Glandular fibrous mastopathy: its forms and treatment tactics

The mammary gland consists of several types of tissue - adipose, glandular, connective. The ratio of these tissues, as well as the size and shape of the breasts, changes in women throughout life; this is a normal process.

It is associated with puberty, the onset of reproductive age and the natural decline of the female body. But in some cases, certain types of breast tissue begin to grow pathologically.

They form lumps, cysts, tumors; in medicine, such changes in the mammary gland are diagnosed as mastopathy.



General concept of mastopathy

Mastopathy is a general medical term that unites a number of diseases of the mammary gland, which are characterized by a violation of the relationship between epithelial tissue and connective tissue.

Over the past decades, the incidence of mastopathy has increased significantly.

This is due to the following factors:

• Recently, many women give birth to just one child or deliberately refuse to have children.
• The lactation period (breastfeeding) has been significantly reduced, the child is weaned after 2-3 months
• the number of women giving birth to their first child late has increased

Some women, unnecessarily afraid of spoiling the shape of their breasts, decide to give up breastfeeding.

What is the reason for the development of mastopathy

The main factor in the occurrence of mastopathy is hormonal imbalance. It lasts for a certain time, long enough for unhealthy changes to begin to occur in the mammary gland.

The most common causes of hormonal disorders:

• frequent stress, depressed psychological state, depression
• general decrease in immunity
• severe pregnancy, late abortions, multiple terminations of pregnancy
• liver dysfunction
• genitourinary diseases
• unharmonious sex life
• diseases of the endocrine system, metabolic disorders
• unhealthy diet, abuse of sugar, fat, chocolate, caffeine
• lack of vitamins in the body, especially vitamins C, E and A, as well as microelements, in particular iodine deficiency
• improper and uncontrolled use of hormonal drugs

Smoking, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, and following fashionable unbalanced diets increase the risk of developing mastopathy. Women should also avoid breast injuries and not wear uncomfortable, tight bras made of unnatural fabric, because this also leads to the development of mastopathy.

Classification of the type of disease

Based on the localization of mastopathy, they distinguish between bilateral (pathology develops in the right mammary gland and in the left mammary gland) and unilateral (one mammary gland is affected).
According to the prevalence of mastopathy, there are two forms:

• Local or focal, when a movable node of a round shape or in the form of a disk is formed. With local mastopathy, breast compaction in one specific area is characteristic.
• Diffuse, when several compactions with blurred contours and boundaries are formed in the mammary gland at once, these compactions are located unevenly. With diffuse mastopathy, the breast enlarges over its entire area.

Depending on the severity of mastopathy, the following are distinguished:

• mild adenosis
• moderate adenosis
• pronounced adenosis
• sclerosing adenosis

Depending on the predominance of a certain component in the mammary gland, they are classified:

• fibrous mastopathy
• mastopathy with a predominance of the glandular component
• cystic mastopathy
• fibrocystic mastopathy (fibroadenosis)
• mixed form

Depending on the type of overgrown epithelium, the following types of adenosis are distinguished:

• Ductal. It affects the milk ducts, expanding them with the help of epithelial cells.
• Apocrine. Develops in the form of many nodules, repeating the shape of the mammary gland.
• Sclerosing. It is characterized by a nodular shape, is well felt upon palpation, causes pain and heaviness in the chest.
• Microglandular. Characterized by the proliferation of a large number of small ducts, which are located frequently and randomly, it is rare.
• Adenomyoepithelial. It is rare, focal, resembles oncology, but the tumor is benign.

Symptoms associated with mastopathy and diagnosis

Symptoms vary; the most common are complaints of pain in the mammary gland, which intensifies before the onset of menstruation.

The pain can be felt in the chest in one specific place or radiate to the arm, shoulder blade, or neck area.

During the initial examination of the patient, the doctor collects an anamnesis (history of the development of the disease), conducts an examination, and palpates the breast. Palpation of the breast can also be repeated on the seventh day after the start of menstruation. Further diagnostic methods include:

• Blood test for hormone levels. Helps identify hormonal imbalances.
• Mammography. X-ray examination with a low dose of radiation, the accuracy of the examination is more than 90%, reveals the location, size, shape, structure of the tumor, helps to diagnose oncology in the early stages.
• Ultrasound diagnostics. Ultrasound helps to detect cysts, gives an idea of ​​their size and quality of the walls, reveals deep compactions, and determines the size of the lymph nodes.
• Magnetic resonance imaging. Using MRI, you can see lesions in breast tissue, show changes in tissue structure, and help determine the lumen of the ducts. The procedure is completely safe.
• Tissue histology, cytological analysis of secretions. These tests determine whether a tumor is cancerous and classify the type of tumor.

