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Breast tenderness

This refers to a feeling of tightness in one or both breasts caused by hormonal changes. This has to do with the increase in female hormones (especially oestrogen) during puberty, can also occur before or during menstruation and also occurs during pregnancy, as the breasts prepare early for breastfeeding. They swell quickly and become larger and firmer. Later, they increase in size and weight again due to breast milk. Some women also experience breast tenderness when taking hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill.