painful breasts

[100greenbottles]

I'm on the cusp of menopause, with several months without periods and then two in a row. Moody but not too many other symptoms, but suddenly my breasts have got really really painful - cyclical pain, but starting earlier, before midcycle. (if I had a midcycle anymore !) GP isn't very helpful and in any case it's not bad enough to consider HRT, but is there anything else I can do? I'm taking Evening Primrose Oil but doesn't seem to be helping. GP suggested eating lots of linseed and natural oestrogens to balance hormonal surges, but I'm wondering if that would actually make the breast pain worse? I feel like I'm floundering around here guessing what to do. Has anyone else had this and found any solutions? Or have any suggestions for where to seek better advice other than online forums? Thank you!

[Whatevva]

Perimenopause is a muddled time.

This is helpful: www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php

Taking a little exercise every day, eating healthily and avoiding things/foods that make you feel bad helps you to deal with it, but does not stop anything from happening.

There is good up to date info on the above site, there are books available (there are some recommended by people on these threads), but everyone is different. If you find that you want to take hrt, then it is your choice - read up, read the NICE guidelines and find a sympathetic doctor.

[PollyPerky]

It's my understanding that it's an incomplete cycle that causes breast pain- low progesterone levels due to no ovulation some months. Might be wrong! When having a complete cycle with ovulation, progesterone is produced then when it falls, the breasts lose their density at the end of a cycle and any pain goes away.
EPO is supposed to help but can take 12 weeks at least and you do need to take it at the right dose.

I'm not sure your GPs advice is right because it's unlikely you need more oestrogen to help breast pain.

HRT would re-set your cycles eventually and would probably stop the painful breasts. As the PP says, it's your choice to use HRT if you want to as long as you don't have any medical reasons why it's too risky.