Fibrocystic mastopathy: symptoms of the disease, treatment, reviews. Fibrocystic mastopathy: what it is, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment Diffuse fibrocystic mastopathy of both mammary glands

Women's health depends on many factors, including the condition of the breast. From this article you will learn everything about what mastopathy is, what are the symptoms and treatment of this disease, what are the signs of pathology and the causes of the disease.

What kind of pathology

Mastopathy is a disease in which connective and glandular tissue grows in the mammary glands, which leads to the formation of various seals and cysts.

This pathology is common. In women it is diagnosed very often. The peak incidence in adult women occurs at 30-40 years of age, childbearing age. Unfortunately, approximately 7-8 out of 10 women face problems of this kind.

It may seem strange, but this pathology is not uncommon in men. Male mastopathy usually develops in adulthood. The occurrence of this disease in a child is practically excluded.

Both mastopathy in men and women can be dangerous, since some of its forms can degenerate into cancer. Most often this occurs with nodular tumors, in particular with the fibrocystic type of the disease.

Breast structure

The breast consists of several types of tissue:

• glandular;
• connecting;
• fatty.

During pregnancy, these organs increase in size. The number of internal lobules and ducts is added, and milk production begins inside to feed the baby. Upon completion of feeding the baby, these areas are replaced by adipose tissue. During menopause, even parenchyma is converted into adipose tissue.

All processes inside the mammary glands are controlled by the hormones prolactin, progesterone and estrogen. When an imbalance occurs, pathological processes are triggered.

Why does mastopathy appear?

In order to safely cure mastopathy, and, if possible, avoid this pathology, it is important to understand what causes the development of the disease. The main factor in the development of breast mastopathy is hormonal disorders. The reasons for the failure may be:

• constant stressful situations;
• autumn-winter prolonged depression;
• powerful emotions;
• dissatisfaction with sex life;
• constant overwork due to heavy physical exertion;
• lack of sleep;
• refusal to breastfeed children;
• miscarriages;
• abortions;
• no pregnancy before age 30;
• strict diets, due to which the body does not receive important compounds;
• untreated inflammatory diseases of the genital area;
• changes during menopause;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• mammary gland injuries;
• infectious liver diseases;
• thyroid diseases;
• overweight;
• genetic predisposition.

Bad habits, such as smoking or alcohol abuse, can increase the risk of disease. Problems with the adrenal glands, lack of iodine and wearing an unsuitable bra also increase the likelihood of developing mastopathy.

Types of pathology

Mastopathy comes in different types. Some forms of the disease are easily treatable, while others have more serious consequences. The classification includes several types of mastopathy, which we will discuss below.

A doctor can distinguish between the types of pathology. To make a diagnosis, he needs to collect complaints and conduct some other examinations.

Features of the diffuse form

Diffuse mastopathy is considered the first stage of the disease. It precedes more severe forms of pathology. You can get rid of mastopathy if you start quality therapy in a timely manner.

This type of disease can be divided into:

• adenosis;
• fibroadenomatosis;
• with a predominance of the cystic component;
• mixed.

With adenosis, the proliferation process affects only the lobules of the organ. This form is the most common. If mastopathy appears in girls or young women, it is usually its diffuse form that develops.

Fibroadenomatosis is a condition in which the growth affects connective rather than glandular tissue.

Important! If the cystic form predominates, in every fourth case calcium is deposited in the formation cavity, which can become the basis for the formation of an oncological tumor.

The distinctive symptoms of this form of the disease include engorgement, swelling of the mammary gland, and increased sensitivity. Small lumps, sometimes the size of a grain of rice, can be felt. When the nipple is squeezed, a clear or brownish discharge appears. In the photo you can see how the formations are located inside the glandular organ.

Features of the nodal form

Nodular mastopathy can be either unilateral or bilateral. With this form of pathology, cysts and nodules form in the body of the mammary gland. As a rule, they have clearly defined boundaries and are mobile within the organ, since they are not fused to the surrounding tissues.

Features of fibrous mastopathy

With fibrous mastopathy, the cells of the organ are replaced by connective tissues. As a result, the growth begins to compress the gland ducts, which leads to blockages.

This form of the disease is most often diagnosed in young women. If treatment is started in time, the disease will not worsen, and the outcome of mastopathy will be favorable.

An examination of the mammary gland reveals dense nodes, chest pain appears and the organ increases in size. Liquid is released from the nipples.

Features of cystic mastopathy

Cystic mastopathy involves the formation of cavities inside the parenchyma. This form of the disease affects about 50% of women.

The cavities are filled with liquid. They are surrounded by a dense capsule and can be easily palpated.

Signs of the cystic form are:

• pain in the places where formations form;
• breast enlargement;
• enlarged lymph nodes under the arm;
• swelling.

Note! If a bacterial infection occurs, complications are possible, including purulent discharge from the nipples.

Features of fibrocystic mastopathy

With fibrocystic mastopathy (FCM), lumps form in the mammary gland. Over time, they degenerate into cystic formations and fill with fluid. According to the ICD, this is diagnosis 60.1.

Most often, a woman discovers signs of the disease during self-examination. It is good if she consults a doctor as soon as possible for advice.

Typically, fibrous cystosis develops after age 30 and before menopause. The symptoms of fibrocystic mastopathy combine the symptoms of both forms of the disease.

Palpation of the mammary gland makes it possible to determine the presence of round or oval lumps. As a rule, they are not hard, but soft.

Symptoms of mastopathy

If the first signs of mastopathy are recognized in time and therapy is carried out using effective methods, surgery will not be required, and the woman’s well-being will be completely restored.

Symptoms can be either general or localized in one or both mammary glands. It is important to consider the signs of each form of mastopathy separately.

