Abstract

AIM: Mastalgia is common and could heavily affected females' life. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of mastalgia, its characteristics and predisposing factors among a sample of female medical students in Mansoura University.
METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 797 female medical students in Egypt. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire covering the presence of breast pain and its characteristics, exacerbating factors, breast pain questionnaire (McGill) as well as effect on usual activities and treatment practices.
RESULTS: Among 797 students, 26.7% had mastalgia. The mean duration of pain was 2.6±1.58 days. According to McGill pain score, the mean scores of sensory and affective pain were 2.6±2.3 and 0.93±1.4, respectively. The independent risk factors of mastalgia were: breast infection; breast mass; being married and excess consumption of fatty diet. The commonest adopted management strategy for pain was by wearing a firm bra (47.5%) or drinking hot drinks and herbs (43.7%). A well fitting bra has been shown to reduce pain.
CONCLUSIONS: Breast pain or mastalgia is a common symptom in females. A larger representative study including non-university and minority populations would be expected to give better epidemiologic and clinical features of mastalgia as well as its effect on women's activity and productivity.

Key words: Mastalgia – Medical students - McGill pain score.

Article Language: Turkish English