All types of mastopathy are benign and with proper and timely treatment the outcome of the disease is favorable.

Treatment methods for mastopathy

Treatment of mastopathy is prescribed by the attending physician. Traditional medicine is permissible only with the permission of the attending physician and only as an auxiliary therapy. Treatment methods for mastopathy are usually conservative.

Surgical intervention is used for nodular mastopathy, in the presence of cystic formations and intraductal papillomas.

Refusal of treatment, as well as self-medication for mastopathy, is dangerous and leads to oncology.

Glandular fibrous mastopathy is the most common form of mastopathy. In terms of severity, it is classified as the mildest. Most often, this disease is diagnosed in girls and young women of childbearing age.

The peculiarity of glandular fibrous mastopathy is its asymptomatic course; the manifestation of the disease is felt several days before the onset of menstruation by soreness in the mammary glands and their engorgement.

With the start of a new cycle, the breasts return to normal. The doctor can detect pain on palpation and some density of breast tissue only immediately before the onset of menstruation, but the rest of the time the breast remains unchanged.

Very often, women attribute such phenomena to periodic ailments and miss the onset of the disease. When the development of fibroglandular mastopathy follows the type of tumor, a movable nodule may form in the mammary gland.

Therefore, to identify breast pathologies in the early stages, constant systematic examination by a gynecologist and mammologist is very important.

Treatment of glandular fibrous mastopathy includes:

• symptomatic treatment
• normalization of hormonal levels
• treatment of existing endocrine diseases
• stabilization of the central nervous system
• normalization of liver and kidney function
• elimination of existing genitourinary diseases
• reduction or removal of fibrous formations

Bad habits that contribute to the development of the disease

Successful treatment of glandular fibrous mastopathy largely depends on the woman herself, since she needs to completely change her lifestyle and get rid of bad habits.

You should completely stop smoking. Women who quit smoking noticed significant improvement starting from the third cycle.

You should also change your diet. Diet for any form of mastopathy implies:

• complete refusal of chocolate, cola, natural coffee, cocoa
• reducing consumption of animal fats
• strict limitation of canned food, pickles, smoked products, semi-finished products, alcohol
• increasing the consumption of fresh fruits, a variety of cereal products, dairy products, and vegetables high in carotene

It is very important to get enough vitamins, minerals and trace elements from your diet. During the winter-spring season, you can take complex vitamins as prescribed by your doctor.

Stress is the main reason contributing to the occurrence of hormonal disorders. Women with increased nervousness are recommended to learn how to get rid of negative emotional states using psychological therapy methods. If prescribed by a doctor, you can take herbal sedatives.

You also need to choose the right underwear; an incorrectly selected bra can harm a woman’s health. When choosing a bra, you should consider the following factors:

• the content of natural fabrics must be at least 80%, the bra must absorb moisture well and allow air to pass through, the steam room effect is unacceptable
• no need to wear bras with foam cups
• choose a bra with seamless cups; it is better to avoid products with underwires
• Women with large breasts should not wear a strapless bra; they should choose products with wide straps that support the breasts and do not cut into the skin
• choose a product in size so that the breasts fill the bra cup, the elastic bands should not squeeze the body
• It is recommended to wear a bra no more than 11 hours a day; sleeping in it is strictly prohibited.

Currently, special underwear created for women suffering from mastopathy has appeared on sale.

How to protect yourself from mastopathy

Prevention of mastopathy is aimed at eliminating the causes and factors of the disease, as well as timely detection of symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

It is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• eat properly and balanced, the diet should include sufficient fiber, vitamins, minerals and trace elements
• maintain optimal weight
• keep control over your psychological and physical state: healthy sleep, proper rest, avoid, if possible, stressful situations
• visit a gynecologist regularly and systematically
• strive for a harmonious sex life, timely birth of children, breastfeeding for at least 6 months
• choose the right bra

For early diagnosis of breast pathologies, women over 35 years of age should have a mammogram once a year.

Women with a predisposition to the disease (endocrine system diseases, a history of abortion, gynecological diseases) should conduct an independent examination of the mammary glands and visit a doctor for check-ups several times a year.

In these cases, a woman should undergo mammography annually from the age of 30.

