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Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: Nigella on January 12, 2009, 06:09:32 PM

Title: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 12, 2009, 06:09:32 PM
Hi there,

I apologise if this has been answered before.

I have been on HRT for approx 9 months and two months ago I started to feel a lump under the nipple of one breast which hurts like hell. Then things did the same with my other breast. I went to docs out of concern and they said it was breast buds.

My question is how long does the discomfort last and I get past the breast bud stage. I know we are all different in growth terms but approx would be good to know.

Hugs (but not to close at the moment, lol).

Stardust
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: fae_reborn on January 12, 2009, 07:11:34 PM
I didn't have very much pain during my development, just slight discomfort.  Usually this lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, but it'll eventually pass.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Janet_Girl on January 12, 2009, 07:15:04 PM
When mine began developing, they were sensitive.  Bump them and OMG.  i now understand why young girls carry books the way that do.  But pain, real pain, No i can't say I have had any real pain.

Janet

Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: tinkerbell on January 12, 2009, 08:14:03 PM
QuoteTanner Stage
(as applies to transsexual women)


Stage I (Pre-hormone treatment) The undeveloped "pre-adolescent" pre-hormone type breast consists of a small elevated nipple (papilla) only, with no significant underlying breast tissue.   

Stage II (Hormone treatment started) After 6-8 weeks of hormone treatment subareolar nodules can be (painfully) felt and the nipple becomes very sensitive.  After about three months breast buds will visibly start to form. There is an elevation of the breast and nipple as a small mound and the areola diameter may begin to enlarge (particularly in young women).  Milk ducts inside the breast begin to grow.   

Stage III This stage is reached after between six months and a year of continuous treatment. There is further enlargement and elevation of the breast and areola (with no separation of their contours).  The areola may begin to darken in colour.  The milk ducts give rise to milk glands that also begin to grow.  

Stage IV It will take one to two years to reach this stage.  There is projection of the areola and papilla to form a secondary "mound on a mound" above level of breast.   

Stage V Only a very few transsexual women (usually under age 20) reach this "mature" stage, after perhaps two years hormone treatment. The breast has now fully filled out and only the nipple still projects, the areola has recessed and become part of the general breast contour i.e. the secondary mound has disappeared.


More or less these are the stages and how I experienced them myself, but yes you are correct, everyone is different and nothing is set in stone.  I cannot provide the source of the above quote since it contains dosage information and therefore violates the TOS of this site.

tink :icon_chick:
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: gothique11 on January 15, 2009, 06:27:02 PM
It can really hurt on some people, while others it doesn't.

I've been on HRT for, um, almost 3 years (I can't remember) and I still sometimes get that. I got it at the start, then it went away -- and now after being post-op I've been getting it again... I have no idea when my breasts are going to stop growing. I just wear sports bras now 'cause none of my bras fit (and half of my clothes, as my hips came out, and my body still changing).

So, anyway, your body is going to change and it can be painful (my hips hurt when they started going out... oh, did it hurt, growing pains all over again). So, with change sometimes people get more pain than others.

good luck!
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Laura Eva B on January 15, 2009, 07:30:14 PM
Never heard of cis teens experiencing pain during breast development ?

Do any TS women post 25 really go through these "Tanner" phases ?

If you're TS and in your 30's, 40's, 50's with proper female breasts you're either hugely overweight (i.e. average US body) or have had augmentation !

Laura x
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Janet_Girl on January 15, 2009, 07:58:06 PM
Actually I have been an A cup most of my life, regardless if I was overweight or not.  Hum, Don't remember ever have any pain until HRT.

Janet

Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: mmelny on January 15, 2009, 09:06:56 PM
Hi Stardust,

QuoteMy question is how long does the discomfort last and I get past the breast bud stage. I know we are all different in growth terms but approx would be good to know.

For me, and this is my experience...  i found that bud stage to last about 9 months... I think i know what you are talking about, it sounds exactly like what i felt. A bulbous mass underneath the nipple, about an inch and a half in....very tender to the touch, especially when probed or squeezed.

