Breast cysts: What role does caffeine play?

No, caffeine doesn't appear to cause breast cysts. Breast cysts often form as a result of fibrocystic breast changes, a noncancerous (benign) breast disease. There's also no evidence to suggest a link between caffeine and breast cancer.

Signs and symptoms of fibrocystic breast changes include breast tenderness and breast tissue that feels lumpy or ropy underneath the skin. That's also called nodular breast tissue. Fibrocystic areas in the breast may cause mild discomfort, especially during your period.

For some women, these signs and symptoms improve when they limit how much caffeine they eat and drink. Caffeine can be found in foods and beverages such as chocolate, coffee and energy drinks. There's no research to document this effect, but you might consider going caffeine-free for a time to see if it eases breast signs and symptoms.