Although pain and other disorders of the breast are more common among women than men, men may develop pain in the breast as well. Pain in the breast in men may actually be in the muscles of the chest, or it can be in the tissue of the breast itself. According to the National Library of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic, causes of painful breasts in men include infections and injuries.
Alcoholism
Drinking alcohol in excess to the point where the liver becomes damaged may cause men to develop breast pain.
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is a medical term for abnormal breast development experienced by men and boys and can result in pain and swelling of the breast similar to what women experience during premenstrual syndrome.
Heart Disease
The heart is located on the left side of the chest underneath the breast tissue, and heart disease or a heart attack may result in feelings of breast pain in men.
Hormones
Men may experience painful breasts as a result of hormone changes during puberty or due to taking synthetic steroids such as prednisone, which are similar to natural hormones.
Infection
An infection of the breast is called mastitis, and this occurs in men rarely but can cause pain, swelling and streaks of redness on the skin of the breast.
Injury
An injury to the breast tissue, such as being punched in the chest or experiencing trauma such as an auto accident may cause breast pain in men.
Tags: breast pain, breast tissue, pain swelling