Mastopathy
Mastopathy is a benign change in the glandular tissue of the female breast. Affected women often suffer from an uncomfortable feeling of tension in the breasts, and swelling is also typical. These symptoms are often significantly worse during menstruation.
A mastopathy describes a change in the tissue of the breast that is benign. In technical terms, mastopathy is also called mammary dysplasia. Mastopathy is very common, especially in people aged between 35 and 50 years. Older or younger women are only extremely rarely affected.
It is the most common breast disease in women. There are different forms of mastopathy, and they are divided into different degrees of severity. This allows the risk of breast cancer to be estimated.
causes
What causes mastopathy has not yet been fully clarified. It is believed that an imbalance between hormones can promote mastopathy. The hormones progesterone and estrogen , which are directly involved in the female menstrual cycle of every woman, are decisive. This imbalance of hormones is manifested by an increased level of estrogen.
This can be caused by various diseases. This is often due to hormonal disorders or problems with the thyroid gland . In most cases, mastopathy only affects women who have already reached sexual maturity. Younger women are rarely affected. If there is mastopathy, the symptoms usually improve significantly when the menopause occurs. The associated hormonal changes allow the symptoms to subside.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of mastopathy:
The symptoms can be very different, both in their variety and in their severity. Sometimes the symptoms are perceived as being so unnerving that the affected woman sees no reason to see a doctor. Possible symptoms are pain in the breast, uncomfortable feelings of tension, palpable lumps or other changes in the tissue of the breast and discharge of secretions can also occur.
Whether the first symptom is pain or the lump is discovered by accident is completely different. Sometimes the woman will find a breast lump on palpation, but she has never had any significant discomfort. However, it can also be the other way around, that pain occurs first and then the change is discovered. In any case, a doctor should be consulted at the latest when a lump is discovered. This can also be the basis of significantly more serious diseases than mastopathy. If other symptoms are present, such as chest pain or feelings of tension, these should at least be addressed during a check -up.
Diagnose
If mastopathy is suspected, a visit to the doctor should be made. The family doctor is not the right contact for this, the examination and diagnosis should be carried out by a gynecologist. First, the gynecologist will scan the breast to detect possible changes, such as lumps in the glandular tissue. In the case of mastopathy, these changes can usually be felt very easily.
If the suspicion of mastopathy is confirmed, further examinations can be carried out to secure the diagnosis. An ultrasound examination is often carried out for this purpose, which makes tissue changes in the breast visible. However, a mammogram is more revealing because smaller calcifications in the tissue can also be seen here.
treatment and therapy
When treating mastopathy, the first priority is to alleviate the symptoms. This can be done with targeted hormone therapy . Since there is often an excess of estrogen in the blood, a progestin is prescribed to balance the hormones. The intake depends on the cycle of the woman. Another drug that is often used is a so-called prolactin inhibitor.
This is particularly indicated when severe tension pain occurs or cysts are present in the breast. There are also medications that limit the release of estrogen. In addition to drug treatment, further measures may also be necessary in the case of mastopathy. If calcifications are detected in the breast tissue during a mammogram, they are removed and then examined in the laboratory.
If cysts have formed, a puncture is performed and then the sample is also examined. Cell changes can be detected. If there is a discharge of secretion from the nipple, a laboratory test is also carried out here. All these samples can ensure further treatment. In extremely rare cases, mastopathy may require removal of the breast. However, this measure is only taken if there is a particularly high risk that the affected woman could develop breast cancer.
prevention
Unfortunately, there are no direct preventive measures for mastopathy. However, it is recommended that every woman should examine her own breasts regularly. Then possible changes can be discovered and medical help can be sought quickly. Early treatment is always significantly better than when the disease is already advanced.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.