Concept, symptoms and treatment of glandular fibrous mastopathy of the mammary gland Link to main publication

Source: https://progrud.com/bolezni/zhelezisto-fibroznaya-mastopatiya/

Fibrous mastopathy: treatment, symptoms, causes and diagnosis

There are a number of diseases characteristic of a person of a certain gender. An example of a female disease is mastopathy in all its diversity of manifestations, numbering more than 30 varieties. To identify the disease at an early stage, you will need not only to undergo regular medical examinations, but also to be able to independently monitor the body.

The interest in considering fibrous mastopathy is due to the ability of this type to mimic harmless symptoms that initially do not cause concern in a woman.

The disease is considered benign, but its presence indicates that the woman’s body is affected by factors that can provoke cancer.

The consequences of fibromastopathy, due to its implicit etiology, are seen as destructive on a par with the effects of oncology.

Types of diffuse mastopathy of the breast

According to statistics from ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases), the ICD-10 code for mastopathy is No. 60, and the pathology is diagnosed in 80% of women. To detect the symptoms of fibrous mastopathy, the types are classified according to their characteristics. The disease belongs to the group of diffuse mastopathy.

Types of diffuse mastopathy:

• diffuse with a glandular component;
• diffuse with a cystic component;
• diffuse fibromastopathy.

Diffuse pathology with a glandular component is characterized by adenosis (swelling) of the mammary gland. A woman feels local or extensive lumps in her breasts. They are accompanied by a painful condition. On ultrasound, phenomena are noted in the form of unclear shadows, without clear boundaries and shapes.

This type of mastopathy is considered the least dangerous. He accompanies girls during puberty and pregnant women in the early stages. Diffuse mastopathy is not recognized as a pathology, does not require treatment, the pain is moderate, painful symptoms can be relieved with simple analgesics.

The presence of cystic formations indicates the development of diffuse mastopathy with a cystic component, which is expressed in the appearance of cystic formations affecting the breast tissue.

The patient experiences acute pain, uneven breast enlargement with intermittent topography, and discharge from the nipples. On ultrasound, single or multiple rounded outlines are observed. The cystic type of mastopathy occurs against the background of hormonal imbalances during menopause.

With diffuse mastopathy, treatment is required; the pathological symptom does not go away on its own.

Diffuse fibrous mastopathy is the growth of collagen fibers in the connective tissue of the mammary gland. The woman experiences severe pain; during palpation, a pathological general thickening of the breast without local lesions is observed. Using an ultrasound, the doctor diagnoses the disease based on the contours in the form of layers.

The development of fibrous mastopathy is influenced by many negative factors; the risk of occurrence of the mentioned mastopathy is high. Replacement of connective tissue with collagen can lead to blockage of the ducts, which threatens even greater inflammation, the development of a purulent process and gangrene in especially advanced cases.

Therefore, noting the first signs of the disease, a woman should immediately contact a mammologist.

The danger of breast fibromastopathy compared to other types of mastopathy

Fibromastopathy of the mammary gland is characterized at the onset of the disease by implicit symptoms that are masked under the types of milder forms of mastopathy - glandular and cystic, which expresses the insidiousness of this type of disease.

Fibrous breast disease is not considered a cancer or precancerous disease, but can lead to a suppurating abscess and gangrene of the breast if the disease is not treated.

Bilateral mastopathy causes pain in both mammary glands, the temperature rises, and a feeling of nausea may occur.

Consequences of untreated mastopathy

The development of fibromastopathy indicates the impact on the body of the causes that cause oncology. Negative factors have a connecting effect in the occurrence of two pathologies.

Such symptoms are characteristic only of fibromastopathy, so if even a single symptom occurs, you will have to urgently visit a mammologist to make a diagnosis.

Causes of fibrous mastopathy

Pathology of the connective tissue of the mammary gland occurs under the influence of the following negative factors:

• unhealthy lifestyle – smoking, alcohol, eating disorders, low physical activity;
• endocrine disruptions in a woman’s body (thyroid disease);
• irregular sex life;
• the reason may be a frequent change of sexual partners, accompanied by infectious diseases of the genital area;
• disruption of the menstrual cycle;
• stress leading to depression and psychosis;
• failure to perform reproductive function upon reaching 30 years of age;
• infertility of a pathological nature;
• abuse of tanning with direct exposure of the chest to sunlight, including in a solarium;
• heredity.

Medical diagnosis

Making a final diagnosis of fibrous mastopathy of the mammary gland is possible only through examinations in a clinical setting. During the initial examination, the doctor evaluates the described symptoms and performs a comprehensive palpation of the mammary gland. Based on the results of the primary examination, the patient is sent for a secondary examination, which is carried out in the following ways:

• Ultrasound;
• mammography;
• ductography;
• biopsy.

