Mastalgia and total body water.

Abstract

Total body water (TBW) was measured early and late in a menstrual cycle in 56 women, 39 of whom had breast pain. The remainder were asymptomatic controls. Most women did not conform to the traditional view that there is a premenstrual increase in TBW. In some TBW decreased, while in others there was no change from the early cycle measurement. No TBW pattern correlated with any syndromes of breast pain or with any psychoneurotic profile.

A Systematic Review of Current Understanding and Management of Mastalgia

“…The results showed that there were no significant differences in water gain between the 5th and 25th days of menstrual cycle in mastalgia patients compared to normal controls [10]. So it was concluded that simple retention of body water was not associated with breast pain [11]. Psychoneurosis Astley Copper suggested that mastalgia patients were neurotic.…”

Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Medical Therapy of Benign Breast Disease

“…Preece et al [2] have demonstrated that water retention is not the cause and because of general effects on electrolyte composition and rebound effects after withdrawal, we do not support the use of diuretics for mastodynia.…”

Management of Breast Pain

“…Although an intriguing hypothesis, fl uid retention has not been shown to cause cyclic mastalgia. In a study by Preece et al, total body water was measured early and late in the menstrual cycle for women with breast pain and in asymptomatic women, with no apparent correlation identifi ed [ 10 ]. Histopathological changes of fi brocystic breast disease can be found in women with and without cyclic mastalgia.…”