A phase II trial of Afimoxifene (4-hydroxyamoxifen gel) for
cyclical mastalgia in premenopausal women.
The commonly used agent evening primrose oil has shown to be useful in treating
cyclical mastalgia in benign breast disease, but its efficacy is still in debate.
Therefore, similar to many other health issues, treatment of
cyclical mastalgia has greatly moved toward herbal treatment and complementary medicine.
These two homogeneous and well-defined groups of noncyclical and
cyclical mastalgia have been previously described [5, 11-13].
However, radiological investigation is not indicated in young women with no risk factors, presenting with
cyclical mastalgia and a normal breast examination.
Although study data on the oil's performance have been mixed, a 1993 randomized study of 291 patients in a breast pain clinic showed that it is as effective as bromocriptine in relieving
cyclical mastalgia but less effective than danazol.
In a 1993 randomized study of 291 patients, it was as effective as bromocriptine but less effective than danazol in relieving
cyclical mastalgia.
About 60% of cases of
cyclical mastalgia were from 4th decade of life followed by 30% from 3rd decade of life.
Mansel RE, Dogliotti L (1990) European multicentre trial of bromocriptine in
cyclical mastalgia. The LANCET 335: 190-193
This kind of pain is called
cyclical mastalgia and usually responds well to oil of evening primrose, though you do have to get it on prescription because you require a much higher dose than usual.
Khanna AK et al [9] reported similar findings as
cyclical mastalgia [61.5%] to be more common than non-cyclical mastalgia [38%].
Cyclical mastalgia is breast pain with a definite association with the menstrual cycle, while non-cyclical mastalgia is unrelated to the monthly cycle.