Painful Nipple Erection
Q: Like most women, exposure to cold air makes my nipples erect. But mine
also become excruciatingly painful. The stinging, searing sensation is unbearable
and can last up to an hour. Even air conditioning blasts will do it, so I don't
get a break during the warmer weather. What can I do about this embarrassing
and uncomfortable problem?
Dr. Donnica: The good news is that this doesn't reflect a serious medical
problem. Just as your fingers can become extremely painful in the cold, your nipples
can as well. The answer is to try to keep yourself warm and your nipples better
protected and less exposed. You may notice that even in warm climates, many women
dress in layers or carry warm sweaters with them to wear indoors when the AC is
too high. Wearing a good athletic or support bra can also help.
While there are no data available about how common a problem this is, there
are several nipple protector products available which may help you. While breast
shields, breast shells, and breast
pads, and soothing gel bra insert products such as Soothies™
were designed to assist nursing mothers with sore nipples, these may help you
as well. Nipguards™
were designed for athletes to be worn with or without a bra and to protect against
chafing as well as over-stimulation. Finding the product that works best for
your situation may require some trial and error, but it's probably worth it.
Created: 2/22/2004 - Donnica Moore, M.D.