Diffuse symptoms

The following symptoms are characteristic of diffuse mastopathy:

• feeling of chest fullness;
• pain when touched;
• increase;
• discharge from the nipples is green, brown or clear.

Unlike the focal form, with diffuse lesions the seals are located throughout the entire volume of the chest. The sensations become most noticeable on the eve of menstruation. When menstruation begins, the intensity of mastopathy symptoms decreases. In the later stages of the disease, signs of pathology are present, regardless of the day of the menstrual cycle.

Symptoms of nodular form

The signs of this form of pathology are as follows:

• increased sensitivity of the mammary glands;
• engorgement;
• aching and dull pain that intensifies when touched;
• feeling of fullness;
• discharge that appears not only from pressure;
• formation of nodes from 2 mm to 7 cm in diameter.

If an infection occurs, patients note an increase in temperature, redness of the skin in the affected areas, general weakness, and the formation of purulent discharge from the nipples.

Symptoms of the cystic form

With this form of pathology the following symptoms appear:

• the chest hurts and swells;
• a burning sensation is felt;
• discharge is observed from the nipple;
• the mammary gland grows depending on the volume of the cyst;
• lymph nodes hurt, enlarge and swell.

The cyst can appear in only one lobule. Sometimes there is the formation of a large number of formations in different fragments of the mammary gland.

Symptoms of fibrocystic form of pathology

With diffuse fibrocystic mastopathy (DFCM), symptoms of both fibrous and cystic pathologies simultaneously appear.

Important! If bloody discharge appears from the nipples, this is not mastopathy; This condition requires urgent diagnosis and medical consultation.

Diagnostic measures

When a patient consults a doctor, he will conduct all the necessary tests and examinations that will allow him to make an accurate diagnosis.

Important! In order for the diagnostic results to be accurate, it is necessary to visit a mammologist in the first half of the cycle, shortly after the end of menstruation.

Before giving the patient a prescription, the doctor:

• interview the patient;
• examine the breasts for asymmetry and nipple deformation;
• will conduct an examination in a standing and lying position;
• will determine whether there is discharge from the nipples, and what nature they are.

Depending on the results of the inspection, the following procedures may be recommended:

• X-ray;
• Ultrasound of the mammary glands;
• puncture;
• blood test for hormones;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• biochemistry.

In other words, mammography is an x-ray of the breast. The procedure is permissible only in the first half of the cycle. The photo is taken from the front and side. Using this method, you can accurately determine the presence of any seals and formations that cannot be felt during examination.

Important! Mammography is performed on patients over 35 years of age.

Ultrasound, unlike mammography, is allowed at any age, during pregnancy and in children (if such a pathology has arisen). However, the information content of the study may be affected by the experience and qualifications of the doctor. In addition, when the breast parenchyma degenerates into adipose tissue, it is extremely difficult to determine some pathologies by echo signs.

The puncture is performed only if any compaction was discovered during the examination. The biomaterial obtained in this way is sent for histological examination to determine whether it is benign or malignant.

For drug treatment to be effective, the doctor must know what the patient’s hormone balance is at the moment. That is why, when fighting mastopathy, analysis of thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones is mandatory.

Biochemistry and ultrasound of other organs are performed to exclude concomitant diseases. The attending physician determines which research methods are necessary based on the data already obtained.

Treatment of mastopathy

If the diagnosis of glandular mastopathy of the mammary gland has already been made, based on the test results, the doctor will prescribe the necessary medications. In most cases, mastopathy can be treated at home. Only if there are complications and the need for surgical intervention, the patient is admitted to the hospital for first aid.

When prescribing treatment, the doctor will take into account the stage and type of pathology, the patient’s age, the presence of additional diseases, and the desire to have children in the future. Applicable:

• non-hormonal therapy;
• hormone therapy;
• surgical intervention.

It is worth taking a closer look at how these remedies help in the treatment of mastopathy.

Use of non-hormonal therapy

Patients with mastopathy usually benefit from the following techniques:

• cyclic vitamin therapy;
• use of iodine-containing drugs;
• use of sedative medications;
• use of herbal medicine;
• use of anti-inflammatory drugs;
• use of diuretics.

It turns out that vitamins can influence a woman’s hormonal levels. Thus, vitamin A reduces the activity of estrogen, and vitamin E activates progesterone. Other elements support organs where hormones are synthesized and utilized.

Iodine is simply irreplaceable in a woman’s body. This element performs very important functions in the construction of thyroid hormones, without which balance in sex hormones is impossible. This is why many doctors recommend their patients to use Iodomarin.

Sedatives normalize the functioning of the central nervous system, support the liver and stimulate the immune system. Thanks to this, recovery occurs faster.

Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain during mastopathy, and also relieve swelling, which is usually quite pronounced.

Use of hormone therapy

No matter how much a woman wants to stop taking hormonal pills, such therapy is the main one in the fight against the disease. Since the effect of progesterone on the mammary glands is such that it helps to cope with mastopathy, hormonal therapy is aimed specifically at maintaining the correct balance between these indicators.

Use of gestagens

Drug treatment includes the use of the following drugs:

• "Utrozhestan";
• "Norkolut";
• "Duphaston".

These medications must be taken in courses of 4 months. According to the doctor's decision, therapy can be extended.

There are gels for the mammary glands, for example “Progestogel”. They help to act locally on the problem area and promote maximum absorption of progesterone by these tissues. To increase the effectiveness of such products, you can apply Lyoton gel to the mammary gland 20 minutes before applying the main product.

Androgen use

These drugs are used by patients over 45 years of age in long courses, the duration of which should not be less than 6 months. Such drugs affect the pituitary gland, which results in inhibition of the natural production of ovarian hormones.

