The mammary glands serve not only as a symbol of femininity and sexuality. Their main function is to produce milk to feed the newborn baby. Therefore, they have a structure that ensures the performance of this function.
The mammary glands are located on chest at the level of 3-6 ribs on the surface of the pectoralis major muscle. They are modified sweat glands and remain in men in a rudimentary form throughout life. In women, with the onset of puberty, they increase. Greatest development and size mammary glands reach on last month pregnancy, but full milk production begins only in the postpartum period.
Each mammary gland of a mature woman consists of glandular tissue, which is divided by adipose and connective tissue. Layers of dense connective tissue divide the entire gland into 15-20 lobes, each of which is in turn divided into smaller lobules. The entire space between the lobes is filled with adipose tissue, which is also abundant at the base of the gland (at the place where it is attached to the chest).
The size and volume of the mammary glands depends on the amount of adipose tissue. Connective tissue attaches the glands to the muscles of the sternum and holds it in place, preventing it from sliding down. The shape of the breast, as well as its location and appearance– higher or drooping. Therefore, there is a variety of sizes and shapes mammary glands among women. Sometimes there are additional lobes or even glands in women, which are best removed, as they can provoke the development of cancer.
The glandular tissue of the mammary glands itself consists of many individual mammary glands located in the lobules of the gland. The mammary glands, in turn, consist of branching tubes that have extensions at the ends. These expansions look like microscopic bubbles and are called alveoli. In the alveoli, which are the secretory sections of the glands, milk is formed, which is excreted through the tubes. The ends of the tubes are called the milk ducts and pass into the milk sinuses, which open on the nipple.
The nipple is present on each mammary gland and is located in its center. It is surrounded by the areola, a pigmented area of skin. Here is located a large number of nerve endings and sebaceous glands. It is the nerve endings that ensure the release of milk when the baby touches the nipple. They also provide nipples with high sensitivity, turning them into an erogenous zone.
The mammary glands develop and change as a woman ages.
How the mammary gland develops with age
In embryos, the mammary glands develop up to 6 weeks from conception, and by the 4th month of intrauterine life the first milk ducts appear. Nipples and areolas form in the fetus during the 7th month of uterine life. Gradual growth and development of the mammary glands occurs during the first two years of a child’s life. By the age of 3, the nipples are fully formed.
Before the onset of puberty, girls' breasts are in an embryonic state, in which there are no alveoli, and the mammary glands look like short tubes without branches.
During puberty, estrogens, which are produced by the ovaries, cause the tubes to grow in length, their branching, and the formation of alveolar primordia. At the same time, there is an increase in the amount of connective and adipose tissue, due to which the gland enlarges and takes on the appropriate shape.
With the onset of regular menstruation, the mammary glands undergo cyclical monthly changes. So, in the second phase of the cycle, progesterone is produced, which provokes the development of alveoli. But the duration of its production is very short, which is why by the beginning of the next cycle the alveoli disappear again, never fully formed.
In the middle menstrual cycle There may be sensations of engorgement, heaviness, and pain in the mammary glands. These processes are caused by the action of hormones. If the pain is severe and lasts up to 2 weeks, then this may indicate cyclic mastodynia, which is accompanied by disturbances in water and hormonal metabolism in the body. This condition requires consultation with a doctor for treatment recommendations to avoid pathological changes.
Complete formation of the alveoli occurs during pregnancy. In this case, the growth of glandular tissue is observed under the influence of produced hormones. The breasts increase in size and become dense. The nipple and areola acquire more pronounced pigmentation. In this way, the mammary glands prepare to perform their main task - feeding the child.
In the first few days after birth, the mammary glands remain soft and painless on palpation, and colostrum is released from them. Around the third day, the breasts fill up, increase in size and begin to secrete milk. U different women lactation can be different - abundant or scanty, short or long. Sometimes milk may continue to be released for some time after breastfeeding has stopped. The return of breasts to their normal state after lactation can take up to 5 years.
A condition in which very abundant milk discharge is observed is called galactorrhea. In such cases it is necessary mandatory consultation see a doctor who can prescribe drug therapy with drugs that suppress prolactin hypersecretion, as well as a cytological examination of nipple discharge.
Around the age of 40-50, women begin to experience hormonal changes that are caused by the onset of menopause and menopause. These physiological processes are normal, however, when they occur, the body’s adaptive capabilities are reduced and hormonal imbalances in the body may occur.
The effect of hormones on the mammary glands
The mammary glands are under constant influence of hormones. They are influenced by hormones of the pituitary gland, adrenal cortex, pancreas and thyroid gland and, of course, ovarian hormones. Based on the condition of the mammary glands and their appearance, one can judge the presence of hormonal imbalances. The dependence of the development of pathological changes in the mammary glands in women suffering from fibroids, endometriosis, polyps, and endometrial hyperplasia has been proven. Mastopathy with hyperplasia of glandular tissue most often occurs in women with endometriosis. Patients with uterine fibroids often develop fibrous or fibrocystic form of mastopathy.
If a woman suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome, then involutive changes occur in the mammary glands, expressed in fibro-fatty restructuring or fatty transformation. In cases where endometrial hyperplasia is added to polycystic ovary syndrome, adenosis is determined in the breast. If the patient has exhausted ovarian syndrome, then fatty transformation is observed in the mammary glands.
In cases where women have a congenital defect in the development of the ovaries, the breasts are completely absent or may have the appearance of a fatty skin fold. When hormone therapy is prescribed, the structure of the mammary glands is restored.
At early menopause in women (under 35 years of age) and resistant ovarian syndrome, the bulk of the mammary glands consists of adipose tissue and fibrous structures.
In the course of research, as well as data analysis, it was found that breast diseases are more often observed in women who have not given birth, who are not breastfeeding, and who have not been sexually active.
The risk of developing breast diseases increases:
In addition, risk factors are:
- obesity;
- tumors and cysts of the uterus and ovaries;
- arterial hypertension;
- pathologies of the mammary glands (trauma, mastitis);
- cancer of the ovaries, breast, uterus in close relatives;
- pathology of the thyroid gland.
If a woman has more than 3 factors simultaneously, then she needs constant thorough examinations.
Preventive diagnostics of the condition of the mammary glands
The number of women with breast diseases is growing every year. Therefore, every woman should know about methods of diagnosis and examination of the mammary glands.
There are 2 types of diagnostics:
Women over 35 years of age should undergo an annual breast ultrasound and mammography to prevent cancer.
Mastopathy
One of the most common benign diseases of the mammary glands is mastopathy. This name hides a whole group of diseases of the mammary glands, in which disturbances occur in the quantitative ratio of connective, adipose and glandular tissues.
Today, medicine knows about 50 types of fibrocystic mastopathy. However, only 2 types of mastopathy are of clinical interest:
- without proliferation and atypia;
- with proliferation and atypia.
Proliferation is active cell division. Atypia is the presence of cells that have external differences from healthy cells. These are not cancer cells, however, their structure is different from the structure of normal breast cells.
Mastopathy is divided into diffuse and nodular. With the latter, a lump is detected in the chest. Diffuse mastopathy is characterized by multiple diffuse compactions.
Each type of mastopathy has its own classification. Thus, among nodular mastopathy there are:
Diffuse mastopathy is divided into:
- adenosis (with a predominance of the glandular component);
- fibroadenosis (with a predominance of the fibrous component);
- fibrocystic disease (with a predominance of the cystic component);
- sclerosing adenosis;
- mixed form.
According to statistics, approximately 60-90% of women suffer from mastopathy of one form or another. Many people do not attach importance to the presence of this disease, which is unacceptable. After all, mastopathy can become a predisposing factor for the development of benign tumors. In addition, mastopathy increases the chances of developing breast cancer several times. Therefore, if you detect the slightest changes in the structure of the mammary glands or their appearance, you should seek help from a specialist in order to begin treatment on time and prevent the development of more serious diseases.
The female breast is not only one of the secondary sexual characteristics and an organ intended for feeding offspring, it is also an important component feminine attractiveness. That's why the fair half is so partial to its size and shape.
To answer the question of what determines the volume and type of bust, you need to understand the structure of the breast and the factors influencing changes in it.
The female breast is a paired organ consisting of glandular tissue. The gland itself is composed of lobes located with their apices towards the nipple. They are separated by connective tissue, which also lines the anterior surface of the gland and is present between the deep skin layers.
It forms special mesh cords attached to the collarbone. This mesh gradually expands and forms a capsule in which the mammary gland is located.
In addition to connective tissue, the breast includes glandular and adipose tissue. The components also include an extensive network of blood vessels, milk ducts, and sensitive nerve endings. Between the mammary glands there is a depression, otherwise called the sinus.
When considering the structure of the breast, it is worth mentioning the nipple as an important component. It is located in the middle, surrounded by the parapapillary circle, which is a pigmented area of skin.
