Boobs and menopause

[gummybear]

I know we just had a thread but I wanted to zero in on boobs. I’ve always been rather large chested. I’m small framed and they are dense - my mammos report 80-90% breast tissue so even when I am at my thinnest they are still big. They deflated a little after I weaned DD2 but in the past couple years, and esp this year, they have gotten WAY bigger, without really that much weight gain. They are huge and heavy and uncomfortably sore at least half the month. I’m assuming this is related to perimenopause. I just had a mammogram last month and it was fine.

Has anyone experienced this and can I expect them to shrink back down after all of this is done and I hit menopause? Please say yes.

[sofamonkey]

Idk, mine are longer and floppier than before. I’ve lost quite a bit of weight too, and although smaller, they aren’t small. I now need to go in for yearly mammograms because they said my breast tissue was dense. Maybe that’s part of aging?

Can someone pls remind me the good things about boobs, aging, etc? It isn’t weird body changes and I’ll timed sweating. LOL

[Jalapeñomel]

Welp my boobs have looked like old lady boobs since about 21, so I can’t say I relate to this at all. #NotHelpful

[186momx]

I've started taking evening primrose oil on the recommendation of my OB. She said it would help with some of the breast tenderness and achy feeling. It so far seems to helping but I'm taking a couple new other supplements too, so I don't know if it is a combo or what.

[litskispeciality]

My boobs have always been pretty saggy, but I defintely notice when I don't wear a bra now, which is a lot even in public (sorry, pearl clutch)...which only makes it worse. At my smallest I was a full B/probably small C cup, now I can wear up to a DD depending on the brand. I've got a lot in my middle and need a large band so that may play a factor? Haven't had major weight gain or loss, maybe down about 5 - 10 pounds than a year ago. I feel like Dolly Parton when I wear a padded bra, however my H certainly hasn't complained (lol.)

Overall I've always had pretty sore boobs and always felt like "am I pregnant?" most of the time, but yes they're so much heavier and annoying now. My (2) mammos so far have been in that weird "check with your doc if you have dense breasts" category, and then doctor sends a chart message that I'm good for a year so...

Also not super helpful, lol.

[noodleoo]

Anyone subscribe to Emily Oster's Parent Data newsletter? She launched a new newsletter recently called Hot Flash that's all about menopause/perimenopause. The first one had some info about hormonal changes after age 40.  Your body produces more estrogen to stimulate ovulation (guess it takes more as you get older).

Why are these changes important to you and me? Because they can have big impacts on how we feel throughout our menstrual cycle. Higher estrogen levels before ovulation can build a thicker uterine lining, which will lead to heavier menstrual bleeding when it sloughs off. It can also cause more breast fullness and tenderness.

Full article: parentdata.org/is-this-perimenopause/

[bunnies]

Ugh I feel this. I used to be thin with C/Ds (even that was bigger than I wanted) but with a bit of mid-life weight gain, I'm now at a DDD/DDDD, and so dense. I feel like I'm carrying around sore bags of fat on my chest. I don't have any helpful answers. :-(

[penelope]

Yes! Mine are so heavy and dense feeling and at certain times of the month they aren't just tender, they frickin hurt. I've never been big chested and haven't gained any weight but they have also increased in size. I also won't go braless until I go to bed. It's not comfortable in any way.

[felicity]

Feb 7, 2024 15:57:44 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Anyone subscribe to Emily Oster's Parent Data newsletter? She launched a new newsletter recently called Hot Flash that's all about menopause/perimenopause. The first one had some info about hormonal changes after age 40.  Your body produces more estrogen to stimulate ovulation (guess it takes more as you get older).

Why are these changes important to you and me? Because they can have big impacts on how we feel throughout our menstrual cycle. Higher estrogen levels before ovulation can build a thicker uterine lining, which will lead to heavier menstrual bleeding when it sloughs off. It can also cause more breast fullness and tenderness.

Full article: parentdata.org/is-this-perimenopause/

Well this explains why I'm SO much more moody around my period these days. 

[quesyrah]

I am 43 and in the last year I get a lot of boob pain and they’ve also gotten bigger. Very weird

[shinyhappy]

Mine have also gotten bigger since I went through menopause-I had kind of thought it was because I am taking hormone replacement t therapy but apparently that’s not the case.

[mrspez07]

I was having side boob tenderness for about half the month. I started wearing some type of bra 24/7, when not at work they are wire-free bralettes or low impact sports bras.
The tenderness has disappeared mostly. If it’s bugging me, I need new bras.
I’m a 34 DDD

[heyyounotyouyou]

I wish my small size b got a little bigger (minus the pain).

I think I’m one of the lucky ones. The only side effect I’ve gotten is anxiety - but thankfully medicine has that under control.

I stopped birth control in September (right at my 51st birthday) and I haven’t gotten my period since so I’m hoping I easily slide right into menopause officially.

[circa1978]

Mine are the same size but really started hurting lately. I can't find a pattern to it, which is extra fun.

[waverly]

Mine were huge for no real reason. They’ve always been in the larger size but even gaining 20 pounds I would swear 5 of that went to the boobs. I ended up with a breast reduction. I don’t think it was pre-menopause related though.

[CloudBee]

Me! Mine have grown in the past year or two. I was just talking to DH about this last night. My chest is almost as fully as it was when I was nursing/pregnant. I used to be barely an A, and am now nearly a B. They deflated after I weaned DS about 10.5 yrs ago, and have filled out again.

I'm carrying more weight, but no more than I was about 7 years ago when I weighed the same. (I lost some weight about 7 yrs ago, and have gained it all back.) I'm also just carrying weight differently than I used to. My body feels SO DIFFERENT since hitting 35. I'm about to turn 41 and learning to love the new skin that I'm in.

