Since they are pretty much the most sensitive part of your body, there’s really nothing worse than having sore nipples. In some cases, the soreness may be so uncomfortable that it causes you to make awkward adjustments throughout the day to combat the pain.
The good news is, most causes of nipple soreness are minor things that are either short-lived or easy to remedy. But in some cases, sore nipples may warrant a trip to the doctor, such as when the pain persists or is accompanied by changes, like inversion, discharge, or a rash. It's important you take any nipple soreness you experience seriously and understand what different symptoms mean.
Here, we’ll look at the main causes, help you figure out if it’s serious or just seriously annoying, and outline some remedies for sore nipples that you can try the next time your girls start acting up.
Thumbnail Photo: Flickr/cheryl
Reason #1: Pregnancy
If you’re trying to conceive and you’re experiencing the worst case of sore nipples, early pregnancy may be the reason. In fact, many women begin feeling nipple pain even before taking a pregnancy test, making sore nipples one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms.
General breast pain typically accompanies sore nipples in early pregnancy. As your pregnancy progresses, however, breast soreness will settle down a bit, but those poor nipples will unfortunately continue to feel swollen and irritated the whole nine months. One of the best remedies for sore nipples throughout pregnancy is to always wear a soft, supportive bra.
Seriously, don’t go without it, because the one time you do will undoubtedly be the one time you brush up against something, causing pain that will send you through the roof. And make sure your partner knows there will be serious consequences if he comes anywhere near them — at least for the next nine months — since your nipples are sore to the touch!
Reason #2: Breastfeeding
Sure, your nipples hurt during pregnancy, but breastfeeding can take soreness to a whole new level, causing severe nipple pain. Although nipple pain in breastfeeding can be intense, causing you to dread each time your baby latches onto the breast, it’s relatively short-lived. It typically only lasts a week or so, until your nipples toughen up a bit and Baby perfects his latch. Until then, using nipple cream like Earth Mama Angel Baby, Motherlove, or even coconut oil for sore nipples will help. Just apply each time baby is finished nursing to reduce or prevent dryness and cracking.
Reason #3: Ovulation
Most women experience some degree of breast tenderness just before or during their monthly period. But if you’re not pregnant and are experiencing sore nipples, ovulation could be the culprit. According to the website avawomen.com, “It’s common to feel breast or nipple tenderness right around the time that progesterone peaks, or about a week before your period is due. If you have a 28-day cycle, you might experience breast or nipple tenderness around day 21. It should subside as hormone levels plummet, just before or during your period.”
Reason #4: Allergic Reaction
If you’re experiencing sore nipples or even itchy nipples with no other symptoms and you aren’t pregnant, you could be experiencing an allergic reaction, or a condition called nipple dermatitis. The skinsight.com website indicates that nipple dermatitis is a fancy term for sore, itchy, or irritated nipples, and is often caused by eczema, thrush (if breastfeeding), or an allergic reaction. This benign condition can be easily treated by keeping the area clean and dry, while applying hydrocortisone cream.
Reason #5: Friction
Similarly, your nipples may become sore and irritated when they rub repeatedly against fabric, like a bra that fits too loosely or a wet bathing suit. Ironically, a bra that’s too tight can also cause nipple pain! Wearing bras that fit comfortably and changing wet bathing suits promptly are the best remedies for sore nipples in these situations.
Reason #6: Mastitis
If you’re breastfeeding and you experience a sudden onset of severe breast and nipple pain, and your nipples are hard and sore, you’re probably dealing with a case of mastitis. Mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands, and can occur when too much milk builds up in your breasts. This painful condition must be treated with antibiotics, and symptoms include the following:
- Sore breasts that are swollen and red and feel warm to the touch
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms
- Hard lump in breast that reduces after breastfeeding
You can (and should!) still nurse your baby while dealing with mastitis, as this condition is caused by a blockage of the duct. Encouraging milk to flow is one of the best things you can do to alleviate the pain, along with cold compresses and acetaminophen.
Nipple Pain With Discharge
It’s hard not to freak out if your sore nipples are accompanied by discharge, but, believe it or not, most of the underlying causes of nipple pain with discharge are relatively harmless. That said, any time you feel even remotely unsure about something going on with your body, you should absolutely call or visit your doctor. Here’s a simple guide to sore nipples with discharge that you can use as a guide:
1. Bloody Discharge – According to hopkinsmedicine.org, “if the discharge is bloody, a papilloma is suspected.” A papilloma is basically a wart inside the duct of the breast, most often directly behind the nipple, which causes nipple pain and possibly even discharge. It’s important to note that bloody nipple discharge, especially if it’s only on one side, can also be indicative of breast cancer, so it always warrants a doctor visit.
2. Pus-Like Discharge – The most likely cause of sore nipples with discharge that looks like pus is a bacterial infection that has caused an abscess. Breastfeeding causes cracks in the nipples, which allow bacteria to enter the breast and cause an infection.
3. Clear Discharge – Clear discharge from the nipple can be caused by anything from a hormonal imbalance to hypothyroidism. It can occur for several years after you’ve stopped breastfeeding.
When to Take Your Sore Nipples to the Doctor
Nipples can do lots of interesting things without warranting concern, like grow hairs, secrete discharge, and darken in color during pregnany. But there are some situations that should always be looked at by a doctor. Here are some causes for sore nipples that you’ll want to have checked out:
1. Nipple Soreness On One Side – If you’re worried that your nipple pain could be related to breast cancer, you should know that symptoms of breast cancer are almost always only on one side. So if you’re experiencing sharp pain in your nipple or any other symptoms on only one side, definitely see your doctor.
2. Nipple Pain With Inverted Nipple – If your nipple suddenly seems flatter, as though it’s being pulled inward, this could be a sign of breast cancer. According to the website breastcancer-news.com, “In the case of breast cancer, nipple retraction occurs when the tumor attacks the duct behind the nipple, pulling it in.”
3. Persistently Painful Or Itchy Nipples With Other Breast Skin Changes – There are two cancerous conditions, Paget’s disease of the breast, and inflammatory breast cancer, that both cause persistent itchiness and/or pain in one or both breasts. Although both are exceedingly rare, they both require prompt medical attention. Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer as defined by the American Cancer Society include: thickening of the skin of the breast, pitting or ridging of the skin of the breast, and tender, painful or itchy breast. Symptoms of Paget’s as defined by the American Cancer Society are crusty, scaly or red nipple, blood or yellow discharge, and a nipple that burns or itches.
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