Problems related to the mammary glands are not the exclusive prerogative of adult women.
Girls of different ages may experience changes in their mammary glands, which often causes concern among their parents.
During adolescence, the glandular tissue of the mammary gland is formed from the rudiments of glandular tissue located under the nipple area.
It is important to note that the mammary glands are hormone-dependent organs.
Oncologist of the 1st category of the HappyDerm medical center Lyudmila Artyushkevich notes that various problems may arise at different stages of girls’ development.
Neonatal period
A sexual crisis can occur on the 3rd-4th day of life and is manifested by the engorgement of the rudiments of the mammary gland tissue, which leads to their swelling, compaction and increase in volume.
This phenomenon should not be confused with a disease, since it is the body's reaction to hormonal changes. It is important to carefully observe hygiene during this period to prevent infection and the development of mastitis in the girl.
Developmental anomalies:
- Atelia is the absence of a nipple.
- Polythelia is the presence of additional nipples.
- Macromastia is breast enlargement.
Pre-adolescence (up to 8 years)
Thelarche is the growth (engorgement) of the mammary glands, often on one side, before puberty. A small lump, similar to a pea, appears behind the nipple, and complaints of discomfort and pain are also possible. There are three types of thelarche:
- isolated thelarche - enlargement of the glands without the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics;
- thelarche as a sign of early puberty;
- false thelarche – enlargement of the mammary glands due to fatty rather than glandular tissue. Occurs in children who are overweight.
Adolescence: breast diseases
During adolescence, girls face many changes in their bodies, including hormonal imbalances that can lead to various breast diseases. Let's look at some of them.
- Mastopathy : This is a condition caused by hormonal imbalance, which manifests itself in the form of swelling of the mammary glands before menstruation, a feeling of distension, puffiness and pain of varying intensity. The presence of elastic or harder rounded nodules or cords in the glandular tissue may also be observed.
- Breast cyst : often occurs against the background of fibrocystic mastopathy. Can be post-traumatic.
- Fibroadenoma : This is a benign tumor that forms against the background of an increase in estrogen in the body. Sometimes the mammary gland can contain several fibroadenomas.
- Mastitis : this is an inflammatory process that can occur as a result of injury or poor personal hygiene.
- Breast cancer in childhood is almost never encountered.
Diagnostics and tactics
The following methods are used to diagnose breast diseases in girls.
- Physical examination, including inspection and palpation of the mammary glands and lymph nodes.
- Ultrasound, which is the main instrumental method of examination. It is simple, safe and available for repeated use.
- Consultations with an endocrinologist, gynecologist, surgeon.
The majority of mammary gland diseases in girls are not life-threatening, but require careful attention and timely treatment. If you have discovered changes in your daughter's mammary glands, it would be right to consult a doctor.
