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Are Sore Nipples Around Ovulation A Sign of Pregnancy

Sore nipples around ovulation are not a reliable sign of ovulation or early pregnancy. Changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle can cause breast tenderness in some individuals. While sore breasts may occur before or after ovulation due to shifts in estrogen and progesterone, pregnancy symptoms do not usually develop until several weeks after conception. The only way to know for certain if sore nipples indicate ovulation or pregnancy is to track symptoms over time and/or take a pregnancy test.

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Judy Lee
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161 views7 pages

Are Sore Nipples Around Ovulation A Sign of Pregnancy

Sore nipples around ovulation are not a reliable sign of ovulation or early pregnancy. Changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle can cause breast tenderness in some individuals. While sore breasts may occur before or after ovulation due to shifts in estrogen and progesterone, pregnancy symptoms do not usually develop until several weeks after conception. The only way to know for certain if sore nipples indicate ovulation or pregnancy is to track symptoms over time and/or take a pregnancy test.

Uploaded by

Judy Lee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Are sore nipples around 

ovulation a sign of 


pregnancy? 
● Ovulation and sore nipples 

● Other signs 

● Sore nipples and pregnancy 

● Other pregnancy signs 

● How to tell 

● Other causes 

● Seeing a doctor 

● Summary 
Changing hormone levels around ovulation may 
cause sore nipples or tender breasts. However, 
this is not necessarily a sign of ovulation or 
pregnancy. 

Everybody is different, and ​breast pain​ is not a reliable indicator of o


​ vulation​. 
People monitoring their fertility should look for other symptoms. 

Sore nipples around ovulation are also not a sign of pregnancy because this is 
too early for a person to experience pregnancy symptoms. 

This article explores the potential connections between sore nipples, 


ovulation, and pregnancy. 

Can ovulation cause sore nipples?  


number of hormones trigger ovulation. 

Before ovulation, e
​ strogen​ and l​ uteinizing hormone​ levels are higher. For 
some people, ​estrogen may​ stimulate breast tissue and cause ​breast pain​. 
Shortly after ovulation, estrogen levels drop, and progesterone levels rise. In 
some people, ​these shifts in progesterone​ may trigger b
​ reast pain​ or sore 
nipples. 

If a person becomes pregnant, progesterone levels will continue to rise. This 


causes breast tissue changes that can make the nipples or breasts sore. 

However, it takes several weeks for these developments to occur, so breasts 


that become sore suddenly after ovulation do not indicate pregnancy. 

Sore nipples may be a sign of c


​ yclical breast pain​. This type of pain usually 
coincides with a person’s m
​ enstrual cycle​ each month, though the specific 
point may vary. 

For example, some females experience ​nipple pain​ before ovulation, while 
others get it right after. 

Other signs of ovulation  


Sore breasts are not a reliable sign of ovulation. 

Some other symptoms ​include​: 


● A positive ovulation test: Ovulation tests measure increases in 
luteinizing hormone​. For most people, a rise in luteinizing hormone 
triggers ovulation within a day or two of the positive test. 
● Cervical mucus: Rises in estrogen cause c
​ ervical fluid​ to become watery 
and have a consistency similar to raw egg whites. As a person produces 
more of this fluid, ovulation may be imminent. 
● Basal body temperature: ​Progesterone​ rises right after ovulation, 
causing a person’s morning body temperature to increase slightly. 
Therefore, a rise in morning body temperature indicates a person has 
ovulated. 

Some people notice other signs, such as ovulation pain in their side or 
bloating. These symptoms are less reliable, especially if they do not log their 
ovulation symptoms over time. 

How to tell if sore nipples are a sign 


of pregnancy or ovulation  
There is no reliable way to distinguish nipple pain due to ovulation from nipple 
pain due to pregnancy. The pain is often identical. 

One of the best ways to distinguish them is the timing. If nipple pain occurs at 
or right around the time a person expects to ovulate, pregnancy is highly 
unlikely. 
Nipple pain that occurs after ovulation that gets worse, or nipple pain that 
does not go away around the time a person expects their period, may signal 
pregnancy. 

The only way to know with a high degree of certainty is to take a pregnancy 
test. 

Early in pregnancy, H
​ CG levels start low​ and quickly rise. Pregnancy tests will 
measure the levels of this hormone. 

If a pregnancy test is negative, and a person’s period does not arrive, they may 
receive a positive result if they test again in a few days. 

Other causes of sore nipples 


Normal hormonal fluctuations can trigger nipple soreness. If the pain is not 
severe or only lasts a few days, the discomfort is likely due to hormonal 
changes. 

However, if the pain persists, some potential causes may i​ nclude​: 

● an injury to the nipple 


● pain from nipple play during sex 
● breastfeeding pain or injuries 
● mastitis​, a breast infection 
● ac
​ yst​ in the breast 
● lifestyle or diet factors, including caffeine or alcohol consumption 
● muscle pain 
● in rare cases, c
​ ancer 

When to see a doctor 


See a healthcare provider if: 

● a person gets a positive pregnancy test or does not get their period 
● the pain is very intense 
● the pain follows an injury and does not go away in a few days 
● there is a ​lump in the breast​ or discharge from the nipple 
● there is acute pain when breastfeeding 

Summary 
Sore nipples are a common symptom throughout the menstrual cycle. 
Sometimes they indicate a person is pregnant or about to ovulate. 

They may also signal a health problem or mean nothing at all. 


The best way to identify the cause of sore nipples is to track the symptom 
across several ovulation cycles and look for specific patterns. A healthcare 
provider can provide further assistance. 

Last medically reviewed on November 12, 2020 

● Breast Cancer 

● Fertility 

● Pregnancy / Obstetrics 

● Parenthood 

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