As Barbara Wilson-Clay pointed out, fibrocystic breasts are not a "disease". They are a normal variation. According to one of my gyn texts, the condition occurs due to hyperplasia of epithelial cells and fibrous tissue, probably r/t hormonal influence. In my present practice, I see lots of perimenopausal age women, and lumpy, sometimes tender breasts usually seems to be much more problematic for this group. I will have to go thru my notes, but I believe that there is research to support decreasing or eliminating caffiene to decrease symptoms such as tenderness. I recently saw a 45 year old who breastfed all three of her children for at least a year each. She is someone who makes cysts (two previously aspirated, one currently present, palpable, and also seen on her mammo). She is one of those women who have experience cyclic breast tenderness for several years now. She states that it was completely gone throughout breastfeeding (which also suppressed her periods for several months). Though I don't recall seeing any research on fibrocystic breasts and breastfeeding, her experience does not seem unique to me, and I think that it is reasonable to reassure a mom with such a history that exclusive breastfeeding may decrease cyclic breast tenderness. Back to caffiene: Anecdotally, I have had several clients tell me that their symptoms of cyclic tenderness disappear or dramatically decrease when they eliminate caffiene. Some women also find that adding 600 to 800 IU vitamin E is also helpful. Ione Sims, CNM, IBCLC