In addition to demographic and socioeconomic questions, in this study, a total of 26 questions were asked, along with 11 questions regarding possible risk factors. The study was carried out between January 1, 2020, and March 30, 2020. Women who agreed to participate in the study were administered a questionnaire for mastalgia assessment after completing the informed consent form. Therefore, the aim of our study is to compare patients with and without mastalgia to investigate the factors affecting mastalgia and the effects of breast sagging, which we hypothesize is one of these factors.Ī total of 440 women including 220 with mastalgia and 220 without who applied to Ankara City Hospital’s breast and endocrine surgery outpatient clinic with breast disorders or other complaints (thyroid or parathyroid) participated in this study. However, there is no study in the literature investigating the effect of breast sagging on mastalgia. In previous studies, the effects of breast size and the bra used on mastalgia were investigated 6– 10. Additionally, gaining weight in the last 5 years is one of the common factors that can cause mastalgia 10. Along with smoking, excessive caffeine intake, obesity, alcohol consumption, pregnancy, mastitis, trauma, canal ectasia, macrocysts of the breast, and benign tumors can also cause mastalgia 8– 10. It is seen as unilateral and well localized, not associated with the menstrual cycle 7, 8. Non-cyclic mastalgia is also sometimes limited, mostly unilateral, and felt only in a quadrant of the breast 5, 6. It is most commonly seen between the ages of 40 and 50 and is felt in the form of a sharp burn. Non-cyclic mastalgia is independent of the menstrual cycle. It usually disappears with the onset of menstruation 3, 4. This pain is common and can spread to the arms and armpits. It is felt before menstruation usually in the upper outer quadrant of both breasts. Cyclic or periodic mastalgia is related to the menstrual cycle and is common in young women.
![droppy nipples droppy nipples](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/60/46/aa/6046aa347a0b99bb3d5681c26379dbd2.jpg)
Mastalgia usually occurs in women between the ages of 30 and 50. When patients with mastalgia learn that they do not have cancer via examination and imaging methods, the vast majority feel relieved and only 15% of them require medical treatment 1, 2. In most women, the pain lasts a few days to a month and disappears on its own. Women frequently apply to primary and secondary health care institutions due to this complaint. Mastalgia is a pain felt in the breast tissue. As a result, it has been found that severe mastalgia complaints cause by obesity, sagging breasts, never giving birth, unemployment anxiety, regular smoking, alcohol use, and excessive tea consumption. In these women, drinking more than 6 cups of tea a day (OR: 2.15, CI 1.32-3.5), smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day (OR: 2.94, CI 1.78-4.83), and drinking alcohol at least once a week (OR: 2.1, CI 1.12-3.91) were found to be important factors that increased the risk of mastalgia. Mastalgia was significantly more common in women with BMIs of > 30 kg/m 2 (OR: 2.94, CI 1.65–5.24), those who were primary school graduates or illiterate (OR: 2.96, CI 1.6–5.46), and those with SNND values of 22–25 cm (OR: 2.94, CI 1.79–4.82). The sternal notch to nipple distance (SNND) was measured to determine whether there was breast sagging.
![droppy nipples droppy nipples](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/13/00/10910620-6801479-image-m-10_1552435719014.jpg)
In addition, the women were asked about the presence of any risk factors for mastalgia, such as tea and coffee consumption, smoking, alcohol consumption, and weight gain.
![droppy nipples droppy nipples](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6d/1e/6d/6d1e6db38e2eeaa18f904b3d82314fca--photo-s-sexy-women.jpg)
The patient’s age, height, weight, educational status, marital status, and occupation were recorded in all subjects. The aim of this study is to compare patients with and without mastalgia and to analyze the factors affecting mastalgia and its severity.