Important! Under no circumstances should you take hormonal medications on the advice of your girlfriends or mother, since each body is individual, and you can cause serious damage to your body.

Use of other medicinal groups

Depending on the patient’s hormonal status, the following may also be recommended:

• antiestrogens (for example, Tamoxifen);
• inhibitors of prolactin production (Dostinex, Bromocriptine);
• combined oral contraceptives (“Marvelon”, “Janine”).

If moderate positive dynamics are observed, the growth of formations has stopped or the involutive stage has begun, surgical intervention is not required.

If nausea or other signs of side effects occur after using any medications, you should stop taking the medications and consult a doctor.

Surgical intervention

The operation is not always performed, but such intervention is indicated in the following situations:

• the cyst appeared after treatment;
• education is growing rapidly;
• histological examination confirmed a cancerous tumor.

Depending on the circumstances, either breast resection or removal of the tumor itself may be performed.

At the postoperative stage, antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent bacterial infection.

Treatment with folk remedies for mastopathy is allowed, but any methods must be agreed upon with the attending physician. No folk method can replace basic hormone therapy.

Breast massage and back massage can also have negative health effects. Stimulation of muscles and blood vessels can only enhance the nutrition of a growing tumor, which often leads to dire consequences. For the same reasons, the patient should not visit a sauna, steam bath or solarium, or undergo a course of physiotherapy.

Proper nutrition is important:

• reducing the amount of coffee, black tea, chocolate, cocoa;
• increase in vegetables, fruits;
• introduction of cereals, vegetable oils and seafood.

The following prevention will help protect against pathology:

• do not resort to abortion;
• lead a healthy active lifestyle;
• wear comfortable underwear;
• try to avoid worries;
• have regular sex life.

All these precautions will help avoid mastopathy.

Since most forms of pathology are successfully treated with medication in the early stages, the sooner the patient consults a doctor, the more successful the therapy will be!

Watch the video:

Fibrocystic mastopathy (FCM) is a serious pathology in which numerous cysts of various sizes begin to form in the mammary gland. It occurs mainly in patients of childbearing age, but can also develop in women after menopause. What is the reason for this? What are the causes of mastopathy? And is it possible to cure it? Let's talk about this in more detail.

Provoking factors

Considering mastopathy and the mechanisms of its development, it should be noted that the main factor stimulating the occurrence of FCM is an imbalance between hormones such as progesterone and estradiol. The following diseases and conditions can lead to their imbalance:

1. Premature formation of the menstrual cycle. When girls start their periods too early, there is a sharp change in hormonal levels, to which the body does not have time to adapt. And under the influence of hormones, the tissues of the mammary glands undergo various changes, which causes the formation of numerous cysts in them.
2. Late onset of menopause. In this case, mastopathy begins to develop against the background of prolonged exposure to the hormones estradiol and progesterone on the mammary glands.
3. Infertility.
4. Medical and surgical abortions, spontaneous miscarriages - all this causes “jumps” in hormonal levels.
5. Lack of lactation after childbirth.
6. Prolonged stay in a stressful state.
7. Kidney pathologies and dysfunction of the adrenal glands, which produce hormones.
8. Impaired metabolism, observed with excess body weight, the development of diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus, and the formation of endemic goiter.
9. Pathologies of the thyroid gland, which also produces hormones. Moreover, the development of mastopathy can occur both with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
10. Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the reproductive system.
11. Deviations in liver function.
12. Long-term use of oral contraceptives.

Important! Age also plays a key role in the development of breast mastopathy. As practice shows, in most cases this pathology is diagnosed in women aged 35-45.

It should be noted that initially FCM was not considered as a pathology that could transform into cancer. But after numerous studies, scientists were able to reveal that mastopathy that appears when exposed to negative factors can easily degenerate into a malignant tumor. Therefore, this disease is currently considered a precancerous condition.

Whether cysts will degenerate into cancerous tumors or not depends on several factors - the duration of pathological processes and the stage of development, as well as on the types of the disease. Fibroadenoma and adenosis are the most dangerous forms of FCM, as they increase the risk of cancer significantly.

Types of FCM

There are several types of mastopathy:

• nodal;
• non-proliferative;
• mixed.

Pathological processes can affect only one gland (unilateral) or spread to both at once (bilateral).

Diffuse

This form of the disease is characterized by the proliferation of connective tissue in the gland. This causes a disruption in the structure of the milk ducts and the lobular structure of the organ, as a result of which numerous small cysts begin to form inside it.

Mastopathy can develop not only due to hormonal disorders, but also genetic predisposition, as well as when the body is exposed to various negative factors, for example, chemicals, radiation, etc.

There are several types of diffuse cystic fibrosis disease:

• Adenosis, with the development of which there is an increase in glandular structures and lobules of the mammary gland.
• Fibroadenomatosis, characterized by the predominance of fibrous tissue in the gland.
• Cystosis is a pathology characterized by an increase in cystic tissue in the structures of the mammary glands.

Sometimes, during examination, women are diagnosed with adenosis, fibroadenomatosis and cystosis at the same time. This indicates the development of a mixed form of the disease.

Diffuse fibrocystic pathology has another type - sclerosing adenosis. It is also characterized by abnormal growth of fibrous tissue into the gland structures. However, during its development, the epithelium and lobes of the organ do not undergo a pathological process.

Depending on the scale of mastopathy and the rate of damage to organ structures, it is divided into:

• insignificant;
• moderate;
• expressed.

Nodal

Nodular mastopathy is a consequence of the development of a diffuse type of disease. It is characterized by pathological proliferation of connective tissue areas of the mammary gland with the subsequent formation of cystic nodes.

