation. Before this, you can use painkillers (preferably based on nimesulide) and a supportive bra - soft, made of dense natural fabric, without wires or push-up.

The pain decreases, but over the long term, a little every month, if you lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, exercise regularly and get enough sleep.

It has been proven that food with a lot of salt (chips, crackers) and caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate) worsens the situation, as it retains water and adds edema. But foods containing a lot of calcium - for example, almonds, yoghurts, cottage cheese - on the contrary, relieve symptoms. You can drink decaffeinated coffee or herbal tea.

My chest hurts, is there any point in going to the doctor?

Every girl should be examined by a gynecologist every six months - this is important. Of course, you can clarify with your doctor everything that interests you, that worries you, or that is not clear. Don't be shy, it's completely normal to talk to your doctor about your concerns.

You need to see a doctor urgently if one of the breasts (less often, both) is swollen, increased in size, hardened, hot to the touch, something is oozing from the nipple, the skin has changed color, or a rash has appeared on them.

If the indicated symptoms are not observed, but the chest hurts a lot, throbs, the body temperature is elevated, and the lower abdomen may be tight, you need to plan a visit to the doctor in the next few hours.

If your chest does not hurt, but lumpy nodes or lumps are felt under the skin, you should also consult a doctor.

Tamara Rappel