Breast self-examination: methods, time, results

Breast refers to the main organs of the reproductive system of women. It undergoes various changes in the period of puberty, fetus bearing, fulfills one of the main roles - feeding the baby. On the other hand, this female organ is the most vulnerable and can cause serious problems in the body. The mammary gland depends on the state of the hormonal background, which may change with time. A woman needs to visit a mammologist regularly or perform breast self-examination at home, preferably once a month.

Breast examination by yourself

Monthly examination and palpation of the mammary glands is necessary to reveal a change in their structure and the presence of seals in the chest. The main task of self-examination is the detection of a malignant tumor at the first stage of its development. This pathology today belongs to the most common malignant formations in the female reproductive system. Only timely detection and treatment will help the patient save life.

As a result of the examination, one can find benign breast tumors and monitor their manifestation and development. This will help in time to remove them, until they are transformed into malignant. Regular self-examination of the mammary glands, a visit to a mammologist and a gynecologist will avoid a serious complication of mastopathy, which can lead to breast cancer.

Breast self-examination rules for women

Most doctors recommend starting a daily breast examination from age 20 and performing it for the rest of their lives. The period of gestation of the fetus, lactation and menopause should not be an exception. With age, the risk of developing malignant tumors in the chest increases. Identify the pathology during pregnancy and breastfeeding is especially difficult. Therefore, in this period it is necessary to pay more attention to this issue. It is desirable to conduct an inspection on the same day every month. In the reproductive period, the breast should be examined several days after the end of the menstrual cycle. At this time, it is less sensitive and swollen.

During the menopause, a breast examination can be done at the end or the beginning of the month. When using oral contraceptives, the examination of the breast should be performed on the first day after the start of taking the medicine from the new package.

There are several basic steps in which self-examination of the mammary glands is carried out:

• Stand exactly near the mirror, hands drop along the trunk. Look, whether identical glands in the form and the size. Then start looking at the breast separately. You should be alerted to all possible changes in the skin, discharge from the nipples, their retraction and asymmetry of the breast, unevenness of the breast, change in shape and size.
• Next, raise your arm above your head and repeat the same inspection.
• Put your hands on your waist, try to strain and relax your chest muscles several times in a row. During this process, conduct an inspection.
• Between the thumb and forefinger of the left and right hand, tighten the nipples sequentially. If they have been allocated, then pay attention to their color and consistency.
• Now lie on your back and relax. Use a few fingers to examine the chest. Try to feel your left breast with your right hand, and vice versa. Follow the procedure carefully and slowly, so as not to miss a single place. As a result of the examination, it is possible to identify areas of softening and densification, painful sensations during examination, changes in the structure of the mammary glands.
• The final step is a repeat of the examination of the chest standing.

Regular palpation of the mammary glands will help to identify the areas with seals, small formations and in the future to observe their increase and change.

Why the left and right breasts are different

Why is the left breast bigger than the right one, or vice versa? In general, nature can not create completely two identical things. If you look closely, you can notice that the ears, eyes, hands, feet have a slight difference between themselves. So the mammary glands, according to the studies of physicians, differ from each other. This phenomenon has its own classification and is divided into congenital and acquired.

Asymmetry of mammary glands of an innate character does not have an exact cause. Mammary glands during puberty can develop and grow differently, and by the age of 20 you can see a slight asymmetry, which is no longer corrected with age. Unless during pregnancy it can become even more pronounced.

The following factors can cause the asymmetry of the acquired type:

• Mechanical trauma. For example, as a child, there was a traumatizing of the breast, which over time was forgotten and all defects were written off to an innate character.
• Tumor. As a result, the glandular tissue proliferation begins, and the breast increases in size. Fetting is one of the most common causes, explaining why the left breast is bigger than the right one, and vice versa.

Pregnancy and breasts: its changes

The change in breast size depends on lactation. Left and right breasts are stimulated to different degrees, and different amounts of milk come to them. Hence the difference in size.

Reasons why this happens:

• expressing milk;
• unequal supply of right and left breast;
• single-breasted feeding, especially at night;
• the child unevenly sucks the right and left breasts;
• one breast contains insufficient milk;
• cracked nipples.

Breast in early pregnancy

First signs of pregnancy:

• mammary glands swell;
• appears hypersensitivity;
• discomfort in the mammary glands, especially in the nipple;
• darkening of the nipple space.

Breast in early pregnancy begins to grow under the influence of hormones during the entire period of gestation. In this there is nothing to worry about. On the contrary, this indicates that the glands are preparing for lactation, and they will produce breast milk. The shape and size of the breast are considered to be an individual feature of every woman and do not affect the process of breastfeeding. By the end of the first trimester of the nipples will start to emit a yellowish liquid - colostrum, and after a few days there will be a drop of milk.

Breast changes in early pregnancy

Let's look at how the breast changes. The mammary gland in the early stages of pregnancy, and for the entire period of its course, is completely transformed. Observed:

• sensations of unusual condition;
• the breast starts to ache and a little to hurt periodically or constantly;
• discomfort in the mammary gland during lying;
• increased sensitivity;
• can sometimes not be touched to the breast;
• it can be painful to wear a bra;
• breast augmentation;
• feeling of heaviness and raspiraniya in the area of ​​mammary glands;
• a noticeable venous mesh appears.

All these symptoms are characterized by a change in the hormonal background in early pregnancy. During this period, progesterone and gonadotropin are chorionic. Many women in the early period do not notice the special discomfort in the chest, which can be associated with critical days. Remember that hardening in the mammary gland is not a sign of pregnancy, but, most likely, it is the beginning of development of the oncological process.

When to call a doctor

There are several factors, in the identification of which you should immediately go to the doctor:

• change in the shape and contour of the breast;
• breast augmentation or protrusion of some areas on it;
• significant asymmetry of both breasts, especially with their hyperemia and edema;
• discoloration of skin;
• wounds in the field of aureole and nipple;
• seals in different places;
• soreness;
• allotments of all kinds that leave a mark on the linen;
• increase in axillary lymph nodes.

Suspected Breast Cancer

• The seal in the chest, which appeared unexpectedly and is denser than the rest.
• The nipples are drawn into the middle of the chest.
• The deviation of the nipple to the side is very significant.
• The presence of enlarged lymph nodes in the clavicle and in the armpits.

Detection of the tumor in the early stages can not only save life, but also improve the treatment without even resorting to prompt surgery and removal of the affected organ. Radiation therapy can help prevent the spread of metastases. Self-examination of the mammary glands once a month will reduce the risk of death by almost one hundred percent. Even if a woman does not bother, it is necessary to visit a mammologist once a year and undergo ultrasound of the mammary glands.

Instead of afterword

Remember, your health depends largely on your responsibility and attention to yourself. It is very important to know about different methods of breast research, in particular, an independent process that a woman can perform at home. Women under 40 years without special indications are not recommended to have a mammogram. But after this age limit, you need to perform a survey every two years. After 50 years, the procedure is performed annually, since at this age the risk of breast cancer is most increased.

Preventive measures of breast diseases include regular sex life, healthy and balanced nutrition, exercise, lack of stress. And the most important thing is monthly independent examination of mammary glands by a special algorithm.