The surface of the nipple is covered with small wrinkles, and at the top there are milk pores, in other words, the ends of the milk ducts. As a rule, the nipple rises above the surface of the breast by an average of 0.5 - 1 cm, but sometimes there are flat nipples or even retracted, as if recessed into the body of the mammary gland, which sometimes causes difficulties during breastfeeding.
The type of breast is determined genetically and varies within different races. Thus, the breasts of European women are hemispherical, Asian women are conical, and African women are pear-shaped. Even within the same race, breast shapes can vary greatly.
In addition, the mammary gland can have an erect or saggy appearance, which depends on how strong and elastic the connective tissue capsule is. This, in turn, is determined by age, physical fitness, health status and hormonal levels.
Bust volume
The weight and size of the mammary glands directly depend on what type of tissue predominates in the structure of the breast. If the preponderance is on the side of the glandular tissue, the bust will have relatively constant dimensions.
But in the case when the main component is adipose tissue, a decrease or increase in total body weight leads to changes in breast volume. On average, 1 kg of the figure as a whole is equivalent to 15-20 grams of breast mass. Consequently, having gained or lost 5-7 kg, a young lady can change her bust size.
There are other factors that have a key impact on breast characteristics. It is worth telling about them in more detail.
Age-related changes
Over the years, the structure of the breast undergoes serious changes. This is caused by a decrease in fat and glandular tissue and a slowdown in estrogen production. As a result, the fullness, firmness and size of the breasts decrease.
The shape of the mammary gland is smoothed out and it sags. The peripapillary area decreases and may disappear completely over time. The hair around the nipple falls out.
The onset of these changes can be observed after 30, but the greatest intensity is achieved during menopause.
Effect of hormones
Throughout reproductive age female breast is also undergoing changes. The processes in it are controlled by hormones. They contribute to fluctuations in breast size during menstruation. The mammary glands change their structure, obeying the course of the menstrual cycle.
As ovulation approaches, the amount of epithelium of the lobes and ducts increases, blood supply increases, and edema forms. As a result, breast volume and density increase. These processes may be accompanied by an increase in organ sensitivity. If for some reason conception does not occur, the resulting structure, after a few weeks, atrophies.
An increase in breast mass can be achieved through hormones that are produced during active sexual activity. In addition, during sex, blood flows more actively to the tissues and develops a capillary network, which helps to increase the volume of the mammary gland.
The firmness and size of the breasts depends on the hormones testosterone and estrogen. If the level of the first exceeds the norm, this may cause the growth of the mammary gland to stop. Estrogen acts in the opposite way, promoting volume growth.
Pregnancy
When expecting a baby, the mother's body undergoes dramatic changes, especially the structure of the breasts. This organ prepares to perform its main function - milk production and feeding. New glandular tissue is formed, water and fat accumulate.
Bust size increases significantly; each breast can increase its weight by half a kilogram. The skin and connective tissue take on increased stress. Their appearance after the end of lactation largely depends on how well they cope with it, and on compliance with the rules for caring for the mammary glands.
Obviously, the appearance of the breast is determined by the size of the adipose tissue, mammary gland, the level of development of the pectoral muscle, the vastness of the circulatory system, and the content of hormones. Some of these factors cannot be influenced, while others can be adjusted. Means, beautiful breasts at the right approach can turn from a dream into reality.
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The main function of female mammary glands is feeding offspring, but no one can dispute the fact that to some extent they determine a woman’s attractiveness and even her psychological comfort.
In addition, the female breast is a delicate and sensitive part of the body that requires careful and attentive treatment.
So, what features does the female mammary gland have: structure and functions, tissue ratio, shape, weight?
Breasts begin to form in the womb (around the 5th month), but until the onset of puberty they remain in their infancy in both boys and girls.
Intensive growth and development of the bust in female adolescents begins at the age of 10-12 years, when in the blood future woman The concentration of hormones begins to change.
By the age of 16-17, the bust is almost formed, although its growth may be observed for another 3-4 years. The structure, shape and size of the breasts are individual in each specific case - moreover, one breast in a woman may differ from the other.
Blood supply
The blood supply to the mammary glands comes from three different blood vessels:
- posterior intercostal arteries;
- internal mammary artery;
- lateral thoracic artery.
The posterior intercostal vessels provide blood supply to the inner and lateral parts of the chest, but the main artery of the mammary glands is the internal mammary artery. Its branches are located near the ribs directly next to the sternum.
The areola and nipple are supplied with blood from the branches of the arteries, which form a branched network in the skin. Venous drainage of the mammary glands is carried out using deep and superficial veins, which are located under the skin and in deeper layers of tissue.