Yikes!

Melan
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Chrissty on January 16, 2009, 12:03:45 PM
Quote from: Laura Eva B on January 15, 2009, 07:30:14 PM
If you're TS and in your 30's, 40's, 50's with proper female breasts you're either hugely overweight (i.e. average US body) or have had augmentation !

Or suffer from one of the forms of gynecomastia....

It would seem that some male bodies can actually develop at almost the same rate as females if you have this condition, whatever your time of life....although I do accept that it can also be triggered by being overweight.

I'm 38B pre-HRT, and have always been within the optimal weight band for my height....

Chrissty
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 17, 2009, 04:33:23 AM
Quote from: Melan on January 15, 2009, 09:06:56 PM
Hi Stardust,

QuoteMy question is how long does the discomfort last and I get past the breast bud stage. I know we are all different in growth terms but approx would be good to know.

For me, and this is my experience...  i found that bud stage to last about 9 months... I think i know what you are talking about, it sounds exactly like what i felt. A bulbous mass underneath the nipple, about an inch and a half in....very tender to the touch, especially when probed or squeezed.

Yikes!

Melan

Thanks Melan that's exactly it and god it hurts. Yes I do seem to be going through the stage of bud growth and the doc confirmed it. I am however 50 but all people are different and some comments that generalise gives the impression that anyone over a certain age will not have this happen to them. All my female family have large breasts DD's at least so there is a genetic influence for me as well. I don't particularly want that size though, lol.

Anyway many thanks, you hit the nail on the head there for me.

Stardust
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: mmelny on January 17, 2009, 07:44:17 AM
QuoteThanks Melan that's exactly it and god it hurts. Yes I do seem to be going through the stage of bud growth and the doc confirmed it.

Stardust,

When I was going through this phase, I totally embraced it.  The pain meant my breasts were growing, a vindication that the many months of HRT were finally kicking in.  And they were, I had a huge growth spurt during the time of the "budding" for lack of better terms, *smiles*.   It hurt to sleep on my stomach, but I did, because the breast pain was ever-present.. it became a friend to me, lol.  When the pain stopped, and the buds seemed to be "satiated", it was actually a bit disappointing, as it did seem to announce the stop of my breast growth as well. 

Just another take on this experience.   I have my eyes wide open, smiling at every new event in this journey, and a bit of pain isn't going to rub the smile off this face, enjoy ! :icon_geekdance:

*huggs*,
Melan
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: vanna on January 17, 2009, 10:10:02 AM


Enjoy the feelings, its all part of a beautiful journey :)
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: sabrina on January 18, 2009, 12:46:51 PM
I wouldn't use the word *hurt* but thats just me like has been noted everybody is different.  I would use the words *sensitive* *aware* *tender* and the phrase *driving me insane*  hahahaha it is just a part of development embrace it.

Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 19, 2009, 02:17:54 PM
Quote from: Melan on January 17, 2009, 07:44:17 AM
QuoteThanks Melan that's exactly it and god it hurts. Yes I do seem to be going through the stage of bud growth and the doc confirmed it.

Stardust,

When I was going through this phase, I totally embraced it.  The pain meant my breasts were growing, a vindication that the many months of HRT were finally kicking in.  And they were, I had a huge growth spurt during the time of the "budding" for lack of better terms, *smiles*.   It hurt to sleep on my stomach, but I did, because the breast pain was ever-present.. it became a friend to me, lol.  When the pain stopped, and the buds seemed to be "satiated", it was actually a bit disappointing, as it did seem to announce the stop of my breast growth as well. 

Just another take on this experience.   I have my eyes wide open, smiling at every new event in this journey, and a bit of pain isn't going to rub the smile off this face, enjoy ! :icon_geekdance:

*huggs*,
Melan

I have Melan and yes I notice a difference in size. Every month is bigger than the last, lol. No pain no gain I suppose, lol. Thanks again.

