Breasts Part 2

Breast Questions: Part 2

How big will my breasts get and what is normal?

There is no 'real' answer to this question, since we all come in different sizes. Some of us are tall and some short. Similarly, some girls have large, medium or small breasts. However, many girls are unhappy because they think their breasts are too small or too large.

Attitudes about breast size are often influenced by fashion. From a health perspective, there is no ideal breast size. Breast size bears no relationship to breast cancer or ability to nurse a baby. There are surgical procedures available to increase or decrease the size of breasts. These are major operations and they should not be entered into without considerable thought and extensive information, as they have possible serious drawbacks and complications. Padded bras are safer alternatives for those who want their breasts to appear larger. There are also 'breast enhancers' that a lot of people use instead of surgery. Finally, improving nutrition may contribute to increased breast size.

Other factors that may influence your breast size include:
• Family history
• Age
• Weight loss or gain
• History of pregnancies and breast feeding
• Thickness and elasticity of the breast skin (if you have fair skin, you most likely have "thin skin")
• Degree of hormonal influences on the breast (particularly estrogen and progesterone).
• Menopause

If your mother and sisters have small breasts will you have small ones too?

There is some genetic component to breast size. However, there are some health professionals who argue about this. It is not uncommon within one family to see sisters or mother and daughters with very different breast sizes.

Are breasts just fat tissue? What I can do to make my breasts bigger?

Breasts are made up of fat and fibrous tissue with glands that enlarge during pregnancy to allow for breast feeding. When a women gains weight, her breasts usually get bigger. Exercise can also enlarge the 'look' of the breasts, not by adding fat to breast tissue but by enlarging the muscles beneath the breasts. This sometimes can cause breast tissue loss in some women because when they workout they lose fatty tissue.

There are no other effective non-surgical alternatives (such as herbs and supplements) for breast enlargement. Surgical breast enlargement involves placing an artificial liquid containing device (filled with saltwater or silicone)into the space between the breast tissue and the underlying muscle through a small incision under the nipple or in the armpit. If that is something you are interested in, talk to your parents and give it a lot of thought.

One of my breasts is a bit larger than the other, is this normal?

A woman’s breasts are rarely symmetrical. One breast is usually slightly larger or smaller, higher or lower, or even shaped differently than the other. The size and characteristics of the nipple also vary greater from woman to woman. In some women, the nipples are constantly erect. In others, they will only become erect when stimulated by cold or touch. Some women also have inverted (turned in) nipples. Inverted nipples are not a cause for concern unless the condition is a new change.

What are these bumps around my nipples?

The nipple and areola (the pigmented area surrounding the nipple) contain specialized muscle fibers that respond to stimulation to make the nipple erect. Within the areola the Montgomery’s gland is contained. These glands may appear as tiny, raised bumps on the surface of the areola. These bumps are normal. The Montgomery’s gland helps lubricate the areola. When the nipple is stimulated, the muscle fibers will contract, the areola will pucker, and the nipples become hard. (See the above image for reference)

What are breast lobes?
Each breast has 15 to 20 sections, called lobes, each with many smaller lobules. The lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can produce milk. Lobes, lobules and bulbs are all linked by thin tubes called ducts. These ducts lead to the nipple, which is centered in a dark area of skin called the aureole. The spaces between the lobules and ducts are filled with fat. There are no muscles in the breast, but muscles lie under each breast and cover the ribs.

These normal features can sometimes make the breasts feel lumpy, especially in women who are thin, have thin skin or who have smaller breasts. You should learn to do a breast self-exam from your gynecologist so that you can find new lumps when they appear.

NOTE: If you find a lump or other change in your breast, don't use this information to try to diagnose it yourself. There is no substitute for a doctor's evaluation.

For Breast Questions Part 1, click here.