- Sexual Health
Breast Abscess
Breast abscess treatment available online today
Request breast abscess treatment online from our trusted, board-certified online doctors and get relief today. Get a new prescription for a breast abscess or refill an existing prescription today.
Book an appointment
Medication services available for adults and kids (3+)
Top quality, board-certified doctors
Insurance accepted, but not required
Prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy*
*PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of breast abscesses. Our primary care physicians can conduct an initial evaluation of your symptoms, but may need to refer you to a specialist or for in-person treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately. Prescriptions are provided at the doctor’s discretion.
Most major insurance plans accepted
Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less. Paying without insurance? New patient visits are $129, and follow-ups are only $99 for members.
Don’t see your provider listed? Email [email protected] or call (888) 564-4454 to talk to a PlushCare specialist.
3 simple steps to request treatment for a breast abscess today
Step 1
Book a breast abscess treatment appointment.
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Talk to your medical provider regarding your breast abscess symptoms.
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
Pick up prescription for breast abscess treatment.
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Breast abscess treatment pricing details
How pricing works
To request breast abscess treatment and get a new or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits
Paying with insurance
Membership
$14.99/month
First month free
First visit
Copay
For all visits
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price with insurance
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
- We accept these insurance plans and many more:
Paying without insurance
Membership
$14.99/month
First month free
First visit
$129
Repeats only $99
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price without insurance
Initial visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $99 for active members.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Breast abscess treatment FAQs
What is the best treatment for breast abscesses?
The best treatment for breast abscesses includes breast abscess drainage and antibiotic therapy.
What is the best medication for a breast abscess?
The best medications for a breast abscess are antibiotics such as Augmentin or Clindamycin.
Is a breast abscess serious?
Yes, a breast abscess can lead to severe infection such as sepsis, if left untreated.
Can a breast abscess heal on its own?
Most likely you will need to take antibiotics prescribed by a doctor to heal a breast abscess.
How do you know if you have a breast abscess?
Pain, redness, swelling, and warmth on the breast are indicators of a breast abscess.
What does a breast abscess feel like?
A breast abscess feels like a lump in your breast accompanied by a stabbing, shooting, or dull pain in and around one or both breasts.
Learn about breast abscesses
A breast abscess refers to a collection of pus in the breast tissue. Breasts are made up of mammary glands, fat tissue, milk-producing glands, nipples, and areolas. Breast infections usually occur in the fatty tissue of the breast and can cause swelling and pain.
Breast infections start out as a cut, break or crack in the skin (usually on the nipple). This opening allows bacteria to enter into the breast tissue, which then turns into an abscess. The type of bacteria, duration of infection, and other factors determine the disease process and which treatment option is best.
Breast abscess causes
Breast infections are caused by several factors. The most prevalent causes of breast abscesses are bacterial infections. After bacteria enters the skin, it can cause inflammation, pain, and redness. Most breast abscesses are caused by the bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. People with recurrent breast abscess infections may have different types of bacteria other than Staphylococcus aureus.
Risk factors for primary breast abscesses include:
Breast pain
Lactating women who are breastfeeding (clogged milk ducts)
Maternal age greater than 30 with first child
Gestational age more than or equal to 41 weeks
Tobacco use
Nipple piercing
Obese patients
Steroid treatment
Physical trauma
Breast cancer
Poor immune system
In lactating or breastfeeding women, plugged milk ducts can cause swelling of the mammary glands, which leads to mastitis. Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue that usually involves an infection. Mastitis results in pain, swelling, warmth, and redness of the affected breast. One or both breasts can be affected. Lactating women are more likely to develop breast abscesses due to damaged nipples and clogged milk ducts. Breast diseases, such as cancer, or cysts, are more rare causes of breast abscesses, although breast abscesses do develop with these types of diseases.
Breast abscess symptoms
Most breast abscess symptoms have similar clinical features. The main symptoms of breast abscesses are breast pain, breast engorgement, and pus drainage. A fluid abscess can be filled with pus or milk, depending on the cause. Mastitis will always cause breast tissue to be swollen. Breast abscess symptoms include:
Inflamed area on the breast
Fever
Tender breast mass or lump
Palpable mass on breast
Localized, painful inflammation of the breast
Fever and fatigue
Red area on the breast
Warm area on the breast
How to treat a breast abscess
The main goal of treatment is to reduce pain and cure infection. Medications are the first line of treatment, followed by an ultrasound-guided biopsy, then an ultrasound-guided drainage or needle aspiration, and lastly, surgical drainage.
A prescription-strength pain reliever may be prescribed to manage pain caused by the abscess. Antibiotic treatment is utilized early on to treat breast infections. Antibiotic therapy kills the bacteria that cause breast infections, reducing the abscess and relieving pain.
Your doctor can decide if you have a breast abscess based on your symptoms, but an ultrasound-guided biopsy can confirm the diagnosis. Fluid collection from the abscess can be done to remove extra fluid and ease pain. Your doctor will drain your breast abscess with a needle using the needle-aspiration technique. Most abscesses require 2 to 6 needle aspirations. Local anesthetic is used prior to the procedure and recovery time is minimal.
If needle aspiration is unsuccessful, surgical treatment may be performed. Surgical treatment is a last resort if medications and less invasive needle aspiration techniques are unsuccessful. A mini surgical incision is made through the skin. The pus is then drained via a small incision. Large incisions are not necessary to drain breast abscesses. The incision and drainage can be performed with local anesthesia.
In the case of lactational breast abscesses, milk drainage is performed to resolve the infection and relieve pain. Breast milk drainage is performed either by breastfeeding or using a breast pump. Women are encouraged to continue breastfeeding during the treatment of a breast infection and thereafter.
Medication for breast abscesses
Antibiotics
The following are common oral antibiotics prescribed to treat breast abscesses:
Based on the severity of the abscess, your doctor will prescribe the appropriate antibiotics. Clinical management of your symptoms is done by your doctor while you are involved in the entire treatment process.
How to prevent breast abscesses
Some breast abscesses are preventable. Recurrent abscesses are linked to smoking, obesity, and nipple piercings. Quit smoking if you smoke and maintain a healthy weight to reduce your risk of primary and recurring abscesses.
Breastfeeding women can prevent breast abscesses by frequent breastfeeding or pumping, keeping the nipple area clean, and making sure the baby's mouth is completely secured around the areola while breastfeeding. Ask a healthcare professional about other ways to prevent breast abscesses.
When to see a doctor for a breast abscess
Seek medical attention if you have pain, swelling, or pus in your breast. A physical exam can easily determine if you have a breast abscess and what the next steps to treatment will be. If you have been treated for a breast abscess, but it is not healing, notify your doctor.
Related conditions to breast abscesses
Acne