Ultrasound examination is considered the most gentle way to influence the body, and is allowed even for pregnant women. Ultrasound is considered an informative, but superficial method. It gives a clinical picture of the presence of tissue changes, but echo signs do not show the detailed morphology of diffusion. Prescribed to women under 35 years of age, taking into account the assumption of a low accumulation of risk factors in the body.

Mammography (X-ray) of the mammary glands establishes the morphology of the changes and the severity of the detected diffusions. It is considered a method of additional examination after ultrasound.

Ductography is performed when fluid is released from the nipples of the breast to determine the direction of tissue growth and the degree of blockage of the ducts.

A biopsy is a puncture of tissue, a blood test for tumor markers and hormones is carried out to exclude oncological diseases.

To identify the correct clinical picture, diagnosis should be carried out in the last days or immediately after menstruation. At this time, the woman’s hormonal levels are at their calmest, and the body falls asleep before the next ovulation. Symptoms characteristic of cystic and glandular mastopathy do not disturb the clinical picture.

Treatment method

There are a number of methods for treating fibrosis:

• Drug treatment;
• Surgical intervention;
• Traditional methods.

Drug treatment is used in the early and middle stages of disease detection. Aimed primarily at eliminating negative influence factors.

• Hormone therapy is used as treatment, in which medications are selected that specifically affect the deficiency or excess of a certain hormone - estrogen, prolactin, androgen, progesterone.
• Balancing the hormonal levels with the help of hormone therapy will quickly and effectively eliminate the symptoms of the disease, stop its development and cure it without consequences for the body.

Medicines are selected that eliminate the symptoms of the disease - antispasmodics, non-steroidal drugs (diclofenac), analgesics. To reduce the symptoms of anxiety that accompany the disease, the woman is prescribed mild sedatives and sleeping pills (Novo-Passit, valerian, motherwort). The woman is prescribed a therapeutic diet with a minimum amount of carbohydrates and fats.

Surgery is indicated when an abscess occurs and there is a risk of gangrenous tissue damage. During the operation, the focus of purulent inflammation is eliminated, and if a significant part of the tissue is affected, the mammary gland is removed.

Traditional methods of treatment are considered concomitant; they help eliminate the symptoms of the disease, but do not cure it. Folk remedies include diuretic teas to relieve swelling (fennel, chamomile), compresses made from cabbage and pumpkin pulp. Traditional methods cannot be used as replacement therapy due to their ineffectiveness in curing the disease.

Prevention is better than cure

The following are used as preventive measures to reduce the risk of fibromastopathy:

1. Self-examination is recommended to be carried out every month, carefully palpating the breasts for formations and painful sensations. In this way, not only diagnosis is achieved, but also a light massage of the chest, which helps improve blood supply to the tissues.
2. Be examined by a doctor every six months to check the condition of your body.
3. Avoid infectious diseases, especially sexually transmitted infections that lead to inflammatory processes.
4. Choose comfortable underwear that follows the shape of the breast and does not restrict or compress the breast tissue.
5. Avoid hormonal shocks caused by abortion and medical termination of pregnancy. This is the most common cause of the disease. These pills include Postinor, which is taken within 24 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Its effect is not noticeable and is not accompanied by obvious physical ailments, but the delayed effect of the medicine is a hormonal imbalance in the body.
6. Lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes avoiding smoking, alcohol and overeating. Eat a balanced diet, consuming more fruits and vegetables, reducing the amount of fats and carbohydrates. Foods rich in fiber are considered healthy. Physical exercise and active physical activity have a beneficial effect on the female body and hormonal levels.
7. Avoid stress, nervous shock, and mental states that are pathological in nature. If stressful situations occur, take sedatives prescribed by your doctor. In this case, do not self-medicate; the doctor must choose the type of antidepressant depending on the level of stress.
8. Take oral contraceptives that correct hormonal levels. Take it only with a doctor’s prescription; choosing medications on your own is dangerous.
9. Use multivitamins and homeopathic remedies that prevent system disorders from developing.

Is there life after fibrous mastopathy?

Regardless of the consequences that the disease brings, it is necessary to follow disease prevention measures so as not to subsequently encounter negative changes in the body.

In acute cases of disease development, it is worth eliminating negative impact factors to the extent of exception.

It is forbidden to sunbathe in direct sunlight and in a solarium, drink alcohol and nicotine, and allow chest injuries.