Stardust
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Sheeba on January 20, 2009, 07:54:01 PM
Yup!
they sure do hurt at first.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: katherine on January 21, 2009, 04:59:19 AM
Hi,
It is my understanding that gynecomastia refers to breast development in males, either during puberty, or when older, for various reasons.  One of those is the use of female hormones.  As indicated by Chrissty, there are other causes.  I just mention this because once you begin HRT, especially at my age (55), gynecomastia would be brought on by the hormone treatment, though in this case, it is the desired result.  Does this sound accurate?  Just curious... ???
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Ashley315 on January 22, 2009, 02:29:28 PM
Quote from: Laura Eva B on January 15, 2009, 07:30:14 PM
Never heard of cis teens experiencing pain during breast development ?

Do any TS women post 25 really go through these "Tanner" phases ?

If you're TS and in your 30's, 40's, 50's with proper female breasts you're either hugely overweight (i.e. average US body) or have had augmentation !

Laura x

Not always... there are rare cases and other factors that can have an affect on the final development.  Everyone is different.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nero on January 22, 2009, 03:13:44 PM
Mine didn't hurt when they grew. Not physically, anyway.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Ashley315 on January 22, 2009, 10:53:56 PM
Mine have been rather painful.  Started about a week after starting HRT and hasn't let up since.... Not that I'm complaining.  ;D
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Janet_Girl on January 22, 2009, 10:58:39 PM
Mine have quite hurting at about 7 months.  Now if they will only get a little bigger.  They do get itchy at times. 

Janet

Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Rhye on January 22, 2009, 11:14:06 PM
It must be a transwoman thing, maybe related to growing breasts later in life than usual? I'm biologically a girl and mine never hurt at all.

Quote from: Laura Eva B on January 15, 2009, 07:30:14 PM

If you're TS and in your 30's, 40's, 50's with proper female breasts you're either hugely overweight (i.e. average US body) or have had augmentation !


Oy, Laura. Hugely overweight equals average US body since when?
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 23, 2009, 01:19:35 PM
Quote from: Lindsey on January 22, 2009, 11:14:06 PM
It must be a transwoman thing, maybe related to growing breasts later in life than usual? I'm biologically a girl and mine never hurt at all.

Quote from: Laura Eva B on January 15, 2009, 07:30:14 PM

If you're TS and in your 30's, 40's, 50's with proper female breasts you're either hugely overweight (i.e. average US body) or have had augmentation !


Oy, Laura. Hugely overweight equals average US body since when?

Hi Lindsey, my doc said some genetic girls get the same pain. She just said that GG's have their shower room conversations so that they know what they can expect when woman hood begins. We transwomen miss that so that's why forums like this are great.

By the way thanks for reply as its good to have the gg input that we have missed when growing up.

hugs

Nigella
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Zelane on January 23, 2009, 02:21:27 PM
Every woman its different and generalizations are dumb. Its like saying that every woman has painful periods. Or that every woman has PMS and guess what its a big NO.

Painful, tender, sore breast its just something that can happens while growing up.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: iminadaze on January 23, 2009, 05:26:47 PM
This thread has put my mind a little at ease.

The soreness that I had lasted about 9 months then faded to a itchy tingle from time to time.
I thought something was wrong because it was right at the time I switched to injections. I kept
hounding my doctor about it but he just said that everything is fine.

I would run up and down the stairs and massage them heavily trying to get the feeling back but nothing worked.
Now at 14 months HRT I guess I will have to face the the reality of that phase of growth being over

OK my mind is not at ease cuz now I wonder if they will still grow at all....I hope so :icon_nervious:


Nicole
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 23, 2009, 05:44:57 PM
Quote from: Nicole_M on January 23, 2009, 05:26:47 PM
This thread has put my mind a little at ease.

