Mastalgia: current trends and recommendations

Abstract

Mastalgia is the most common manifestation of mastopathy. Up to 70 % of women experiencing breast pain report a significant decrease in their quality of life; however, hormone therapy is not indicated and suitable for everyone. The main aim of a clinician in this case is to exclude cancer and choose appropriate treatment to manage pain. First-line therapy for such patients may not necessarily include medications.The aim of this work was to identify the most effective non-pharmacological treatments for patients with mastalgia. We conducted a search of publications assessing various methods of mastalgia management in both Russian and foreign databases (PubMed, CyberLeninka, Elibrary, Google Scholar). We used the following key words: “mastalgia”, “cyclic mastalgia“, and “non-cyclic mastalgia“.Visual demonstration of the fact the woman has no risk of breast cancer (after examination) and proper explanation can reduce complaints of mastalgia without any additional treatment. Recommendation to change a bra also brings a significant relief to the majority of women. Reduced consumption of methylxanthines and fats along with sufficient intake of fiber and liquid can be beneficial for patients. Dietary modifications with certain nutrients (such as indole-3-carbinol and trans-resveratrol) might significantly improve the quality of life of patients with mastalgia. Relaxation practices can also mitigate mastalgia.Most patients with mastalgia can be managed without any medications if they are reassured about the absence of cancer risk, choose a well-fitting and supportive bra, have psychoemotional support, and modify their diet.