With the development of this pathology, nodular formations are clearly palpable in the chest, which have a dense structure and clear boundaries. As a rule, a few days before the onset of menstruation, they begin to increase in size and can be painful when pressed. After the end of menstruation, the swelling of the nodes subsides and they return to their previous size.

Important! When a woman is in a horizontal position, there are practically no signs of nodular mastopathy - the formations are weakly palpable or not detected at all by palpation. At the same time, the woman is also not bothered by painful sensations.

It is worth noting that nodular formations in the chest are not prone to progressive growth. More often they remain the same diameter for a long time, increasing only before menstruation. Painful sensations can be of a different nature - pronounced, insignificant or completely absent. In other words, the symptoms of nodular type FCM are individual in each case.

Non-proliferative

Non-proliferative mastopathy is not accompanied by signs of proliferation. That is, with the development of the disease, there is no process of cell reproduction with subsequent proliferation of the gland and its intensive division. With the development of this pathology, swelling of the breast tissue is noted, which has a precise localization, which is not accompanied by the formation of new structures.

In other words, with this form of the disease, individual structures of the gland begin to increase in size, as a result of which compactions appear in it, which can be easily confused with cysts. The reasons for this may be various inflammatory and infectious processes.

Important! Despite the fact that non-proliferative mastopathy is not characterized by the appearance of pathological formations in the mammary gland, it also requires a serious approach to treatment. Since any unnatural processes in the gland can subsequently provoke the appearance of cysts, which will require surgery.

Mixed

The mixed form of FCM is characterized by signs of all types of pathology at once. Formations with cystic, fibrous and glandular components appear in the breast. In this case, connective tissue grows and breast volume increases. Upon palpation, numerous painful lumps with clear boundaries of different sizes are noted.

With the development of this pathology, the simultaneous formation of fibroadenoma is possible, which is characterized by the appearance of a mobile round formation in the gland (most often it is benign).

Important! Mixed FCM is an advanced form of the disease, which is accompanied by various complications. It is difficult to treat and requires long-term therapeutic measures.

Double-sided

The development of bilateral mastopathy is characterized by the occurrence of pathological processes in both mammary glands at once. In this case, the connective tissue, glandular or fibrous components of the mammary glands may be affected, which leads to their trophic change and the formation of cysts.

Important! Bilateral FCM can cause the development of a malignant tumor in one of the mammary glands.

As a rule, this form of the disease is a consequence of long-term hormonal imbalance in the body, and therefore treatment in this case is aimed at restoring the level of hormones and treating the pathologies that led to its disruption.

Symptoms

With mastopathy, symptoms and treatment are always individual. They depend, first of all, on the type of pathology and the degree of its development. Clinically, FCM is accompanied by painful sensations when pressing on the breast and the appearance of discharge from the nipple. They have a liquid, mucous consistency that can be yellowish or green.

On palpation, small dense rounded formations are felt. They can be grainy or smooth.

Breast pain is permanent or short-term. It can radiate to the armpit or shoulder joint, and can also be accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the chest and squeezing.

Important! FCM at the initial stages of development is always pronounced. Symptoms intensify a few days before the onset of menstruation, and also if the woman does not receive appropriate treatment. At an advanced stage of the disease, the clinical picture becomes acute and neoplasms in the breast can be visible to the naked eye. Moreover, their increase no longer depends on the menstrual cycle.

In case of degeneration of neoplasms in the mammary glands into cancer, the following symptoms are observed:

• The seals are soldered to the structures of the organ, as a result of which they become immobile.
• Ulcers and crusts appear on the skin of the chest.
• The gland swells, greatly increasing in size.
• Bloody, brown or black discharge begins to ooze from the nipple.
• The skin of the chest takes on a red tint.
• The breasts become lumpy and their natural contours are disrupted.
• There is asymmetry of the mammary glands.
• The pain syndrome intensifies.

Important! The occurrence of at least one of the above symptoms requires immediate consultation with a doctor.

Is it possible to plan a pregnancy?

Fibrous a cyst is not a contraindication to pregnancy. On the contrary, conceiving a child can help restore hormonal levels, which will have a beneficial effect on the treatment of fibrous mastopathy.

At the same time, lactation is also not contraindicated in this disease. It also contributes to the treatment of FCM. In addition, during lactation, some formations can even dissolve on their own, leaving no traces behind. Therefore, it is believed that pregnancy and breastfeeding are an excellent prevention of FCM and the only safe way to treat it.

During lactation, the growth of epithelium in the mammary glands is activated, which produces its own antibodies that can destroy cells of nodes and cysts. That is why pathological formations stop growing and begin to gradually dissolve. However, long-term breastfeeding must be carried out under close medical supervision. This will allow you to take the necessary measures in a timely manner in the event of lactostasis and prevent the progression of FCM.

Possible complications

If left untreated, this may result in:

• Progressive growth of cystic formations in, which leads to visible changes in its shape.
• Inflammation of the cysts and further infection of the gland, followed by suppuration.
• The occurrence of cancer.
• Education gap.

Given such serious consequences, every woman should know what FCM is and how it manifests itself. Only timely detection and treatment can prevent their occurrence.

Diagnostics

You can identify mastopathy yourself by palpating the mammary gland. When palpating it, compactions and nodular formations with clear and even boundaries are noted.

However, to confirm the diagnosis, you will also need to undergo a breast ultrasound and x-ray. The photo of the X-ray examination shows the number of formations, sizes and contours. Ultrasound allows you to determine the thickness of the walls of cysts, their contents and the likelihood of degeneration into cancer.

An ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs is also mandatory, which allows us to exclude the development of pathologies of the organs of the reproductive system, as well as biochemical and hormonal blood tests.