Remember, most diseases are acquired voluntarily by a person. Only then does the realization come that the development of the disease could have been prevented. This approach is not justified.

You should think about health not when identifying symptoms, but as a means of maintaining excellent physical shape, then treatment and surgery will not be needed.

The manifestation of body symptoms, even benign ones, reduces a person’s quality of life.

Source: https://onko.guru/dobro/fibroznaya-mastopatiya.html

Glandular mastopathy: symptoms and treatment

Mastopathy is a benign growth of the mammary glands. With this disease, adverse symptoms appear due to the appearance of lumps and cysts of the glandular tissue of the breast. Glandular mastopathy can be successfully treated with proper treatment, but in the absence of therapeutic measures there is a risk of complications.

General characteristics of the pathology

The main cause of the disease is hormonal disorders. An increased amount of estrogen and a lack of progesterone negatively affects the mammary glands, and the changes primarily affect the glandular tissue.

Mastopathy in most cases occurs in the following ways:

1. With fibroglandular mastopathy, glandular tissue grows. Local compactions of different sizes also appear. Usually a diffuse form develops, in which small lumps are located over the entire surface of the mammary gland. This variant of the disease usually develops in young women and its diagnosis is difficult.
2. In exceptional cases, glandular cystic mastopathy develops. Cavities with a transparent yellowish liquid appear. The cysts remain small, so they do not lead to unwanted symptoms. However, the proliferation of cysts leads to pressure on the nerve endings, pronounced pain, and discharge from the nipples. Large cysts can be easily detected by palpation of the breast.
3. In the mixed form of the disease, fibroids and cysts appear simultaneously. Such glandular mastopathy is called diffuse. Pathological processes develop in two mammary glands.

The above-described forms of the disease require mandatory treatment and careful monitoring of the condition of the breast tissue to prevent complications.

Etiology of the disease

Disorders are usually related to the hormonal system. In this case, the processes can be benign and malignant.

In case of malignant pathological processes, severe health problems are observed, as a result of which the implementation of therapeutic measures turns out to be extremely difficult. In addition, there is an increased risk of further development of cancer.

Benign processes can occur in a favorable form for a long time, but sooner or later unfavorable and dangerous changes occur for the female body.

Glandular mastopathy most often develops in women 18-45 years old

Breast tissue has receptors for prolactin, female sex hormones, as a result of which any hormonal disorders lead to the active development of mastopathy.

Doctors still experience serious problems in making the correct diagnosis, although this form of mastopathy most often develops in women 18-45 years old.

The disease occurs without any symptoms and with minimal changes in the breast, which can be detected accidentally during routine diagnostics or the subsequent appearance of severe symptoms, since mastopathy can develop into a nodular or focal form.

Symptoms of manifestation

With the development of mastopathy with a predominance of the glandular component, the following undesirable symptoms appear, which negatively affect the general condition of the woman:

• pain that can be pressing or pulling;
• discharge from the nipples, and in exceptional cases, bloody discharge appears;
• swelling;
• unpleasant feeling of heaviness;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• increased sensitivity of the mammary glands.

Chest pain is a possible symptom of glandular mastopathy

Symptoms can be obvious or mild, as they take into account the characteristics of the individual reaction and the size of the tumors. In most cases, the manifestation of symptoms intensifies closer to the second half of the menstrual cycle, and at the beginning of it, good health is noted.

Diagnostic methods

If an undesirable diagnosis is suspected, a comprehensive examination is required to carefully monitor the patient’s health.

1. A study of the woman’s hormonal background is required. The doctor takes into account the levels of sex hormones, which determine the balance, women's health, and the characteristics of the condition of the mammary gland tissue.
2. Mammography is an examination method based on radiation diagnostics. The method allows you to obtain an x-ray image and correctly assess the structure of the mammary gland. The study allows you to correctly judge the pathological process and exclude oncology, which can sometimes be clearly expressed. In most cases, glandular mastopathy is a large number of diffuse shadows, characterized by an irregular shape and blurred contour. With a detailed study of the image, it is possible to determine the relationship between the shadow and a certain part of the gland. Mastopathy of the glandular-fibrous form on the x-ray image will be similar to the glandular process, but a change in the density of the organ is visible, the contours of the shadow become clear due to fibrosis. Fatty tissue may be visible as a clear strip along the edge of the breast.
3. Ultrasound diagnosis of the mammary glands and lymph nodes of the armpits is an effective examination. Diagnostics is aimed at assessing the condition of tissues, the thickness of the parenchyma, the lumens of the mammary gland ducts, the presence or absence of cysts, nodules.
4. A breast biopsy is performed in cases where it is necessary to rule out breast cancer. For this reason, the examination is carried out only after an individual consultation and a preliminary assessment of the woman’s health status.

