Symptom is uncomfortable

but not dangerous

Diana Jones, OB/GYN, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

BSU Women’s Center

Q: I often suffer from very hard, erect nipples, which are uncomfortable and painful. After two to three weeks they are normal again for a time – anything from one month up to a year. Can you help? It's not related to sex, because it was a problem when I had a partner and also now, even though I've had no sexual relations for nine months.

A: This symptom is clearly uncomfortable, but it isn't alarming or dangerous.

Sometimes, women have breast discomfort before their period, sometimes a week to ten days, but your tender nipples do seem to bother you for a longer time.

If you are on the oral contraceptive pill, it may actually be contributing to your discomfort.

Pills that contain certain progestogens (desogestrel or norgestimate) along with ethinylestradiol, a form of estrogen (such as Apri, Desogen, Kariva, Mircette, Ortho-Cept, Cyclessa, Ortho-Cyclen, Sprintec, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, or Ortho Tri-Cyclen LO) have been reported to cause less breast symptoms than pills that contain a different progestogen called levonorgestrel (such as Alesse, Aviane, Lessina, Levlen, Levlite, Levora, Nordette, Portia, Seasonale, Seasonique, Enpresse, Tri-Levlen, Triphasil, or Trivora).

Since you aren't currently sexually active, you might try going off the Pill temporarily to see if your sore nipples go away. However, should you become sexually active during this time, make sure you do use something else for birth control, such as condoms & foam.

If you don't notice any difference in the nipple soreness while off the Pill, you might want to make an appointment with your health care provider to see if changing to another pill might make a difference.

Another pill choice might be Yasmin or Yaz, which contains the progestogen drospirenone.

Diana Jones, is a OB/GYN and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at the BSU Women’s Center, managed by Cardinal Health System. For more information contact info@chsmail.org.

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