PCOS breasts: Exploring physical changes, possible problems, and effects on breastfeeding

In a nutshell

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a chronic condition that affects the everyday functioning of female ovaries and makes them produce excessive levels of androgen hormones, which typically leads to hormonal imbalances. Since female breasts are highly sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, PCOS can eventually cause physical breast changes, affecting the size, shape, and density of boobs. Additionally, the syndrome can lead to increased breast sensitivity and pain, fibrocystic changes, and breast atrophy, and it may affect your milk supply after giving birth.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects female hormones and causes a range of syndromes that arise from inner imbalances. Among the common symptoms are PCOS breast changes, and we’re about to tell you everything you need to know about this!

Struggling to lose weight with PCOS? Take our quiz now to find a personalized solution just for you >>

PCOS, hormones, and breast health

The first thing you need to learn while exploring PCOS breast changes is that your breasts are highly responsive to different hormones, and PCOS is a hormonal condition, which can create hormonal imbalances that affect your breast health.

To help you grasp the concept, here’s a brief overlook of how your primary hormones affect your breast tissue development and maintenance:

• Estrogen is responsible for stimulating the growth of ducts in breast tissue and supports tissue regeneration. During the period of puberty, this hormone shapes breast size and structure and defines fat deposition.
• Progesterone aids estrogen in the process of developing milk-producing glands (lobules). When its levels rise, during menstrual cycles and pregnancy, progesterone typically causes swelling, pain, and soreness as it prepares your boobs for lactation.
• Androgens are typically present in significantly lower levels in women because these are known as male hormones. Yet, they also play a pivotal role in breast health as they help balance the effects of estrogen.

The effect of PCOS-related hormonal imbalances on breasts

Typically, the three hormones mentioned earlier contribute to natural breast development. Natural fluctuations in these hormones, such as those during puberty, different stages of your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, usually stimulate changes in your breast tissue. Yet, PCOS breasts might be subject to more atypical changes due to hormonal imbalances created by the condition.

So what exactly happens in PCOS females’ hormonal system? PCOS causes your ovaries to overproduce androgens. An excessive level of androgens, in turn, causes imbalances in other reproductive hormones, which is why some of the primary symptoms of PCOS include irregular menstrual cycles and unpredictable ovulation.

In terms of breast health, overproduction of androgens is known to inhibit mammary epithelial proliferation and breast growth. That is, common PCOS breast problems can include reduced tissue growth, changes in boobs size, and atrophy.

Common types of PCOS breast changes

1. Physical changes

Since increased levels of androgens are known to suppress tissue growth, women with PCOS tend to have lower breast density and amount of tissue, which might mean certain physical changes in the size or shape of their boobs.

Since PCOS affects women throughout their entire childbearing age, most often, the signs and symptoms of this syndrome start showing around the time of puberty. If this causes hormonal imbalances, girls may not experience normal breast development during puberty. This can have two different consequences - girls may end up with small or underdeveloped breasts or, on the contrary, may end up with large breasts that quickly become pendulous breasts due to a lack of glandular tissue inside. The shape might also be affected by PCOS because excessive androgens suppress estrogen, which is responsible for normal fat deposition.

2. Breast pain and sensitivity

Apart from physical changes, there might be certain internal changes in PCOS boobs that cause increased sensitivity and pain. Changing hormone levels and subsequent imbalances can cause changes in the milk ducts or milk glands. These changes can eventually lead to the formation of breast cysts, which can cause cyclical or non-cyclical breast pain.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning the effect of PCOS on a woman’s menstrual cycle. As you already know, this syndrome is typically linked to irregular or prolonged menstrual cycles, which can contribute to breast swelling, sensitivity, and soreness.

3. Fibrocystic changes

Fibrocystic breasts is a condition in which you develop fluid-filled round or oval sacs (cysts) inside your boobs. These cysts can increase the overall breast tenderness and make your boobs feel lumpy or ropy.

Typically, fibrocystic changes (FCCs) are formed due to an increased estrogen-to-progesterone ratio. Since PCOS causes hormonal imbalances and is one of the common endocrinopathies that increases this ratio, it can lead to FCCs. Studies show that women with PCOS are 52% more likely to face fibrocystic breast changes compared to women who don’t have this syndrome.