If the doctor suspects the occurrence of oncology, then before performing FCM therapy, he prescribes an MRI, CT scan and testing for the CA-125 tumor marker.

Treatment

If mastopathy is detected, therapy must be carried out without fail. And the sooner it starts, the lower the risk of serious complications. How to treat is determined only by the doctor, taking into account the results of the examination of the patient and her age category.

Conservative therapy for FCM is carried out only with a diffuse form of development of the pathology. Both hormonal and non-hormonal therapy can be used here. The latter implies the reception:

• Multivitamin complexes.
• Iodine-containing drugs (prescribed if a woman has thyroid pathologies).
• Sedatives, since any stress can lead to progression of the disease.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Herbal medicines and diuretics.

Conservative treatment for mastopathy also includes following a special diet that helps restore hormonal levels without the use of drugs. Nutrition for mastopathy completely excludes the following foods:

• bakery products;
• pasta;
• semolina;
• corn;
• White cabbage;
• confectionery;
• sauces (mayonnaise, ketchup, etc.);
• butter and margarine;
• pickles;
• smoked meats;
• semi-finished products;
• canned food;
• carbonated drinks;
• black tea and coffee.

The diet also completely excludes the consumption of fatty and fried foods. The main diet should be:

• legumes;
• fresh vegetables and fruits;
• nuts;
• seafood;
• lean meats and fish;
• dairy and fermented milk products.

And also a diet for mastopathy requires adherence to a regimen - meals should occur at the same time at least 5 times a day. In this case, a portion of food should not exceed 200 g.

If non-hormonal therapy does not produce positive results, then treatment is carried out using hormonal drugs. In this case, the main emphasis is on the use of gestagens, androgens, inhibitors of prolactin production or antiestrogens. Drugs are prescribed on an individual basis after receiving the results of a hormone test.

If no positive dynamics are observed during hormonal therapy, the pathology is treated through surgery. During the operation, sectoral resection of the mammary gland or enucleation of the tumor can be performed.

Mastopathy is not a death sentence. If a woman promptly seeks help from a doctor, then she has a chance to get rid of this pathology without consequences, and without even resorting to surgery.

Video material on the topic

The development of cystic mastopathy is associated with a large number of provoking factors. These are heredity, ecology, nutrition and other reasons that affect a woman’s hormonal levels to varying degrees.

Most often, the development of mastopathy is observed due to a combination of such factors. Let's look at the main ones:

1. Disorders of reproductive function. Cystic mastopathy most often occurs in patients suffering from the inability to conceive a child, or after frequent abortions or menstrual irregularities. Those women who did not breastfeed or did so, but not for long (up to 5 months), are also susceptible to the disease.
2. Lack of sexual intercourse, dissatisfaction in the sexual sphere, rejection of sex.
3. Psychological discomfort. Frequent stress, conflict situations, psycho-emotional outbursts and hysterics contribute to hormonal imbalance and, as a result, the development of mastopathy.
4. Metabolic disorders: excess weight, diabetes, hyperthyroidism.
5. Long-term diseases of the reproductive system: salpingoophoritis, endometritis, appendage cysts, etc.
6. Hereditary predisposition.
7. Wrong lifestyle: chronic fatigue, little time for sleep, overeating, insufficient fiber intake, strict diets.

Symptoms of cystic mastopathy of the breast

The main manifestations of the disease are:

• soreness of the mammary gland - dull, aching, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness and a general discomfort. It may increase several days before menstruation, occur at certain moments, or be a constant concern. The pain can increase significantly with pressure or even touching the gland;
• areas of compaction in the breast - usually do not have clear outlines and can be determined by the woman independently by feeling the breast;
• discharge from the milk ducts - they can be noticed if you press on the nipple area. The discharge can be very diverse (light, dark, purulent), depending on the severity of the condition and the scale of the pathology;
• palpation of the lymph nodes in the axillary region is not observed in everyone, only 1-10% of patients, but this symptom should also be paid attention to.

Such signs are not necessarily present all at once: sometimes the disease is limited to one or two symptoms.

In addition to the above symptoms, an increase in the size of one or two glands may be observed: at the same time, they are sensitive and painful to the touch. This is associated with breast swelling, which appears depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, which is caused by an increase in the level of hormones in the blood.

Along with this, there may be pain in the head, swelling in the legs and body, dyspeptic symptoms, a disorder of the psycho-emotional state (irritability, inadequate reactions like premenstrual manifestations). From the first days of the monthly cycle, such signs, as a rule, stop.

Forms

Fibrocystic mastopathy of the mammary glands

Let's look at the differences between cystic and fibrocystic mastopathy.

Cystic mastopathy is accompanied by the appearance of a varying number of peculiar nodes with liquid contents - cysts, with clear contours and a soft structure. The appearance of cysts is accompanied by pain, especially immediately before the onset of menstruation.

In the fibrocystic form of mastopathy, excessive growth of connective tissue is observed, which contributes to the appearance of multiple small cystic tumors. This form is accompanied by a chaotic arrangement of cysts, moreover, they can appear on both glands at the same time. Cysts contain clear liquid, but puncture is not always possible: often the formations are too small and it is quite difficult to get into them with a needle.

Pain in the mammary glands can spread to the upper limbs, shoulders, and armpits.

Diagnosis of cystic mastopathy of the breast

It is advisable to conduct a breast examination from the 4th to the 12th day of the monthly cycle, since on other days, due to the natural physiological processes occurring in the mammary gland, there is a risk of misdiagnosis.

The initial diagnosis of cystic mastopathy consists of an external examination of the breast. The doctor pays attention to the color of the skin, the shape of the breast, and the differences between healthy and affected breasts. Next, the doctor begins to palpate the breast, first in a vertical and then in a horizontal position. In addition to the chest, the axillary area is also felt to determine the condition of the lymph nodes.

