Q: I KEEP GETTING A DULL ACHE INSIDE BOTH BREASTS, EVEN WHEN I DON'T HAVE MY PERIOD. IS THIS SERIOUS? Sally Henshaw, Canterbury
A: No. Breast pain, or mastalgia as it's known, is very common - around two thirds of women suffer with it at some point, although for most it's due to premenstrual hormonal changes. Your symptoms sound more like non-cyclical mastalgia, but could be a mixture of both. Ibuprofen or an over-the-counter antiinflammatory gel can help to reduce the pain. Long-term, sticking to a low-fat diet may help, especially if you avoid animal fats as they may contain artificial hormones. Some patients swear by vitamin E and evening primrose oil supplements as they're thought to have anti-inflammatory benefits, although studies don't fully back this up. Even so, they won't do you any harm.
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