Cyclic Danazol for Postmenopausal Women with Mastalgia and Fibrocystic Changes

Understanding Mastalgia in Postmenopausal Women

• Breast pain (mastalgia) is a common complaint, occurring in up to 70-80% of women at some point in their lives, and remains the second most common breast symptom even in older age groups 1
• Noncyclical mastalgia is more common in postmenopausal women and is often unilateral, focal, and may be associated with duct ectasia with periductal inflammation in about 25% of cases 1, 2

Important Considerations for Postmenopausal Women

• Ensure thorough evaluation has ruled out malignancy before initiating danazol therapy, as some breast cancers can present with pain 3
• For women with duct ectasia and periductal inflammation, advise smoking cessation if applicable, as this condition is often associated with heavy smoking 2
• If symptoms don't improve after 3 months of cyclic danazol therapy, consider alternative treatments or reevaluation of the diagnosis 3