Ultrasound examination is the next stage of correct diagnosis. A harmless, but quite informative method that determines the condition of epithelial tissue and provides the opportunity to simultaneously examine the nearest lymph nodes.

Mammography is also a very common procedure, similar to an x-ray examination: a picture of the gland is taken, demonstrating whether there are tumors in a given area. However, this method is not advisable for women under 40 years of age, as well as pregnant and lactating patients.

Often, for mastopathy, a diagnostic puncture is prescribed, which can also be used for therapeutic purposes. In this case, the cystic contents are sucked out with a thin needle, after which the walls of the cavity stick together, and the cyst gradually resolves.

Discharges from the milk ducts are also subjected to cytological analysis.

After making and confirming the diagnosis, the doctor begins to develop a treatment regimen for mastopathy.

Treatment of cystic mastopathy of the breast

Treatment of cystic mastopathy consists of several stages.

1. Changing nutrition principles. Numerous studies have proven that to reduce pain and swelling of the mammary glands, it is important to exclude from the diet foods that provoke the growth of fibrous tissue and the formation of liquid contents in the cyst. These products include strong tea, coffee, chocolate products, drinks such as cola or Pepsi. In addition, many experts associate the appearance of mammary gland diseases with poor intestinal functioning: constipation, disruption of the bacterial flora. In this regard, doctors recommend that for mastopathy, eat mainly foods rich in fiber (fruit, vegetable dishes, seasoned with herbs), and also drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day. You should limit your consumption of alcohol and fatty foods - foods that negatively affect hormonal levels.
2. Correct selection of underwear. For those patients who often suffer from mastopathy, experts recommend paying attention to the selection of a bra, taking into account all breast parameters. Irregular shape and size of cups can compress the breasts and deform them. This is especially true for those who have large mammary glands.
3. Vitamin therapy. It is prescribed to normalize hormone levels, strengthen the immune system, and normalize the function of the endocrine system. It is especially important to take B vitamins, as well as A, E and ascorbic acid.
4. Prescribing diuretics. Often, mastopathy is combined with edema of both the breast itself and the extremities, which requires the prescription of mild diuretics. In this situation, it is better to use diuretic teas based on herbs, and also eliminate or sharply limit the amount of salt in the diet.
5. Prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, nise). They help fight pain, which especially increases before critical days. Such drugs cannot be used for a long time.
6. Prescribing sedatives. Such drugs are prescribed to combat stress, which is one of the factors contributing to the development of mastopathy. They use preparations of valerian or motherwort, soothing teas and infusions.
7. Hormonal treatment. Of course, the development and functions of the mammary gland are impossible without the action of a number of hormones. First of all, these are estrogens and progesterone. However, sometimes the influence of these hormones becomes excessive, which leads to abnormal growth of some gland tissues. In order to reduce their effects, so-called antihormones are prescribed - drugs that reduce the bioactivity of estrogens. These drugs include toremifene and tamoxifen. For the same purpose, oral contraceptives (Janine, Marvelon) can be used, which suppress the production of steroids, androgens, estrogens, stabilizing significant changes in hormonal levels in the body. However, not in all cases of cystic mastopathy, contraceptives are effective, so sometimes the doctor has to reconsider this prescription. The doctor may prescribe gestagens - progesterone preparations (Utrozhestan, Duphaston, etc.), which prevent the growth of the cystic formation with subsequent gradual regression. In addition, antiprolactins (parlodel), androgens (methyltestosterone), and gonadotropin antagonists (zoladex, buserelin) are often prescribed.
8. Homeopathic therapy. Many homeopathic remedies are deservedly successful in the treatment of cystic mastopathy: they effectively reduce the amount of prolactin, without causing side effects and having virtually no contraindications. Such drugs include remens, cyclodinone, mastodinone.
9. Prescription of iodine preparations for thyroid dysfunction. Of course, such drugs are effective for hypothyroidism, but cannot be prescribed for autoimmune thyroiditis or thyrotoxicosis. Among such drugs are iodomarin and mamoclam.
10. Surgical treatment of cystic mastopathy is prescribed in the absence of effectiveness from drug treatment, or if the development of oncological pathology is suspected.

Of course, the choice of treatment may depend on many characteristics of both the patient and the course of the disease. Therefore, you should not make a decision about treatment on your own: trust a good specialist.

Every third woman suffers from mastopathy - a benign pathology of the mammary glands, the essence of which is the degeneration of their structure. Changes in this case may affect the glandular (functional) part of the organ or affect the connective tissue stroma, or may have a combined nature.

In addition, a distinction is made between a widespread form of the disease and a localized one. When a woman’s breast exhibits simultaneous degeneration of the glandular component of the organ and excessive growth of connective tissue without signs of a clear predominance of the first or second, the disease is called fibrocystic mastopathy.

The main reason why FCM is subject to mandatory treatment is the increased risk of developing cancer pathology in already changed areas of the gland.

Comparing the development of breast cancer in groups of women with and without mastopathy, we can talk about a threefold increase in the risk of malignancy.

Symptoms of the disease

Fibrocystic mastopathy disguises itself as ordinary premenstrual syndrome, so it is difficult to recognize in the early stages. A woman rarely visits a mammologist or gynecologist and does not engage in self-examination - as a result, mastopathy acquires such pronounced symptoms that it is easy for a doctor to make a diagnosis based on a mere history and objective examination. Ultrasound examination (or mammography, if age permits) is necessary to clarify the size of palpable formations, as well as to search for those that are not yet perceptible during an objective examination.

Fibrocystic mastopathy causes the following symptoms:

• pain in the mammary glands;
• edema syndrome, including engorgement of the chest and swelling of the extremities;
• palpable formations in the mammary gland;
• the presence of secretions from the gland ducts.

