Alternative medicine

Vitamins and dietary supplements may lessen breast pain symptoms and severity for some people. Ask your doctor if one of these might help you — and ask about doses and any possible side effects:

• Evening primrose oil. This supplement may change the balance of fatty acids in your cells, which may reduce breast pain.

• Vitamin E. Early studies showed a possible beneficial effect of vitamin E on breast pain in premenstrual women who experience breast pain that fluctuates during the menstrual cycle. In one study, 200 international units (IU) of vitamin E taken twice daily for two months improved symptoms in women with cyclic breast pain. There was no additional benefit after four months.

  For adults older than 18 years, pregnant people and breastfeeding women, the maximum dose of vitamin E is 1,000 milligrams daily (or 1,500 IU).

If you try a supplement for breast pain, stop taking it if you don't notice any improvement in your breast pain after a few months. Try just one supplement at a time so that you can clearly determine which one helps alleviate the pain — or not.