Sore Breast and Sexual Activity: Is There Any Connection?

By - Nishat Tasnim

Breast discomfort caused by soreness is a typical occurrence. It impacts almost every woman at some point in her life.

Each woman’s level of discomfort and where and how she feels it are different. And the reason behind this problem also varies from person to person. Having sexual contact might be one of the causes.

So, is having sore breasts after sex normal?

Yes, it is normal sometimes. Your partner might be a bit rough on those. But it’s not an alarming thing normally.

However, having basic knowledge will help you to know the correct time of getting concerned regarding this. So, let’s dig in!

Causes of Sore Breasts After Sex

Your breasts can open the door to new degrees of intimacy, sexual pleasure, and self-communion. Their breasts heavily influence women’s sexual enjoyment. When a woman is aroused, her breasts can expand to up to 25% of their usual size and become extremely sensitive.

Stimulating them releases dopamine and oxytocin, as well as causing the vagina to enlarge and lubricate, preparing her for penetration and releasing even more pleasure chemicals into your body.

It’s also an important aspect of sexual activity if you want to enhance intimacy with your spouse. This makes sense from a hormonal standpoint. Breast stimulation releases oxytocin, a neurotransmitter linked to love, tenderness, and bonding. 

So, you see breasts involves a big part of sexual intimacy. Hence, it certainly has an association with it. 

Now, let’s concentrate on the causes of sore breasts after sex:

Overhandling of Breasts

So, sore breasts after sex can appear mainly because your partner overplayed with them or was a bit rough with them. This pain is generally only transitory, and it is usually managed by just allowing the nipples to heal. 

Pregnancy

Women get worried about sore breasts after unprotected sex. In technical terms, breast soreness is frequently the first sign of pregnancy, appearing one to two weeks after conception or weeks three and four of pregnancy because your body is flooded with hormones, the aching breast feeling peaks in the first trimester, these hormones play a vital role preparing your body for the birth of a little human.

Your body produces more estrogen and progesterone; you may notice pain and tenderness in your breasts as soon as a week after your last sexual activity. Increased hormone levels can cause the glands in your breasts to expand, causing them to become uncomfortable and sensitive.

These hormonal shifts cause your breasts to retain extra fluid, causing them to become irritated, sensitive, and achy. Of course, some individuals notice this before their period, while others don’t notice it at all.

Hormones operate swiftly to prepare your breasts for nursing to satisfy that appetite. Your boobs become bigger as the blood supply to the region rises. Although the cleavage is attractive, this development can be uncomfortable, causing skin irritation and itching.

But your sore breast as a pregnancy symptom shows after at least 12 days after sex. It doesn’t show right after having sex. It’s far too early for any symptom to be caused by you becoming pregnant a day after having sex, simply because it takes a few days for you to conceive following unprotected intercourse. 

Even yet, if you had sex before that, there’s a chance you may have become pregnant sooner if the intercourse wasn’t safeguarded. To be sure, you must wait at least two weeks after unprotected intercourse for a pregnancy test to detect pregnancy hormones in your urine and provide you with an accurate result.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

When your period is late and your breasts are swollen and sore, there are two possibilities: you’re suffering from a typical symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), or you’re experiencing one of the early indicators of pregnancy.

Knowing the difference between the two can be useful whether you’re actively attempting to conceive. An increase in the hormones estrogen and progesterone causes your breasts to feel painful three to five days before the start of your monthly cycle. Any breast discomfort should subside after your period begins.

Breast-feeding

If you are breastfeeding and sexually active, any activities may result in sore breasts. Nipples can become uncomfortable and sensitive after nursing, especially in the initial few minutes when the infant latches onto the breast. Nipples, on the other hand, should not be uncomfortable or bleed for lengthy periods.

If your nipple pain is severe, persistent, or recurs, it might be due to a technical issue that has to be addressed.

Infection

The most common infection that can affect your nipples is a yeast infection (commonly known as thrush). Large pores and hair follicles surround your nipples, which can get blocked and diseased. Yeast infections are more prone to form in damp, dark places where perspiration gathers, such as under the breasts; however, women who wear non-breathable bras may also acquire yeast infections on their nipples.

Breastfeeding mothers are more susceptible to yeast infections on their nipples and breast infections like mastitis. See your doctor if you’re nursing and your nipples or breasts get painful.

Cancer

Paget’s disease is a malignancy that can cause discomfort in the nipples. It is uncommon and generally only affects one nipple and one breast. Other signs and symptoms may include:

Discuss with your doctor if you have any of the symptoms of your nipple discomfort.

Friction

During jogging or other strenuous types of exercise, nipple chafing is frequent, especially in males who wear rough cotton shirts or women who wear ill-fitting bras or bras made of lace or cotton.

Sweating softens the skin, and the salt in your sweat might crystallize and irritate your skin further. Your nipples might be rubbed to the point of bleeding during a long run or workout.

Medication

Breast pain and soreness are side effects of certain hormonal medications like birth control pills containing estrogen and progesterone.

When to See a Doctor?

Of course, you may see your doctor if something is bothering you, even if you’re very confident it’s nothing to worry about. However, if you’re experiencing significant breast discomfort that won’t go away and doesn’t appear to be related to your sexual activity, you should seek medical advice. 

This is especially true if additional new and odd symptoms appear, such as lumps, nipple discharge, or a swollen, reddish breast with dimpled or orange-peel skin.

While inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon and fast-moving illness, breast discomfort and other symptoms can be a warning of it. The word “very uncommon” is used here. “I’m usually comforted when a patient mentions breast discomfort since it nearly seldom means breast cancer,” Dr. Bevers explains.

 “If they don’t have those other symptoms, women shouldn’t be concerned that breast discomfort may be an indication of inflammatory breast cancer.” Other types of breast cancer, such as adenoid cystic carcinoma, can cause breast discomfort by growing around nerves and compressing them. However, this is an uncommon occurrence.

Suppose you’re experiencing breast discomfort and aren’t sure why, it’s a good idea to tell your doctor, especially if it lasts longer than your period.

 “Many women will have sporadic twinges of discomfort lasting barely seconds at varied regions of their breasts,” she says. These are normally harmless to one’s health.”

FAQs

Do your boobs start hurting as soon as you get pregnant?

Pain in the breast is most often the first sign of pregnancy. This generally starts after three to four weeks of conception. Due to enhancement in the level of hormones, the sensation of sore boobs remains at its peak.

Why are my breasts getting bigger and sore, not pregnant?

Fluctuation in hormonal levels might be the prime reason behind this. Other causes might include:

What kind of breast pain indicates cancer?

Some early cancer signs are mentioned below:

Final Words

Sore breasts after sex generally occur if it involves the breast very heavily. But this soreness heals on its own. 

However, if you are worried, do visit a doctor. Tell your physician about your symptoms, and whether they worsen or better at various times of the month. You can keep a daily pain journal to track when and how intense your pain is. 

Also, any drugs you’re taking should be disclosed to your doctor. This will help him to prescribe the proper treatment.