The pain is nagging, aching in nature, but there are often cases of acute pain, which makes it impossible to sleep on the stomach, side, or even on the back under a thick blanket. More often, the pain reaches this intensity in the last phase of the menstrual cycle, decreasing somewhat after the onset of bleeding. The more advanced the process, the more pronounced the pain becomes, passing only for a few days at the end of menstruation or not passing at all.

The breast increases in volume and fills up until the skin becomes tense. The formations that can be detected by palpation are dense, moving “balls” with clear boundaries, the sizes of which vary depending on the stage of the disease. Due to constant chest pain, a woman becomes irritable, physically and mentally exhausted. Lack of sleep and neuroses appear. Treatment if you have symptoms of mastopathy is the only sure way out.

What is the treatment for mastopathy?

The pharmaceutical market offers a number of medicines whose action is aimed specifically at treating mastopathy. Among them there are both registered drugs and dietary supplements, homeopathic or simply herbal remedies: herbal preparations, herbal teas.

From a medical point of view, the following areas of therapy are distinguished:

• Drug treatment (hormonal, non-hormonal).
• Surgical treatment (if indicated: medium or large pathological growths).
• Alternative or non-traditional medicine.

Hormone therapy

The direct cause of mastopathy is considered to be a violation of the relationship between the main sex hormones: estrogens, prolactin and progesterone. The traditional hormonal course of treatment is selected exclusively by the doctor after studying the patient’s hormonal background. Self-therapy is strictly prohibited.

Drugs with a pronounced antiestrogenic effect

Estrogens have a direct effect on the mammary gland, stimulating the growth of the endothelial lining of the milk ducts and alveoli, as well as causing excessive growth of the stroma. The classic anti-estrogenic drug is Tamoxifen. The medicine reduces the intensity of pain and restores the disrupted cycle. To achieve a therapeutic effect, you will have to take it for at least 2 months, and treatment may be accompanied by side reactions (dyspeptic symptoms, sweating, dizziness). Replace the medicine with softer ones - Toremifene or Fareston.

Medicines that reduce prolactin secretion

A representative of this group, Bromocriptine, not only affects prolactin, but also reduces the level of growth hormone (growth hormone). It has no effect on pituitary hormones, the levels of which remain within physiological norms. Reduces prolactin-dependent growth of mammary gland tissue, and suppresses it in the presence of lactation. Cysts under the influence of Bromocriptine undergo reverse development, decreasing in size or resolving. Analogue drugs are Laktodel, Parlodel.

Oral contraceptives

Prescribing medications from this group prevents cyclical changes in hormone levels and associated pain. In addition to protecting against unplanned pregnancy, oral contraceptives prevent cancer of the female reproductive system. There are monophasic and combined contraceptives, which are prescribed individually after studying hormone levels.

Gestagens

They have an inhibitory effect on the gonadotropic function of the pituitary gland, and act as antiestrogens on the mammary glands. Oral dosage forms include Pregnil, Pregnin, and norethisterone preparations. An alternative to oral forms are ointments, gels, and creams applied topically. Most often, gynecologists prescribe Progestogel to patients in the form of an ointment or gel, which is a progesterone preparation. The oral form of progesterone is Utrozhestan.

Androgenic agents

Prescribed for absolute hyperestrogenism, as well as for the treatment of fibrocystic mastopathy in women over 45 years of age. Androgens include danazol drugs - Danol or Danoval. The medicine evens out the structure of the mammary glands, has a minimal contraceptive effect, but cannot be used as the only means of contraception.

Treatment of mastopathy with hormonal drugs involves precise adherence to dosage and monitoring of effectiveness through regular testing of hormone levels. To achieve the expected treatment, long periods of therapy are indicated.

Non-hormonal therapy

An important place in the treatment of mastopathy is occupied by non-hormonal drugs that strengthen the body, restore its defenses and eliminate the cause-and-effect relationships of the disease.

• Stress is both a provocateur and a consequence of mastopathy. In order to eliminate psycho-emotional tension, patients are prescribed sedatives: valerian root extract or motherwort in the first stages of the disease, and if the pain syndrome is severe, sleeping pills are prescribed.
• Immunostimulants and adaptogens. The purpose of prescribing alcoholic tinctures of ginseng, Rhodiola or Eleutherococcus is to increase the body's reactivity, tone and resistance to adverse and aggressive environmental factors. The herbal adaptogen Klamin has a lot of positive reviews. Performing the functions of an enterosorbent, immunostimulant and antioxidant, Klamin complements the treatment of mastopathy with additional iodine intake into the body. Treatment with immunostimulants and adaptogens is permissible for up to 4 months, after which a two-month break is required.

• Iodine preparations. Uncompensated pathology of the thyroid gland easily becomes the cause of mastopathy. Therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis of mastopathy necessarily includes the study of thyroid hormones, as well as correction of their levels according to indications. Iodine active, Iodomarin are most often used for this purpose.
• Enzymes that normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. With chronic constipation and dysbacteriosis, part of the estrogens already excreted into the intestines with bile undergoes reverse reabsorption. This is the reason for the prescription of medications for mastopathy that normalize intestinal function. The leader among products of this kind is Wobenzym.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicines from the NSAID group combine anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Diclofenac and similar medications are prescribed for severe pain, taking into account the condition of the upper intestines (NSAIDs negatively affect the stomach and duodenum).
• Diuretics. If there is severe edema syndrome and there are no contraindications from the kidneys, the doctor may prescribe mild, mild potassium-sparing diuretics. Herbal remedies can replace drug therapy.
• Hepatotropic drugs. Often, complex therapy for mastopathy includes drugs that normalize liver function: Essentiale, Karsil, Tykveol. This is due to the participation of the liver in hormone metabolism.
• Vitamins. Vitamin A has an anti-estrogenic property, inhibiting the growth of the glandular component of the mammary gland and stroma. By potentiating the effect of progesterone, vitamin E promotes the resorption of cysts. B6 acts as a prolactin inhibitor, and vitamins C and P reduce swelling of the mammary gland and normalize vascular permeability.
• Homeopathy. These drugs include Mastodinon, Cyclodinone, Remens. Homeopathy will help get rid of the symptoms of the disease, improve the cycle, reduce irritability and swelling, and also help establish psycho-emotional stability.

