13. Breast Soreness

Let’s talk about boobs and no, we are not making a boob!

This month it’s all about breasts and in particular - breast soreness, also known as mastalgia.

Our menstrual cycle, pregnancy or peri/menopause, are all key factors when our hormones fluctuate and completely stress out, causing breast tenderness and pain; it might be a dull ache, a throbbing pain or even a burning sensation.

The point being, the ‘fun bags’ are no longer having any fun!

There’s no point in taking a wild guess as to what causes breast soreness because us hotties already know the answer to that - it’s those flipping hormones. AGAIN!!!

During perimenopause, hormonal fluctuations can be even more of a rollercoaster, affecting the breast tissue - and if there’s one thing us Hotties don’t need in our lives is more aches and hassles!

Breast soreness should improve once your periods stop and your body no longer produces estrogen, however, if you take HRT to treat menopause symptoms, you may continue to have sore breasts.

Apart from wrapping those tender, painful breasts up in cotton wool or bubble wrap - neither of which are viable or useful options - is there anything else we can do to alleviate the pain and discomfort?

It would be prudent to keep an eye on salt intake, as sodium encourages the body to retain more water which can make us dehydrated, making the soreness and discomfort worse.

A well-fitted bra - don’t knock it till you try it! If those poor knockers are squeezed into a too tight bra, well let’s just say that that kind of overcrowding would sorely test anyone’s pain threshold and shoulder straps! It also brings a whole new meaning to a ‘booby trap’!! #BoomOrBust!

On the flip side, if the bra is too big, they’ll be swinging from side-to-side and bobbing on the wire. And you don’t want to be going down the nipple chafing road! #jiggle!

Your breasts are already being tested to the limit by those hormones so please don’t add to their distress. If the bra don’t fit - bin it! If you’re worried about the environment and want to boost your eco-credentials AND help a charity, donate your surplus bras to a bra collection charity, such as Smalls for All. Or there may be charity collection points in your local area, which you and your bosom buddies could donate to.

A warm compress - now this could be similar to wrapping them in cotton wool, but way more practical. Your very own boobie-licious comfort blanket, where they are warm and snug! #TheirSafePlace

And don’t forget over-the-counter painkillers which can also help to make symptoms much more manageable.

So let’s recap on this storm in a B-cup.

We have:

• Hormonal breasts that can get bigger or smaller AND change shape during peri/menopause
• The daily ‘will they or won’t they fit in my bra?’ ease and squeeze debacle
• Pain, burning and discomfort that could range anything from Zero - OMFG on the Boobie Richter Scale

**Remember** with any persistent pains or discomfort, it’s always advisable to seek medical advice to put your mind at rest. Peace of mind is truly priceless Hotties, x

As we get abreast of another ‘delightful’ peri/menopause symptom fellow Hotties, let’s take a moment to remember how essential it is to ignite that all-important feel-good factor.

This can be helped along enormously by shaking and shimmying your booty - or boobies (what’s a consonant or two between friends, eh?) - to some of these terrific tunes. Tho’ if you’re not feeling so great and your stamina, body and mood are flagging ‘n’ sagging, curl up with your comfort blanket, and belt these mood-busters out from the comfort of your sofa!

All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor
Bootylicious - Destiny’s Child
Born This Way - Lady Gaga
Can’t Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue
Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
Express Yourself - Madonna
Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Hips Don’t Lie - Shakira
If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher
Just Can’t Get Enough - The Saturdays
Let’s Get Loud - Jennifer Lopez
Man I Feel Like A Woman - Shania Twain
Shake A Tail Feather - Tina Turner
Something Kinda Ooooh - Girls Aloud
Who Do You Think You Are - Spice Girls