Mammography is one of the methods for diagnosing glandular mastopathy

The list of examinations to confirm or refute the alleged diagnosis and determine the form of the disease must be determined by the doctor on an individual basis.

Every patient should understand how important it is to correctly and regularly conduct self-diagnosis and consult a doctor in a timely manner.

Careful health monitoring is important for those who understand how dangerous mastopathy can be.

Treatment options

When diagnosing glandular mastopathy, it is important to begin proper treatment taking into account the woman’s health condition.

Drug therapy

The characteristics of taking medications are determined by the degree of changes in the mammary glands and the woman’s condition.

Pronounced and painful lumps can only be treated with hormonal drugs. Proper treatment eliminates pathological changes, prevents the development of glandular epithelium and restores the menstrual cycle.

Hormonal pills are recommended to be taken in the second half of the menstrual cycle, when their effect will be especially noticeable.

After 6-8 weeks, the woman’s condition improves, as pain occurs less frequently, fluid does not leak from the nipples and the breasts practically do not swell.

The following drugs are recognized as effective:

• Utrozhestan;
• Pregnid;
• Progestogel.

For mild to moderate changes in the breasts, you can take the homeopathic drug Mastodinon. The medicine is released in the form of drops and tablets.

Utrozhestan is a drug for the treatment of glandular mastopathy

The following drugs are also prescribed for complex drug therapy:

• diuretics;
• antidepressants;
• iodine preparations;
• vitamin complexes.

Drugs should be prescribed by a doctor taking into account the patient’s health condition. In case of pronounced pain syndrome, it is recommended to carry out electrophoresis with Novocaine and potassium iodide to eliminate pain and gradually improve the condition of glandular mastopathy of the mammary glands, preventing unwanted and potentially dangerous changes in the breast tissue.

Surgery

With active tissue growth and the development of severe cases of mastopathy, surgical treatment becomes mandatory, taking into account the patient’s condition. A puncture or resection of the problem area is performed to remove nodules and cysts.

Surgical intervention is also required for malignant pathology:

• rapid growth of cysts;
• tissue malignancy;
• the appearance of neoplasms.

The decision to perform an operation must be made on an individual basis after consultation and examination with a doctor.

Possible complications

Mastopathy is a benign change in the tissue of the mammary glands, but in the future there is a risk of developing oncology.

Correct timely treatment will prevent unwanted complications, so it is recommended to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis and begin drug therapy.

Mastopathy is a potentially dangerous disease, since the patient may develop a precancerous status and in the future there will be a risk of developing cancer. This can be avoided by visiting a doctor in a timely manner when the first signs appear in order to further improve well-being and prevent the development of pathological processes.

Prevention measures

It is recommended to visit a mammologist and gynecologist regularly, once a year, to prevent the development of mastopathy. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of undesirable development of pathological processes.

Basic preventive measures also include:

• prevention of stressful situations;
• proper nutrition;
• moderately active lifestyle.

Careful health monitoring ensures that unwanted changes are prevented. With the development of glandular mastopathy of the mammary gland, there is a potential risk associated with the degeneration of benign cells into malignant ones, so timely treatment is mandatory.

Source: https://health-post.ru/zhelezistaya-mastopatiya-01/

Causes of glandular fibrous mastopathy in women: diagnosis and treatment methods

• Diffuse fibrocystic mastopathy is a condition caused by pathological changes in breast tissue due to hormonal imbalance.
• Based on the type of epithelial change, fibrocystic disease is classified into three types: glandular, cystic and fibrous.
• Glandular fibrous mastopathy of the mammary glands is the most common type of dishormonal disorder, mainly in young girls and women under 35 years of age.

Glandular-fibrous mastopathy is characterized by the proliferation of tissue of the mammary gland lobules.

In contrast to the cystic and fibrous forms, in terms of severity, glandular mastopathy can be classified as the mildest.

Many experts consider this condition to be within normal limits and do not prescribe special treatment, limiting themselves to local pain relief and homeopathic medications.

The established cause of glandular fibrous mastopathy is excess estrogen. A few days before the onset of menstruation, under the influence of estrogen, engorgement of the mammary glands occurs; as soon as a new cycle begins, a reverse process or involution occurs.