Alternative Methods

Treatment with folk remedies is an independent and seriously developed area. Despite the fact that such drugs do not have such strict indications as pharmaceutical drugs, it is better to discuss the possibility of their use with your doctor. Inform about your intention to include alternative medicine in your course of treatment. A practicing mammologist can advise the most appropriate and effective methods in your case.

Traditional methods of treatment have a large number of recipes. You can use two or more at once, but you need to be patient. Each of the methods implies regularity and courses: after completing one you will have to take a break, then start again, etc. Only this approach will help to significantly reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disease or get rid of it.

Plant leaves

This method involves applying leaves to the chest at night or during the day. To do this, wash one or more leaves of the plant and distribute evenly over the surface of the chest. First, you can lightly beat them or mash them so that they release the juice. Change leaves as they dry out.

The following plants are used for this treatment:

• cabbage (hard parts are removed with a knife);
• burdock;
• quinoa;
• coltsfoot.

There are modifications of recipes according to which the leaves are smeared with honey before applying to the breast or placed on top of other compresses. Also, plants can be used not whole, but chopped.

• Crushed burdock leaves are mixed with half a glass of honey and castor oil. The resulting mass is spread on another whole leaf of the plant and applied to the chest overnight.
• Quinoa is mixed with ground lard. Apply the resulting mass to the chest.
• Shredded cabbage is mixed with honey or yogurt. Apply to the chest, covering the top with a whole sheet.

Plant juice

Plant juices are actively used as a means of treating mastopathy.

• Burdock juice is taken orally three times a day, one tablespoon at a time. Take without a break for no longer than 2 months.
• Beetroot juice is used internally and externally. It is not recommended to drink freshly squeezed juice: you need to let it sit and only then drink a tablespoon per dose three times a day. For taste, it can be diluted with carrot juice in a ratio of 1:4. Duration of treatment: month of admission, month of rest. If you have diabetes, this treatment is contraindicated.
• The juice of radish, beets, carrots, lemon and garlic is mixed equally with honey. Keep refrigerated. Take a tablespoon three times a day after meals.
• Elderberry juice is taken orally on an empty stomach, one tablespoon twice a day.

Decoctions and infusions

Traditional medicine knows many recipes for decoctions and infusions for mastopathy.

• Mix horsetail, corn silk, juniper berries, and yarrow equally, add 200 ml of boiling water. Let it brew. Take a third of a glass three times a day.
• A decoction of burdock root is prepared for half an hour: take a tablespoon of crushed plant root for 1 cup of boiling water. Drink, distributing the glass evenly throughout the day.
• Milk decoction of dill seeds. 100 g of seeds are boiled in half a liter of milk. Take 100 ml three times a day before meals.
• A decoction of dry cat's claw. Simmer a teaspoon of herb over low heat for half an hour in 200 ml of water. Take a glass before meals three times a day, warm.
• Peppermint infusion is used externally, take 2 tbsp per glass of boiling water. l. dry grass. Infuse and soak the fabric with the strained infusion and apply it to the chest as a compress.
• Calendula infusion. Infuse a tablespoon of flowers with half a liter of boiling water for 20 minutes, then use it as a compress.
• Pour a tablespoon of cold Rhodiola into a glass of boiling water. Take a glass per day, evenly distributed throughout the day.

Treatment of mastopathy must be supplemented with soothing herbal infusions or teas. To do this, brew and infuse the following herbs:

• chamomile;
• mint;
• Melissa;
• valerian;
• motherwort.

Herbs can be brewed individually or mixed. Also, folk recipes advise mixing these herbs in equal parts with the following, using weak infusions instead of tea:

• sage;
• oregano;
• fireweed;
• celandine;
• clover;
• sweet clover;
• lungwort;
• zyuznik;
• cinquefoil;
• hog uterus;
• meadow lumbago.

Compresses and applications

Fibrocystic mastopathy is treated with compresses prepared from the following ingredients:

• pumpkin;
• carrot;
• beet;
• potato;
• baked onions;
• zucchini;
• sagebrush.

Carrot, pumpkin and beet compresses are prepared from grated raw materials, used separately or mixed with each other. You can mix the vegetable mass with honey. Compresses made from steamed plants are also effective. This is how a compress from wormwood is prepared: the plant is poured with boiling water, left for 15 minutes, after which the liquid is drained, and the remaining herbal mass is wrapped in a thin cloth and applied to the chest. Using the same recipe, a compress is prepared from birch leaves and roots.

For applications, prepare a mixture of honey and flour: mix 2:1 parts and apply to the chest. You can cover the top of the applique with a leaf of burdock or cabbage or apply cling film. Wrap your chest with a scarf.

Rye flatbreads are prepared using the same principle: an egg and a teaspoon of honey are added to three tablespoons of rye flour. The resulting mass is formed into small cakes and applied to the chest.

Mastopathy can be treated with clay applications. For this purpose, unrefined clay is used, which is mixed with water and applied to the chest in a layer of no more than a millimeter. The chest is covered with dry heat from above.