Abstract
Mastalgia is one of the most common breast-related complaints among women of reproductive age and may negatively affect quality of life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of cyclic mastalgia among women residing in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. A community-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 381 women aged 20–40 years recruited through community awareness camps using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included demographic details and pain assessment tools such as the Visual Analogue Scale and a breast pain chart to document cyclical pain patterns across the menstrual cycle. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and the association between menstrual phase and pain intensity was evaluated using the chi-square test. Cyclic mastalgia was reported by 320 participants, yielding a prevalence of 84%. Mild pain was the most commonly reported severity (44.6%), followed by moderate pain (37.0%), while severe pain was relatively uncommon (2.4%). Pain intensity showed a statistically significant association with menstrual cycle phase (p < 0.001), with symptoms predominantly occurring during the luteal phase. Diffuse bilateral breast pain was the most frequently reported anatomical presentation. These findings indicate a high prevalence of cyclic mastalgia among women of reproductive age in Chengalpattu district. Although most cases were mild to moderate, the condition may still influence physical comfort and psychological well-being. Increasing community awareness and incorporating routine breast pain assessment in primary healthcare settings may help reduce anxiety and improve quality of life.
Keywords: Breast Pain, Chengalpattu District, Cyclic Mastalgia, Prevalence.