The soreness that I had lasted about 9 months then faded to a itchy tingle from time to time.
I thought something was wrong because it was right at the time I switched to injections. I kept
hounding my doctor about it but he just said that everything is fine.

I would run up and down the stairs and massage them heavily trying to get the feeling back but nothing worked.
Now at 14 months HRT I guess I will have to face the the reality of that phase of growth being over

OK my mind is not at ease cuz now I wonder if they will still grow at all....I hope so :icon_nervious:


Nicole

Nicole, as far as I can tell and I'm not an expert just experiencing puberty as a woman. The breast growth includes breast bud growth and is more noticeable in some than others. This as I have experienced includes the tender pain and lumps (buds) under the nipples. This subsides and breast growth continues with fat deposits and milk dick growth. The shape becomes fuller and rounder after time (See the post here about stages). I have researched this and this has matched my experience. Google breast bud growth in genetic female, we are no different even though hormones are from external source.

Thanks and I'm glad my post has helped you too.

Stardust
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: iminadaze on January 23, 2009, 06:07:38 PM
Quote from: stardust on January 23, 2009, 05:44:57 PM

......This subsides and breast growth continues with fat deposits and milk duct growth. The shape becomes fuller and rounder after time.....


Sounds like a much better growth phase to me, I look forward to that....Thank you Stardust
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Zelane on January 23, 2009, 08:51:44 PM
I dont remember where I read it. But for some it seems after some growth a kind of plateau appears and your breast stay the same for a while then another spurt.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Chrissty on January 24, 2009, 07:56:21 AM
Quote from: Nicole_M on January 23, 2009, 06:07:38 PM
Quote from: stardust on January 23, 2009, 05:44:57 PM
......This subsides and breast growth continues with fat deposits and milk duct growth. The shape becomes fuller and rounder after time.....
Sounds like a much better growth phase to me, I look forward to that....Thank you Stardust

Er...That's the weird thing, because that's how mine have been from the start...Sounds like I might end up doing this all in reverse if I get on HRT....
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 24, 2009, 01:01:36 PM
Quote from: Zelane on January 23, 2009, 08:51:44 PM
I don't remember where I read it. But for some it seems after some growth a kind of plateau appears and your breast stay the same for a while then another spurt.

Zelane, yes you are correct, any human growth can come and go in phases that's why it takes anything from 2-5 years even in GG's to fully develop their breasts.

Chrissty, I too had some breast tissue to start with (and NO never been over weight so no one imply that please or I will be most offended). I do believe that some trans people have more oestrogen levels than what is considered normal for males and so have some form of gynaecomastia going on, but hey isn't that great, a good start, lol. I grew quickly from a 36A to 36B in six months and then the breast buds kicked in (ouch).

Stardust     
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Zelane on January 24, 2009, 02:15:22 PM
Ever wonder what happens to an IS person's that starts HRT?
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Ashley315 on January 24, 2009, 04:03:45 PM
Quote from: Zelane on January 24, 2009, 02:15:22 PM
Ever wonder what happens to an IS person's that starts HRT?

Well, it's not confirmed, but my doctors are absolutely convinced I am.  My T level was really really low for a genetic male pre HRT, and there are several other reasons to support the idea that I most likely am IS.

I don't think it makes a difference if one is IS or not.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 24, 2009, 05:18:57 PM
Quote from: Zelane on January 24, 2009, 02:15:22 PM
Ever wonder what happens to an IS person's that starts HRT?