The lymphatic system of the mammary gland drains lymph in several directions, and 30-40 lymph nodes located under the breast, above the collarbones and in the armpits prevent the spread of foreign microorganisms.
Many nerve fibers and endings pass through the breast tissue, which causes the so-called irradiation of pain into the chest in diseases of the back and spine.
Breast shape and size
The size of the mammary glands depends on several factors - some of them are formed at birth, and others throughout a woman’s life:
- genetic predisposition. Bust size is influenced by maternal genes, as well as the genes of other relatives;
- weight. Breast size depends on the total amount of fatty tissue in the body. Accordingly, when gaining additional kilograms, the mammary glands can increase in size, and in girls who are on strict diets, they decrease. At the same time, with an increase in the amount of fatty tissue, the breasts may sag and lose their elasticity;
- anatomical features of the figure. As a rule, fragile, thin women have a small bust, while large women have a rather impressive bust;
- hormonal background. Under the influence of hormones, the bust can increase, which is what happens during pregnancy.
If we talk about the shape of the breast, then there are several classifications that characterize and describe different types busts.
Types of busts
The generally accepted classification identifies the following breast shapes:
- disk– the chest has a small height and a wide base;
- hemisphere– the diameter and height of the mammary gland almost coincide;
- cone (pear)– the height of the chest is much greater than the width of the base;
- nipples– the structure is almost identical to the conical shape, but the nipple is directed downward.
There is a classification that describes not only the shape of the bust, but also the character of its owner. Thus, a bud-shaped mammary gland characterizes a woman as an irritable person, round breasts are characteristic of passionate and sensitive girls, and an elongated bust is characteristic of docile and soft representatives of the fair sex.
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Lecture on the topic “Structure and functions of the mammary glands”:
Breast shape may change depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle and other factors. During pregnancy, the breasts increase in size, during lactation they become even larger, and after breastfeeding, they usually return to their previous shape and size.
Most women, looking at their breasts, probably wondered what they consist of, how they are formed, and what they are needed for. Most of us have a vague idea of the structure of this wonderful organ.
Let's study together how the female breast works in order to better understand its natural functions.
Development and structure of the female breast
Breast development occurs as the female body matures. The girl's mammary gland consists of developing lobules of the gland without exiting to the outside.
During puberty, milk ducts begin to develop in the breast, partially penetrating the body of the gland.
Women's breasts in reproductive age are a unique creation of nature for feeding newborn babies.
The main function of the female breast is to produce milk to feed the baby. Each breast is made up of mammary glands (also called lobules or alveoli) that produce milk from nutrients and water taken from the blood.
The breasts have milk ducts that carry milk from the mammary glands to the nipple. The system of mammary glands and ducts resembles a bunch of grapes: the grape berries are glands, the stems are ducts. Just as grapes are collected in bunches, so the mammary glands with the ducts that run through them are organized into several clusters called lobes. The chest consists of fifteen to twenty lobes. When palpating the breasts, the mammary glands can be felt as small nodes or lumps, especially before menstruation.
The space between the lobes is filled with connective and fatty tissue. Fat envelops the entire system of milk ducts and glands. A young woman's breasts generally consist predominantly of glandular tissue, which is what makes them quite firm. If the breast is very soft, this indicates that its composition is dominated by fat.
Breasts have no muscles (except for the tiny ones in the nipples), so no amount of exercise will change the shape of your breasts. This entire organ is permeated by intertwined Cooper's ligaments, forming a flexible breast frame. These ligaments (along with the skin) become stretched over time due to gravity pulling the breasts downwards, which is why the breasts will begin to droop and sag.
The dark part around the nipple is called the areola. Areolas usually grow (increase) in size and darken during pregnancy - as if they specifically make it easier for the child to find a place to feed. The small raised structures on the areola are called Montgomery's glands, and they produce a secretion that lubricates the nipple and areola from drying out.
The nipple has several tiny holes through which milk flows during lactation. The nipples can sometimes be flat or inverted. This nipple structure is not an obstacle to feeding, since the baby, as a rule, pulls on the nipple.
The nipple can be round or cylindrical. Areolas can be a very narrow ring, or they can cover half of a small breast. Color varies from pink to black. These characteristics do not affect breast-feeding with the exception that Sometimes Women with flat or inverted nipples must take special measures to feed their baby.
