I have very painful and swollen breasts, help!

Breast/nipple tenderness is very common in the menopause and is often caused by fluctuating oestrogen.

As long as you are not on any other hormonal contraception/medication you could try Menopause Support. This is traditionally used to help gently raise/balance oestrogen levels and may reduce symptoms. Kelp can often help as well.

Dehydration and constipation can be contributory factors so do make sure that you are drinking plenty of plain water every day - tea, coffee, fizzy/sugary drinks can make symptoms worse so best avoided!

Just remember to get any breast changes checked out by your doctor as well.

Have you had yourself measured properly for bra size? In and after the menopause breast tissue, size and shape can change quite dramatically and an ill fitting bra, especially if you wear under-wired ones, can cause breast pain too! Most big department stores offer a free service so it would be worth checking out.

There is also a theory that chemical deodorants may be a contributory factor so why not try a natural one for a month or two to see if that helps as well.

Eileen Durward