4. Breast atrophy

Breast atrophy is the process of the atrophy of the glandular tissue of the breast. In this process, the connective tissue becomes less cellular, while the amount of collagen decreases, which leads to a considerable shrinkage of the boobs.

Naturally, this process begins after menopause, which is considered normal. However, by affecting your hormonal levels, PCOS can stimulate this process and cause spontaneous atrophy and shrinkage.

Does PCOS affect breastfeeding?

Given the fact that polycystic ovarian syndrome can cause a number of internal and external breast changes, another important question many women ask is - does PCOS affect milk supply?

The short answer is “yes.” PCOS causes hormonal imbalances, which eventually can affect the tissues inside your boobs and make them less dense and more shrunken. Also, excessive production of androgens in PCOS may hinder the work of progesterone, which is responsible for the development and functioning of your milk-producing glands.

That is, PCOS can indeed interfere with breastfeeding and cause a low milk supply. Imbalanced levels of estrogen or testosterone can also cause a delay in milk coming after you give birth. So if you’re wondering if there is a link between PCOS and breastfeeding, the answer is generally positive. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone’s experience is the same.

According to healthcare specialists, not all females with PCOS may experience issues with low milk supply. Besides, there are also many management options to improve your breastfeeding experience with PCOS. Namely, the general tips for success include:

• Establishing and following a healthy diet that targets insulin resistance and helps you maintain a healthy weight.
• Creating regular, low-impact exercise routines. 
• Finding stress management techniques that help you maintain your well-being.

Following these three simple rules can help you balance your hormone levels and ensure optimal health for successful lactation and breastfeeding. Additionally, it’s possible to leverage special treatment that helps support the milk supply. If you have PCOS, have just given birth, and find your milk supply low, don’t hesitate to talk to your healthcare provider to receive personalized recommendations on the best PCOS breastfeeding supplement for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common PCOS breast changes?

PCOS breast problems can vary significantly by severity, permanence, and type. Most often, females with this syndrome are facing physical changes in the size and shape of their boobs caused by a lack of normal breast development in puberty. Also, PCOS can cause breast sensitivity and pain, make your tissue atrophy with time, or lead to inner fibrocystic changes.

Does PCOS cause small breasts?

PCOS can affect the size of your breasts in multiple ways. First of all, it can hinder the normal breast development in puberty, leading to smaller, underdeveloped boobs. Later in life, PCOS and the hormonal imbalances it creates can cause breast atrophy and gradual shrinkage of the tissue, which can result in a decreasing size.

Is there a link between PCOS and milk supply?

Yes, PCOS can affect your milk supply by causing a delay in milk coming or affecting the amount of milk produced. The problem is that PCOS can hinder the work of estrogens and progesterones, leaving you with a smaller amount of breast tissue with milk-producing glands or underdeveloped glands, which can bring certain breastfeeding challenges. However, this doesn’t happen to all females with PCOS and there are management options to prevent possible challenges.

How to increase milk supply with PCOS?

Following a healthy diet, exercising, and using stress management techniques can be very beneficial. These tips can help you maintain a healthy weight, address insulin sensitivity, and reduce stress levels, which might affect breastfeeding. Also, it’s possible to use breastfeeding supplements to improve milk supply.

Conclusion

PCOS breast problems are not uncommon among women with this syndrome. Being sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, your breasts can naturally change their size, shape, and sensitivity under the effects of hormonal imbalances.

Namely, women whose PCOS signs develop in puberty may lack healthy breast development due to excessive androgen levels or an increased estrogen-to-progesterone ratio. As a result, they may end up with underdeveloped boobs and lower breast density. Also, women with PCOS may experience cyclical or non-cyclical breast pain caused by the formation of cysts. And there is also a link between PCOS and breastfeeding to keep in mind.

Luckily, while all these issues are possible, it’s also possible to manage them like other PCOS symptoms. Hence, it’s important to seek personalized guidance in case of any concerns.