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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Female -- Breast Development > Q&A
Posted on: 03/04/2008
Question
Hello, every once in a while I get a really sharp throbbing pain on my left nipple. It gets really sensitive and painful to touch, it lasts for several minutes. Do you know what the cause of this is?
Answer
If you are not having any other breast symptoms - such as nipple discharge or a lump or sign of infection, then it could be several things -- could be infection in the duct of the breast at the nipple, but we usually see this more with women who are breast feeding (you didn't say what your status is in that regard). It could be a topical infection. Or it could just be an incidental thing and the way the breast is innervated.
Breast pain in general tends to be more hormonally related. Sometimes caffeine intake can contribute to breast pain as well. If it becomes more frequent or more painful - see your doctor.