[erbear]

I have had the same experience. Suddenly, at 45, I am busting out of bras that have fit for years. It is very annoying.

[wanderlustmom]

I'm 49 and had a breast reduction when I was 18. Because of that, I think, my breasts haven't changed much. Used to be a double D and now I'm a full C. My breasts are dense so Ive had to have follow up mammograms and one biopsy.

Between 46-48 they did get more tender especially around my period. I was drinking wine every night (usually one big glass) and this last year I mostly stopped any alcohol and now my breasts aren't tender. I still have my period monthly like clockwork so I do think it's just the wine.

[gummybear]

wanderlustmom I’m pretty much sober 😩 I rarely drank in the past 3 years or so and have only had 2 drinks since July.

I DO think I have an inflammation issue of some kind bc I get a ton of joint pain and tenderness throughout the month.

[dirtyred]

Nope.

My breasts have never stopped growing

[tacokick]

Yes and pain for the first time. I talked to my doctor about it and she acted like it was in my head but it’s obviously not!

[jinkies]

It continues to blow my mind that every single issue I've had in the past 5 years is apparently related to perimenopause.

Anyway, yes have this issue but thought it was just related to weight gain.

[litskispeciality]

The estrogen thing is so interesting. I've always heard "your boobs are bigger on your period", but A$$sumed it was something "women made up" like everything else "we do".

One of my SIL's is looking in to a breast reduction. She's 51, I don't know if she's started menopause (not my business). She's put on a little weight, however I imagine she'd still be considered in good health. She said her breasts are so big, heavy and making her back hurt she's willing to look in to the surgery, but it's a long wait for a consult.

[flex]

I noticed no changes during menopause. I did notice a shift in how I carried my weight. It used to be above the waist--it migrated to my midsection.

[wanderlustmom]

Feb 7, 2024 20:47:14 GMT -5 gummybear said:

wanderlustmom I’m pretty much sober 😩 I rarely drank in the past 3 years or so and have only had 2 drinks since July.

I DO think I have an inflammation issue of some kind bc I get a ton of joint pain and tenderness throughout the month.

yes, definitely not the alcohol for you.  I don't post a lot so I don't know if you have checked with your doctor. I have hashimotos too so I have to watch inflammation.  My older sister also saw a functional medicine doctor but I haven't gone that route 

[Jalapeñomel]

Feb 7, 2024 21:45:25 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Yes and pain for the first time. I talked to my doctor about it and she acted like it was in my head but it’s obviously not!

I can assure you that all perimenopause issues are in your head.

[litskispeciality]

tacokick, Jalapeñomel,, I have a great (younger, female)NP at my PCP's office who I overall trust, however her approach to peri and menopause needs work. She knows I don't have periods anymore so she just says "well if you start to feel off give us a call". She'll say things like "I have patience's who say 'but I still have my period!" and the NP is frustrated that patience's think you have to stop having a period to have symptoms. Tell us that, educate us because no one tells us! I can't even think of a "what to expect when you're starting peri" book or something outside of the recs here. Even if you're not blowing us off we're not medical professionals and don't know what's *normal* when we're in our 40's with or without kids, full time jobs, aging parents etc., we can't tell if it's that stress or true hormonal issues (or both!)

[luckystar2]

Feb 8, 2024 13:31:46 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

I can't even think of a "what to expect when you're starting peri" book or something outside of the recs here. Even if you're not blowing us off we're not medical professionals and don't know what's *normal* when we're in our 40's with or without kids, full time jobs, aging parents etc., we can't tell if it's that stress or true hormonal issues (or both!)

I haven’t read it yet, but there’s a book called The Menopause Manifesto. The author was on a podcast I listened to. She was funny and had great info about perimenopause/menopause. I guess I should probably get it.

My boobs definitely got bigger in my late 30s. I wore 34B growing up but then after the infamous bra fitting video I moved to 32C for a long time. But in my late 30s I all of a sudden needed to move to 32D! Since Covid I’ve put on weight and the 32Ds are too tight. I think I’d be a 34C now. But I refuse to wear real bras anymore so it’s mostly bralettes and some non underwire ones that are sizes like small/medium/large.

I don’t get it though. I’m on BCP but I definitely feel like I experience peri symptoms like hot flashes, generally being warmer than I ever was, sweating, weight gain. I feel like my hormones should be stable but yet I definitely have changes going on.

[SwimDeep]

Feb 7, 2024 15:57:44 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Anyone subscribe to Emily Oster's Parent Data newsletter? She launched a new newsletter recently called Hot Flash that's all about menopause/perimenopause. The first one had some info about hormonal changes after age 40.  Your body produces more estrogen to stimulate ovulation (guess it takes more as you get older).

Why are these changes important to you and me? Because they can have big impacts on how we feel throughout our menstrual cycle. Higher estrogen levels before ovulation can build a thicker uterine lining, which will lead to heavier menstrual bleeding when it sloughs off. It can also cause more breast fullness and tenderness.

Full article: parentdata.org/is-this-perimenopause/

thank you for posting this! I've been experiencing a lot of these symptoms for the past 2-3 years, but my pp just kind of blows me off. It's nice to know it's not all in my head.

ETA: Yes, my books get bigger (bloated?) and very sore during my period. I stopped wearing wired bras years ago, but I had to run to the store yesterday and the sports bra I usually wear out was so tight and painful 😵
Symptoms usually subside after my period, but the last couple of months they've decided to just randomly ache every now and then 🙃

[eb777888]

Yes, I look back at old photos of myself and weep for my smaller boobs. I thought they were huge then, but I'd give anything for just plain old D's right now, lol.