Breast cysts: What role does caffeine play?

Caffeine doesn't directly cause breast cysts. Excessive caffeine intake may cause fluctuations in hormone levels, however, which can lead to breast cysts (fibrocystic breast changes) and breast pain.

Anecdotally, many women report that reducing or eliminating caffeine in their diets seems to relieve breast pain — but studies evaluating the effectiveness of limiting caffeine have had mixed results. Regardless, if you have breast pain, you may consider reducing or eliminating caffeine to see if it's helpful for you.