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Fibrocystic
Breast Disease Fibrocystic breast disease is the most common breast disease and is clinically apparent in about 50% of women. Clinically, the cystic lesions are usually multiple and bilateral and are characterized by pain and tenderness, particularly premenstrually. The disease usually occurs in the pre-menopausal years with a cessation of symptoms post-menopausally, unless exogenous estrogens are administered. The condition is believed to be due to a relative or absolute decrease in the production of progesterone or an increase in the amount of estrogen. Estrogen promotes the growth of mammary ducts and the periductal stroma. Patients with fibrocystic breast disease improve dramatically during pregnancy and lactation because of the large amount of progesterone produced by the corpus luteum and the placenta and the increased production of estriol, which blocks the hyperplastic changes produced by estradiol and estrone. Any female medical condition that is worsened by estradiol is generally improved by progesterone, as they have opposing actions. This is one of the reasons natural progesterone is used so freely by natural medicine practitioners. We find fibrocystic breast disease is best treated by measures that lower estradiol levels, as discussed previously. Sometimes women are given the diagnosis of mastalgia. Mastalgia is a fancy medical term for breast pain for which we have no clue as to its origin. Mastalgia is one of those hidden complaints that women have but do not talk about. Mastalgia is quite common, breast pain is the most common complaint for which women with breast symptoms present to the primary care physician. Typical medical treatments for nondescript breast pain range from hormone manipulation (with menopause-inducing drugs) to various surgeries, including removing part of the breasts. A method of lowering estradiol that is especially helpful in fibrocystic breast disease is administering iodine in the form of supersaturated potassium iodine or Lugol's solution. Iodine is needed by the body for proper thyroid function, so thyroid hormone levels should also be checked. For some women, the problem is not cysts in the breasts but breast pain, coming from a musculoskeletal structure such as the ribs or sternum. Natural medicine solutions are the best options, including Prolotherapy. |
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