Women's Health Research Newsletter
October 2006

Mastalgia (Breast Pain)

What is mastalgia?

Mastalgia is the clinical name for breast pain and is generally classified as either cyclic (associated with one’s menstrual cycle) or noncyclic. The pain women experience can vary widely from minor discomfort to severe pain in some cases. It often begins to surface around the time of ovulation and can continue through the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

The most common type of breast pain is cyclic, and it is almost always related to hormonal changes. This is usually due to some imbalance between the two hormones that stimulate menstruation, estrogen and progesterone. However, the problem can also possibly be caused or exacerbated by other personal issues, such as stress.

What is fibrocyctic breast pain?

It is estimated that 33% of women experience benign (non-cancerous) but often quite painful cysts and lumps in their breasts. A breast duct becomes blocked, and fills up with fluid like a balloon filled with water. This is the cystic component of fibrocystic disease. The area around that blocked duct can then form scar tissue, which is the fibrous component of the fibrocystic disease. The outcome of this condition can cause breast pain, or mastalgia.

What are my options?

The Women's Health Research Unit is currently conducting a study looking at the efficacy of an investigational medication called IoGen in the treatment of pain associated with fibrocystic breast pain. Eligible participants should have moderate to severe periodic breast pain associated with symptomatic fibrocystic breast disease, but be otherwise healthy.

If you, or someone you know suffers from this condition, we would urge you to consider participation in this study. For more information and to determine whether you would qualify, please call the Women's Health Research Unit's confidential recruitment line at
503 494-3666. Eligible participants will receive exams and other study related tests at no charge and will be compensated up to $100 for their participation in the study. Insurance is never required to be a part of one of our studies.

Heidi Printz, Ph.D.
Manager, Women's Health Research Unit
Oregon Health & Sciences University