Painful breasts every month before period

[SpongeCake23]

Does anyone else get really sore, tender and heavy breasts in the week or two after ovulation, leading up to their period? Since TTC mine have been like this, especially when I'm not wearing a bra.
My nipples get sore and tingly too. Also quite itchy occasionally.
I always think I'm pregnant but then AF arrives 😔

Does anyone know if it's a symptom of a hormone imbalance or something? When I say painful, I mean no one, not even myself can touch them even lightly.

I had this, but only when I came off of my pill to conceive my son! I was adamant I was pregnant every month! It was a nightmare. I feel for you x

Hi op. Yes me. Had it for a long time but not all my life. I’m 41.5 though now so put it down to my age. How old are you? Ive read that it’s a sign of hormone imbalance but I’ve tried everything to balance my hormones and I still get it. It starts a few days after ovulation and fades away 2-3 days before AF. So I always know if I’m pregnant or not without taking a test by my boobs! I had my hormones tested recently and despite my age my gp said my progesterone levels were very good/high which I presumed was what causes the sore boobs. So I’ve been wondering if I’m high on progesterone and low on oestrogen. But then again my gp said all my other levels were good. Who knows. But yes I sympathise. It’s painful and gets your hopes up.

@littlemimosa I'm only 28 and I've only noticed it badly since TTC.

Were you on hormonal contraception prior to TTC? If you were, that will have masked the symptoms of your natural cycle. FWIW, pre menopause I used to get sore, itchy boobs in the run up to my period for the whole 35 years or so (never got on with hormonal contraception). Cyclic HRT (so oestrogen all the time, progesterone in the run up to my "period") doesn't produce these symptoms even though I still get a monthly bleed.

I've had sore boobs before period since puberty, so 18 years! I find recently it's been a full 2 weeks from the moment I ovulate to the second my AF starts. Literally that morning my boobs are sore, AF arrives and I can poke them with no pain!!

@PricklyBall I was on hormonal contraception but years ago. So I don't think it's a contributing factor.

@wifeymcwifeface1104 did it ever hinder your conception or did you have problems ttc?

@Sponge we've just started TTC so couldn't tell you!

It's a normal symptom of your monthly cycle. It has likely become more obvious to you now you're monitoring everything. I wasn't aware of it before I started TTC, but only because of never really though about my cycle properly before. Unfortunately it's very similar to the way being pregnant feels at the beginning so it can be confusing. Good luck with TTC

Yes I have this also, I came off the pill in July to TTC and every month after ovulation my boobs are so so painful! it only goes away once my period starts. I literally wince in pain at putting a bra on and walking even hurts if my boobs move about.

I was planning on going to the doctors about it but haven't done so yet. Reading the comments is reassuring as now I know its not only me.

It's a normal premenstrual symptom, caused by progesterone.

Yes, as @queen says above, it's common after ovulation. After you ovulate, progesterone kicks in, and that can cause boob ache. I get it for the entire tww until af arrives. It's an excellent sign that you've ovulated ☺️ Pain in the bum...er, chest...though 😉

@PirateWeasel Thanks yes I'm 100% sure I ovulated this month as had lots of EWCM and one sided pain.

If I'm ovulating, why am I not getting pregnant? this month marks 6 months since starting ttc.

I get this almost every month too. So annoying :(

There’s literally a hundred reasons why you can be ovulating and not be getting pregnant. I’m on month 14 and I’m definitely ovulating and haven’t been pregnant once. Tube blockages, scar tissue, lining issues, low egg quality, low egg reserve, sperm issues, luck of the draw... also you can get all the signs of ovulating and not actually be ovulating. It’s a minefield tbh. 6 months is a very short time to be ttc in the grand scheme. If you get to 12 months, speak to your gp and they can start some tests for you :)

At 6 months you have JUST passed the stage where you are more likely to have become pregnant than not... Nearly 50% of people will not be pregnant at the 6 months of ttc stage. 80% will fall pregnant in a year and 95% within two years.

It feels unfair. And it is - you decided to ttc when you were ready for a baby, not ready for an agonising wait. Such is the crappy situation of birth control - we can 'control' when NOT to become pregnant, but not nearly as much when we DO become pregnant.

Sorry to hijack thread but what is the best way to check if I am ovulating? like what are the best kits out there? I get the breast pain and my cycles are very predictable but I don't ever have any CM. I'm not sure if this is a usual thing or not but I literally have nothing and no tell tale signs that it is all working properly for me.

MrsxX4 opks won’t tell you if you’re definitely ovulating. You can temp alongside them and use a chart to check you’re ovulating. Other than that, you’ll need blood tests to check your progesterone levels (which they wouldn’t do until you’ve been ttc for at least 12 months)

As others have said, this is a totally normal pre-period symptom - in fact I don't bother tracking my periods anymore as I know that my boobs will let me know when things are about to happen. I don't even like being hugged when they are sore as it's blooming painful.
Fwiw, I was lucky enough to get pregnant very easily and quickly with both my children, so it's honestly not anything to worry about from that perspective.

Hey I have had this every month since coming off the pill too. I'm hoping it's just progesterone. I've been trying since the summer too and am really getting impatient. Cried today when a friend text me to say shes pregnant! But fx it happens for us soon...

1000mg of good quality Evening Primrose Oil sorted my breast tenderness out.

@surreygirl1987 You sound so similar to me!
My friend told me she was pregnant after one cycle this weekend. I feel sick to my stomach and don't even want to contact her at the moment. It's a horrible feeling.

@Cahu58 Can you tell me a good quality brand please?

I found that just Boots or even Tesco own brand was fine but I bough some on sale in Holland and Barrett which were hopeless. My GP advised me to take them as I was in such pain for 2 weeks out of every month. They take a while to get in to your system but they really worked for me. I had it from my late 20's until I had kids. The pain was not as severe after that but if I felt it coming back I used to take them. They were wonderful. Can't recommend them enough x

@spongecake123 one cycle! Gosh! Some people are so lucky. Actually, lots of people are apparently, judging by a new thread that just popped up where everyone on it seems to have conceived after dtd once!

I totally know the sick feeling you mean. I AM happy for my friend.. but I would be a lot happier if I was pg too!! So so hard! Still, 6 months isnt that long really I guess... best or luck:)

I second primrose oul. It's bloody marvellous. Got to be to high dose and a good make . I take boots own. It takes about a month to get into your system but really really works. Dr suggested it to me too and I was very sceptical but can't sing it's praises highly enough. Give it a go