Mastitis is a painful condition that develops in breastfeeding women. It hurts - some say really, really hurts - and it’s estimated that anywhere from 10 percent to one-third of mothers who are breastfeeding develop it.

Did we mention it hurts? 

Mastitis is caused by an inflammation of the mammary glands inside the breast. It can affect one or both breast glands, and typically creates a hard, sore spot in the gland locations. Worse, it spooks many women, who are not accustomed to pain in that area of the body, and may presume it is cancer.

While the typical cause of mastitis is an infection or a blocked milk duct, pain in the breast is potentially a sign of other serious issues and should be checked by a medical professional.

TWO TYPES

Mastitis comes in infectious and noninfectious flavors. The noninfectious is caused by a condition called milk stasis, which is, as the name implies, simply when the breast milk stays within the breast tissue because of a blocked duct or breastfeeding issue. If untreated, the milk can eventually become infected by bacteria, leading to infectious mastitis.  

One of the strange things about the condition is the lack of scientific consensus on how many women get it.  Approximately 10 percent of United States mothers get mastitis while breastfeeding, according to Centers for Disease Control research. But there are other studies that differ on that number.