Menopause colloquially referred to as ”the change of life” all too often becomes an obstruction of a woman's life/career/sexuality and can cause a seismic shift in life. This is because menopause affects the hormonal milieu that determines a woman's entire body, including her breasts, skin, hair, sex life, and mood sleep. The list is fundamental, profound, and extensive. As you get older, it’s natural for your breasts to change shape and size and become less firm. Although a woman may be defined as reaching her menopause after 12 months without having a period, the peri-menopausal phase - a transitional period - where estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone levels in the body fluctuate unpredictably can last for 7+ years and is a time of great unpredictability, inconsistency, and shift.

Rozina Ali, a top-rated female plastic surgeon highly qualified in breast surgery, shares with us some valuable insights that may help you better understand how your breasts change during menopause, how to identify the symptoms, and what is the best way to take care of your body during hormonal imbalance.

Symptoms of menopause

Natural menopause — menopause not caused by surgery or another medical condition — is an entirely normal and natural part of ageing. As one ages, the reproductive cycle that has been continuously functioning since puberty begins to slow down and prepares to stop.

Some of the most common signs of menopause you may experience are:

Hot flashes (a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over the body);
Night sweats and/or cold flashes;
Difficulty sleeping (insomnia);
Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression);
Dry skin, dry eyes, or dry mouth;
Breast tenderness.

Painful breasts

Sore or painful breasts are common during menopause. Breast pain during menopause or the time leading up to it – called perimenopause – can be cyclical or non-cyclical. Cyclical breast pain is related to the menstrual cycle, while non-cyclical breast pain isn’t.

One cause of sore breasts is the changing levels of hormones in your body. Your ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and don’t release an egg every month, so you don’t have a period. The pain in the breasts can also be caused by some medications such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), contraceptive pills, antidepressants, antibiotics, antipsychotic medication, and medication for heart conditions.

Even if breast pain is uncomfortable, it should not be cause for concern. However, if someone has any of the following symptoms in addition to sore breasts, they should see their GP immediately:

A lump or a firm or thick area in your breast or under your arm;
Nipple discharge fluid or changes, such as a nipple that becomes sunken into the breast, also called "inverted";
Skin changes, such as redness, dimpling, puckering, or ridges that look like orange peel;
Unexplained swelling or shrinkage of the breast, especially on one side only.

What happens to breast shape and size?

The structural, supportive breast tissue involutes ie shrinks and disappears and fat moves into the breasts. Thus for most women, menopause means droopy, soft breasts with marked loss in upper pole fullness and usually also of volume.

For others, it means larger breasts due to the redistribution of fat. It is a disconcerting time with breast, figure and face all changing around you whilst you are perhaps simultaneously also experiencing psychological and emotional fluctuations. No wonder it can be such a significant ‘pause’ in any woman’s life.

Every person reacts differently. If the changes in breast volume and shape are a concern, that can at least be addressed. Rozina works in close conjunction with medical practitioners and gynecologists to deal with all the aesthetic consequences of menopause and to enhance ‘wellness’ throughout the peri-menopausal period. Medical management, non-surgical techniques, technologies, and surgeries may all be deployed to help you through this time. Book a consultation with Rozina Ali to discuss your concerns and enhance your wellness as well as aesthetic outcomes.

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