1. With excessive production of estrogen, the tissue begins to grow, as a result of which blood circulation in the mammary glands is disrupted.
2. Therefore, physiological breast engorgement before menstruation causes some pain due to slow blood flow.
3. An unhealthy lifestyle is the root cause of hormonal imbalances.
4. Factors provoking the development of the disease:

• emotional instability, susceptibility to depression and mood swings;
• unhealthy diet: sugar, fast carbohydrates, fatty foods, chocolate, caffeine;
• lack of vitamins in the body, including iodine deficiency;
• excess weight;
• bad habits;
• irregular sexual relations;
• taking oral contraceptives.

In modern conditions, the above factors are components of the lifestyle of many young girls, and it is not surprising that for most women under the age of 30, mastopathy becomes a life partner.

Symptoms

Glandular fibrous mastopathy is manifested by a feeling of engorgement of the mammary glands a few days before the onset of menstruation. With the beginning of a new one, the breasts return to normal and no longer bother.

When palpated, the breasts become painful and somewhat firm to the touch only before the onset of menstruation. On the remaining days, it remains unchanged; individual lumps in the chest are not detected.

Diagnostic methods and options

• Glandular fibrous mastopathy is diagnosed through an ultrasound procedure.
• This diagnosis cannot be made by palpation due to the absence of obvious tumors.
• The glandular tissue grows evenly without focal formations.
• A mandatory diagnostic method is to determine the hormonal status of a woman, for possible correction of the condition in case of severe disorders.

Treatment

How to cure glandular fibrous mastopathy? Treatment of glandular fibrous mastopathy involves eliminating pain in the mammary glands before menstruation.

It is recommended to review some habits and make some lifestyle adjustments to restore hormonal balance:

1. Get rid of bad habits. Smoking has been proven to increase pain symptoms. The girls who gave up cigarettes noted a clear improvement already from the third cycle.
2. It is also recommended to give up coffee, chocolate and sugar.

3. Fatty foods trigger estrogen production and increase the risk of developing breast cancer. It is necessary to adhere to the principles of rational and healthy nutrition, according to the scheme: slow carbohydrates, proteins and a minimum of fats. You should include more vegetables and fruits containing vitamin C in your diet. Glandular fibrous mastopathy can also be treated with cabbage.

   Read about how exactly to use cabbage leaves here.

4. Stress and other emotional disorders are one of the main factors contributing to the occurrence of hormonal disorders. It is recommended to master several psychotherapeutic methods to get rid of stress and depression; you can also take herbal sedatives.

5. To improve blood circulation, you should include more foods containing vitamin P in your diet: currants, citrus fruits, rose hips, raspberries. It will be useful to take a course of Ascorutin.
6. Don't ignore your bra. It should be tailored to fit and provide maximum breast support.

   If you have signs of mastopathy, it is better to avoid underwear with metal wires and tight elastic bands.

1. If chest pain shortly before the start of the menstrual cycle causes obvious discomfort, you can resort to homeopathic remedies.
2. Medicines for the treatment of mastopathy “Cyclodinone” and “Mastodinone”.

3. When used systematically for 3 months, they help eliminate pain and regulate the menstrual cycle.

As a rule, in young girls, the symptoms of mastopathy disappear during pregnancy or after childbirth, which is due to a sharp change in hormonal levels during these conditions.

Effective methods for preventing glandular mastopathy are regular sex life, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding for at least 1 year.

How exactly does mastopathy affect pregnancy and whether it is possible to take contraceptives, read the article.

The glandular form of mastopathy does not develop into a malignant process, however, over time, it can become mixed.

If you ignore the symptoms of mastopathy and do not take timely measures, the formation of cystic elements is possible, which already combines the risks of calcification in the future in the absence of adequate treatment.

Why is glandular fibrous mastopathy dangerous? Glandular fibrous mastopathy is not fraught with hidden dangers, but, like any hormonal disorder, it signals that you need to reconsider your usual lifestyle for the better.

You can find more information on this topic in the Diffuse mastopathy section.

Source: https://nesekret.net/mastopatiya/raznovidnosti/diffuznaya/zhelezisto-fibroznaya

Fibrous-glandular mastopathy of the mammary glands

Among all benign types of mammary gland pathology, the fibroglandular form of mastopathy is the most dangerous in terms of precancerous changes, especially in women over 50 years of age and with pronounced cell proliferation.

The main causative factor of the disease is dishormonal disorders, typical symptoms indicate a diffuse form of pathology, and treatment is aimed at restoring endocrine balance.