Breast shape and size
The shape of the breast, as well as its size, depend on many parameters. Some women have more glandular tissue in their breasts, others have more fatty tissue, some women's breasts have more connective tissue so they are firmer. The condition of the breast is associated with age, with changes during the menstrual cycle, with the state of pregnancy, with the cessation of breastfeeding, with the onset of menopause.
The most significant parameter influencing breast size is the presence of adipose tissue and its quantity. But almost every woman’s breasts can produce milk to feed children - and this is the most important criterion that makes any breast beautiful!
A rare exception to this is the so-called hypoplastic or underdeveloped breast, which contains a small amount of glandular tissue.
Most women's breasts are not completely symmetrical. Typically, one breast is slightly larger or smaller, higher or lower, or has a different shape. A similar situation is observed with the testicles of men: as a rule, the left testicle hangs lower than the right one.
This is the basic information that a woman should know in order to understand how the breasts work and function.
Read about problems associated with wearing a bra.
The mammary glands in women are located at the level of the 3rd-6th pair of ribs and are attached to the serratus anterior pectoral muscle; the gland itself has no muscles. The nipple is located just below the middle of the breast and is surrounded by the areola. Its color and size vary from person to person, but usually in nulliparous girls and women it is pinkish or dark red; in women who have given birth it becomes darker and acquires a brownish color. The surface of the nipple is wrinkled, its most convex point has milky pores through which milk flows.
Fact: Exercises for the anterior pectoral muscles do not in any way affect the shape of the breasts or their perkiness.
Inside the gland has up to twenty lobes, which are filled with milk during lactation; the rest of the space is filled with glandular tissue. Each large lobe consists of several smaller lobes. The tops of the large lobes are directed towards the nipple and are connected to it by milk ducts, which pass into the milk pores. At the same time, there are much fewer milk pores than ducts: many small ducts on the way to the gland are connected into several large ones. Each duct widens as it approaches the nipple, then narrows again as it approaches the pores, creating a reservoir for storing produced milk.
Size
The shape and size of the breasts depend on the woman’s age, her individual characteristics and number of births. The right and left glands may differ slightly in shape and size, but, as a rule, the right gland is slightly larger.
Minor changes in the shape of the glands occur during the menstrual cycle: immediately before menstruation, swelling appears, the number of glandular ducts increases, after menstruation everything returns to normal. The reason for the swelling of the mammary glands in this case is the action of hormones that change depending on the menstrual phase.
Fact: Breast size does not affect the amount of milk produced during lactation.
The thickness of the fat layer located on the back wall of the breast significantly affects the size of the breast. More fat women have large size breasts, while in slender people its volume will be much smaller.
However, when a small amount excess weight the breasts can be quite large - this is due to the large volume of glandular tissue. In such cases, with an incorrectly selected bra, diaper rash often appears under the mammary glands, the treatment of which includes choosing more comfortable clothing, careful hygiene and the use of drying ointments. Diaper rash can also be caused by skin diseases, general decreased immunity or allergies.
Development and functions
The main function of the mammary gland is the production and secretion of milk. Hormones of the pituitary gland and ovaries have a stimulating effect on the lactation process, which is why if their levels are disturbed, the development of hypogalactia is possible - a condition characterized by the absence or insufficient production of milk.
The glands begin to develop at the very beginning of adolescence due to the activation of gonadotropic hormones. The action of these hormones is aimed at the maturation of ovarian follicles, which, in turn, begin to produce estrogens - female hormones. It is they who influence the development of the genital organs and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics - the formation of breasts, buttocks and female figure generally.
Fact: after the onset of menopause, a decrease in estrogen levels promotes the replacement of glandular tissue in the mammary gland with fatty tissue.
During pregnancy, the formed placenta begins to secrete its own hormones, reducing the production of pituitary hormones. During this period, the glandular lobes increase, and closer to childbirth, milk production begins. Childbirth and the expulsion of the placenta stimulate the onset of lactation. The most significant influence at this time is exerted by oxytocin and prolactin - their interaction awakens the maternal instinct and promotes milk production.
Causes of diseases
Breast diseases are different, but have similar risk factors that make their development most likely. The most common symptom is pain in the mammary glands.
Main reasons:
- genetic predisposition;
- violation hormonal levels, insufficient or excessive production of sex hormones;
- thyroid disease - insufficiency of its functions increases the risk of mastopathy;
- diseases of the liver, gall bladder and/or bile ducts;
- overweight;
- iodine deficiency;
- long-term stress, neuroses, depression, chronic fatigue;
- lack of regular sex life;
- bad habits - smoking, alcohol;
- breast injuries;
- abortions - after they are performed, the glandular tissue undergoes regression, which can occur unevenly and contribute to the development of tumors;
- late pregnancy;
- lack of breastfeeding after childbirth;
- early onset of the menstrual cycle and late cessation.