Zelane, see thread Intersex and hormones under section for IS

Stardust
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Zelane on January 24, 2009, 10:33:46 PM
Forget I bring that topic up ok? Just continue the thread as if I didnt say anything about IS.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: V M on January 25, 2009, 12:10:26 AM
I was concerned about my breast hurting on and off. But then I found out that they hurt just before a growth spurt. So now when they become sensitive I think cool....get the measuring tape out  :laugh:
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Ender on January 26, 2009, 09:59:23 PM
Quote from: Laura Eva B on January 15, 2009, 07:30:14 PM
Never heard of cis teens experiencing pain during breast development ?
Laura x

Ohh, some of 'em do.  I was one.  I remember commenting to a friend that I could no longer play gorilla and beat my chest because it hurt so damn much.  Hers hurt too (she recommended that I beat the center of my chest, not the nipples, lol), as did those of most of my female friends (they complained they couldn't sleep on their bellies anymore).  Heck, mine still hurt sometimes... kind of a monthly thing, unfortunately; they hurt, feel harder, and fill out ever so slightly; several days later, they stop hurting and return to their usual size.  Seriously, the pain is fairly common among cis girls, not just TS girls; consider it a 'rite of passage'  :P  ;D
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 27, 2009, 10:25:03 AM
Quote from: Eryk on January 26, 2009, 09:59:23 PM
Quote from: Laura Eva B on January 15, 2009, 07:30:14 PM
Never heard of cis teens experiencing pain during breast development ?
Laura x

Ohh, some of 'em do.  I was one.  I remember commenting to a friend that I could no longer play gorilla and beat my chest because it hurt so damn much.  Hers hurt too (she recommended that I beat the center of my chest, not the nipples, lol), as did those of most of my female friends (they complained they couldn't sleep on their bellies anymore).  Heck, mine still hurt sometimes... kind of a monthly thing, unfortunately; they hurt, feel harder, and fill out ever so slightly; several days later, they stop hurting and return to their usual size.  Seriously, the pain is fairly common among cis girls, not just TS girls; consider it a 'rite of passage'  :P  ;D

Eryk, goodness if I beat my chest at the moment I'd fly through the roof, lol. Thanks for the confirmation I'd gone to the docs a few months ago with one boob hurting and a lump and they thought it was breast buds and when the other started omg its confirmed. As you can guess I thought I had the dreaded. Anyway many thanks as I've said to other gg's its nice to share your experiences that we TS's have missed while growing up.

And yea its a rite of womanhood, lol.
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: annajasmine on January 27, 2009, 11:48:56 AM
Right now I'm sore like a burning sensation for the nipple area and I'm at 16 months of hrt at 34 years old. I think around 6 to 9 months of hrt I would actually would say they were painful to the touch. Now they just get that burning sensation every month to 6 weeks last for a week or 2. I have had good nipple development I guess I have to hope for the rest to catch up.


Later,
Anna
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: Nigella on January 27, 2009, 04:42:58 PM
Quote from: annajasmine on January 27, 2009, 11:48:56 AM
I think around 6 to 9 months of hrt I would actually would say they were painful to the touch.


Later,
Anna

Anna, yea I'd agree with that I think I was around 8/9 months HRT before all hell broke loose, lol.

Stardust
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: GingerMaxim on October 08, 2014, 05:21:46 AM
Is it TRUE that us girls have more rapid breast growth? I have read the cis girls usually take 3 -5 years or more, for most of the breast growth to happen.
It seems to me that us Transgender ladies have more rapid breast growth, ie: 1-2+ years? 

Is this some what a true statement? And if so, why is that? Is it because of the increased amount of hormones we take?

Side question, it seems that us girls tend to crave information about breast growth more then other transgender bodily changes?

Are breasts the MAIN thing that ALL transgender ladies crave, desire, need, WANT and perceive to be the MOST WOMANLY part of the body to have?
For me the above statement is SO TRUE. I crave my breasts from the moment I wake up to the moment I lay down.

I feel so much like a woman, when I look at myself, touch my breasts and think about my breasts... It such A GREAT FEELING inside me...

Ginger...
Title: Re: Painful Breast buds
Post by: KayXo on October 09, 2014, 02:52:49 PM
Been on HRT for more than 10 yrs and my breasts have fluctuated in size over this time period. They are growing more now and bigger now than ever. There have also been changes to my HRT in the last year. Depends on several factors, including stress...and progesterone appears to make a difference for me.