The health prognosis for mastopathy with a predominance of the glandular component is quite favorable, subject to regular medical supervision and preventive therapy.

Causes of enlarged glandular tissue in the breast

The main function of the mammary glands is to produce breast milk to feed the baby.

From the moment of conception and throughout pregnancy, specific changes occur in the breast, due to a significant increase and functional restructuring of glandular tissue.

This is a normal process necessary for a woman during the postpartum period. Pathological fibrous mastopathy of the mammary glands with a significant predominance of glandular tissue occurs in the following cases:

• excess estrogen hormones, leading to a variety of dishormonal manifestations;
• lack of progesterone - the hormone of the second phase of the cycle;
• long-term high levels of the hormone prolactin, which arose against the background of pathology of the pituitary gland;
• hormonal trauma caused by a sudden interruption of natural events in the female body (abortion);
• lack of normal and necessary processes of functional restructuring of the mammary glands (infertility, refusal to bear children);
• drug suppression of lactation after childbirth.

Any type of hormonal imbalance in the female body creates conditions for diseases in the reproductive organs, which include the uterus, ovaries and mammary glands. This explains the frequent combination of gynecological problems with diffuse fibrous mastopathy.

Manifestations of pathological changes

Benign pathology in the breast is long-lasting and has few symptoms—only a third of women complain. The staged progression of clinical manifestations is characteristic:

Initially, in women 20–30 years old, a week before menstruation, premenstrual mastalgia or increased breast sensitivity occurs without any other hormonal or reproductive manifestations; At the age of 30–40 years, the pain syndrome increases in intensity and begins 2 weeks before menstruation; upon examination, moderate diffuse and fibrotic changes can be detected; After 40 years of age, the pain becomes constant or lasts at least 3 weeks in each cycle; upon examination, the doctor will identify the presence of fibrocystic disease.

All negative processes in the breast are accelerated if a woman often undergoes induced abortions or refuses childbearing or lactation.

It is advisable to begin examination and treatment at stage 1–2 in order to prevent the formation of proliferative types of fibrous mastopathy of the mammary glands.

Diagnostic tests

The female breast examination system consists of a number of successive stages. An important factor in the information content of all diagnostic studies is the day of the menstrual cycle: any studies in menstruating women are carried out from 6 to 11 days from the first day of menstruation. The diagnostic scheme consists of the following stages:

Self-feeling of a woman’s breasts after the end of menstruation (any doctor can teach you the correct and effective method of self-examination); Preventive ultrasound or mammography once every 2 years for every woman from 20 to 40 years, and after 40 years, a breast x-ray should be performed annually; Breast examination at each preventive medical visit (usually palpation of the mammary glands is performed by a gynecologist or surgeon); Unscheduled sonography and mammography according to indications (detection of pathological changes); Consultation with a mammologist with all necessary additional examinations (fine-needle puncture of lesions, aspiration biopsy).

Treatment of glandular forms of diffuse mastopathy is carried out by a mammologist. A specialist will help you get rid of problems and prevent dangerous complications associated with the progression of mastopathy.

Therapy tactics

An important factor in any type of fibrocystic disease is the emotional reaction in a woman in the form of fear of a malignant disease and the need for surgical removal of the mammary glands.

It is this reason that leads to late diagnosis: having discovered a lump in her breast, a woman does not see a doctor for a long time or tries to treat the problem with traditional methods.

With early detection of glandular fibrous mastopathy, conservative treatment is used, consisting of general and local methods of therapy. The following medications provide a good effect:

• Mastodinon;
• Cyclodinone;
• Progestogel.

According to indications and in the presence of gynecological pathology, special hormonal treatment is carried out to ensure restoration of endocrine balance and elimination of symptoms of diseases of the uterus and appendages. It is imperative to use sedatives (Motherwort, Grandaxin, Dobrocam).

The ideal treatment method for mastopathy with an increase in the amount of glandular tissue is conception, gestation, birth and long-term breastfeeding of a child. Performing the natural function of the female body will be the best prevention of dangerous precancerous changes in the breast.

Forecast for future health

Benign variants of mammary gland pathology, with the right approach to diagnosis and treatment, are a risk factor, but rarely lead to malignant degeneration.

Women who have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer should be wary: if there are close relatives with cancer in the family, they should be constantly monitored by a mammologist and carry out preventive treatment of any form of mastopathy.

The main conditions for effective prevention are not to terminate pregnancy, breastfeed for as long as possible and not refuse to see a doctor.

Source: https://gynecologyhelp.ru/mastopatiya/fibrozno-zhelezistaya.html