Fact: early birth, as well as the birth and breastfeeding of two or more children by a woman under 25 years of age, significantly reduce the risk of developing breast diseases.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of breast diseases:
- discharge from the mammary glands in the absence of pregnancy and lactation;
- pain in the mammary gland and its sensitivity, regardless of the phase of the cycle; if these symptoms are observed only before menstruation or during feeding, then this can be considered the norm;
- detection of compactions upon palpation of the gland;
- deformation of the mammary glands;
- change skin in the chest area: the appearance of redness, rash, etc.;
- a change in the shape of one of the glands, rarely both, manifests itself as a clearly visible asymmetry;
- change in the shape or color of the nipple areola, the appearance of rashes;
- enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits.
Important: the diagnosis of such diseases is carried out by a mammologist, so if such symptoms occur, you must contact him.
Developmental pathologies
There are two groups of possible pathologies:
- true, arising due to the presence of a hereditary predisposition or caused by a violation of intrauterine development;
- defects that arose as a result of disruption of hormonal or other body functions, incl. caused by injuries, radiation, etc.
Quantitative anomalies:
- monomastia - the complete absence of one of the glands, a congenital defect. Develops in the sixth week of pregnancy, at the very beginning of gland formation;
- polymastia is the development of more than two mammary glands, which can be located in almost any part of the body. As a rule, such glands are underdeveloped and cannot function normally;
- polythelia - the formation of an additional number of nipples.
Fact: most anomalies are detected immediately after birth, during examination in the maternity hospital. Most often, their correction is carried out surgically.
Structural anomalies:
- ectopia - displacement of the location of the mammary gland;
- micromastia - small size of the mammary glands inappropriate for age and physique;
- hypoplasia - underdevelopment of glands and nipples;
- macromastia - hypertrophy, characterized by a large volume of mammary glands.
Congenital anomalies of breast shape are common. These include the tubular form of the mammary glands - this pathology is characterized by an elongated breast shape with a lack of glandular tissue. Such pathologies are not a disease and are considered an aesthetic defect.
Mastopathy
Mastopathy is a benign disease that occurs as a result of the proliferation of connective tissue in the mammary gland. There are two forms of mastopathy - diffuse and nodular. In the first case, the glandular tissue grows evenly, and in the second it forms nodes.
Causes
The main reason for the development of mastopathy is hormonal imbalance:
- early onset of menstruation;
- late first pregnancy;
- lack of breastfeeding;
- long-term delay of menopause (after 50 years);
- inflammation of the genital organs;
- problems with the menstrual cycle;
- prolonged stress;
- abortions.
Fact: the development of mastopathy is most influenced by a violation of the secretion of hormones such as estrogens and progesterone. Concomitant diseases In this case, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts are often present.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of mastopathy:
- clear discharge from the mammary glands when pressed;
- deterioration of the skin in the chest area;
- presence of compactions upon palpation;
- pain in the mammary gland and its increased sensitivity;
- pronounced premenstrual syndrome;
- change in the shape of the gland.
When pressed, discharge from the mammary glands may be green, brownish or yellowish - this indicates stagnation of fluid as a result of blockage or a decrease in the lumen of the canal due to the formation of compactions.
Diagnostics
Mastopathy can often be determined through self-examination. This procedure must be performed first standing, then lying down. The best time to examine your breasts is after your period. The procedure includes examining the breast with arms down and up and palpating it. If lumps are detected, you should consult a doctor who will additionally perform an ultrasound.
Important! If a lump (infiltrate in the mammary gland) is detected, the formation of which is accompanied by an increase in temperature and general weakness, mastitis can be diagnosed - inflammatory disease breasts
Treatment
The patient is prescribed complex therapy aimed at normalizing hormonal levels, treating inflammation of the genital organs and other diseases that cause mastopathy. The prescribed therapy depends on the woman’s age.
If ineffective drug treatment Surgical intervention is often prescribed, especially often for nodular mastopathy. In severe cases, it is necessary to completely remove the affected mammary glands.
Conclusion
Breast health is important for every woman. If you experience any symptoms of her illness, you should immediately consult a doctor. In addition, it is necessary to regularly monitor the health of the whole body, in otherwise many advanced diseases can lead to impaired reproductive function or the ability to lactation.
