Anyone experienced nipple soreness post menopause?

Posted by margaret902 @margaret902, Sep 23, 2012

I am 58, post menopausal. Within about the last week my nipples have become tender, similar to how it used to feel before or on my period. They also are more flat, and the aereola is less pink than normal. They used to change with temperature, but now seem to be more flattened out in general. I don't feel sick otherwise, and am not on any medications. Anyone out there who has experienced this kind of change or tenderness?

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@elsierosie

Hi,
He did some hormone tests snd, with the exception of my testosterone level being .3 when the range was 2-2.9, all other levels he said were in the normal range for a post menopausal woman. My general dr said that sometimes, and it’s rare, we can ovulate.. and that I may get brown spotting soon. Hasn’t happened yet but my boobs and nipples are not as sore anymore- just itchy and red in some areas. My t4 is quite high but we have to suppress my TSH so that I don’t get thyroid cancer again. Did you get the Covid vaccine? I gut Pfizer in February ( both shots) and I am reading stories about some women who are having menstral irregularities as a result.. did you ask your dr? Keep me posted. I definitely think I have some hormonal stuff going on…
Take care

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Hello again
I also got both Pfizer jabs in Feb and May….. wonder if there is something in that. I’m going to make contact with my GP in the next couple of days and ask if I can have some blood screening done also. I’m concerned about oestrogen dominance, as I have a 10cm fibroid that I’m told will now (as I’m menopausal) shrink and stop squashing my bladder. But will it????

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Because of some weird version of hypogonadism, my body never had enough hormones to develop all my female interior parts. Anyway, I never menstruated, and always had to take outside hormones. I have a typical female phenotype. lately i had to start using vaginal estrogen cream to help with vaginal dryness, and after using it for a few days, my nipples started to hurt quite a bit.
I am for sure no spring chicken anymore, but it seems that hormones don't care about this, and cause my nipples to hurt.

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Hello to all 😊 Im 59 and been post menopausal for two years. Im sometimes also get the itchy nipples but not the soreness and somehow it mostly occurs around the time of my period if I were still having one. Does this have anything to do with hormones. I also still sometimes get mild flushes especially at night. Is this normal?
On another note Im going through a bout of acid reflux for the past 3mths. Iv had to change my diet etc and take medication. But this is something I havent had for such a length of time before. Can it also be related to post menopause...has anyone been in the same position. Any advice would be most helpful.
Thank you and be safe everyone in these trying times.

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I’m also having nipple soreness and I’m 74. Input will be much appreciated.

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@mpeters

I’m also having nipple soreness and I’m 74. Input will be much appreciated.

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Hello @mpeters and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You are not alone. Members such as @lindes and @elsierosie have also shared that they have experienced nipple soreness and may be able to come back and share an update with you.

In addition, I did find this information that may be helpful to review to see if any of the potential causes ring a bell.

- Breast Pain: Symptoms and Causes:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20350423#:~:text=Breast%20tenderness%20is%20a%20possible,reuptake%20inhibitor%20(SSRI)%20antidepressants.
Do you happen to take any hormone therapies and/or antidepressants?

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@amandajro

Hello @mpeters and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You are not alone. Members such as @lindes and @elsierosie have also shared that they have experienced nipple soreness and may be able to come back and share an update with you.

In addition, I did find this information that may be helpful to review to see if any of the potential causes ring a bell.

- Breast Pain: Symptoms and Causes:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20350423#:~:text=Breast%20tenderness%20is%20a%20possible,reuptake%20inhibitor%20(SSRI)%20antidepressants.
Do you happen to take any hormone therapies and/or antidepressants?

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After reading the text, I realized it could be due to my change in blood pressure medication. I will discuss it with my pcp.

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@mpeters

After reading the text, I realized it could be due to my change in blood pressure medication. I will discuss it with my pcp.

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@mpeters please stay in touch as you work through this in the event your conclusion could help another member!

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I just found this blog by doing a search because I’m having the same issues and I kind of wondered if it didn’t have anything to do with my vaccination in April. I got the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. My last official period was October 2018. I did have one period June of 2020 but was told that was only because I started synthetic hormones one month prior. No periods since. I’m 50. I could always tell when I ovulated and about five days ago I almost guarantee I was ovulating. Haven’t felt that in a few years. And then three days ago my nipples have gotten very sore and very sensitive. I’m not concerned but putting this out there in case there is a correlation with the vaccines. I’m not planning to see my gynecologist until October. Unless something gets worse. Just interested to hear what others are experiencing.

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@mamamimi

I just found this blog by doing a search because I’m having the same issues and I kind of wondered if it didn’t have anything to do with my vaccination in April. I got the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. My last official period was October 2018. I did have one period June of 2020 but was told that was only because I started synthetic hormones one month prior. No periods since. I’m 50. I could always tell when I ovulated and about five days ago I almost guarantee I was ovulating. Haven’t felt that in a few years. And then three days ago my nipples have gotten very sore and very sensitive. I’m not concerned but putting this out there in case there is a correlation with the vaccines. I’m not planning to see my gynecologist until October. Unless something gets worse. Just interested to hear what others are experiencing.

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Hello @mamamimi and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Your experiences tell me you are quite in tune with your body. There is a chance, according to this artcile, that your HRT may not suppress ovulation, therefore, causing a spike in progesterone levels which could account for your nipple soreness.
- Incidence of ovulation in perimenopausal women before and during hormone replacement therapy:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8605779/#:~:text=These%20findings%20reveal%20that%20HRT,in%20perimenopausal%20women%20using%20HRT.
From the article:
These findings reveal that HRT with the higher dose Prempak-C does not suppress ovulation and that an elevated FSH does not always indicate the absence of ovulation. They also show that neither age nor regularity of menstrual cycles can be used to predict the need for contraception in perimenopausal women using HRT.

Did your doctor mention this being something you may experience?

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@amandajro

Hello @mamamimi and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Your experiences tell me you are quite in tune with your body. There is a chance, according to this artcile, that your HRT may not suppress ovulation, therefore, causing a spike in progesterone levels which could account for your nipple soreness.
- Incidence of ovulation in perimenopausal women before and during hormone replacement therapy:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8605779/#:~:text=These%20findings%20reveal%20that%20HRT,in%20perimenopausal%20women%20using%20HRT.
From the article:
These findings reveal that HRT with the higher dose Prempak-C does not suppress ovulation and that an elevated FSH does not always indicate the absence of ovulation. They also show that neither age nor regularity of menstrual cycles can be used to predict the need for contraception in perimenopausal women using HRT.

Did your doctor mention this being something you may experience?

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Thanks for you quick response. I don’t believe we ever discussed the possibility of ovulation while on HRT. My husband had a vasectomy over 20 years ago so I haven’t been on any contraceptives since then. In fact, I’ve been tracking my ovulation since I was 21 so I spent virtually no time or use of any kind of contraceptives. I was extremely regular so we were able to avoid me having to be on anything or use anything. May be a reason why it was never discussed. Maybe I’m reading the article incorrectly but is it referring to perimenopausal women? I thought since I haven’t had a period in three years I am considered menopausal or does that not matter? Still trying to figure all this out. 😊

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