Sexual Health FAQs 21

Q. What is the function of pubic hair?

A. You might think humans have pubic hair for warmth, but that’s not the reason at all. Its function is related to sexual attraction. Pubic hair sends out aroma cues from the genitals' scent glands and delivers them to prospective partners--odors that both genders find sexually stimulating. Human odor and scent--called pheromones--are important factors in human sexuality and physical attraction, which is why perfume and cologne comprise such a large industry. Sometimes you like someone and you don't really know why; it may be her scent mixing with yours. Pubic hair also serves as a visual cue; there's no mistaking that dark triangle shape when you see it against bare skin.

Q. How big will my breasts get, and what is normal?

A. 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 breasts, others small ones. Breast size is a sensitive topic for many girls (and women), whether they think their breasts are too large or too small.

Attitudes about breast size are often influenced by fashions. In the flapper days (the 1920s), it was considered desirable to have small breasts, as was the case in the 1960s, when fashion models began to look emaciated. With the arrival of the Wonderbra, it again became fashionable to have larger breasts.

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 on TV or in movies now use instead of surgery. They are available at bra stores and on the Internet.

Also, remember that you have time on your side as your breasts continue to grow, especially during puberty and pregnancy. Improving nutrition may also contribute to increases in breast size, as well.

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

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

Q. What can I do to make my breasts bigger?

A. Breasts are made up of fat and fibrous tissue, with glands that enlarge during pregnancy to allow for breastfeeding. When a woman gains weight, her breasts usually get bigger. Exercise can enlarge the "look" of the breasts, not by adding fat to breast tissue, but by enlarging the muscles beneath the breasts. This can sometimes cause breast-tissue loss in some women, because when they work out, they lose fatty tissue. You know your body and how it responds to weight gain and loss.

There are no other effective non-surgical alternatives to breast enlargement. There are no known "herbs" or supplements that health-care providers will endorse for breast-size increase. Surgical breast augmentation involves placing an artificial liquid (saltwater or silicone)-containing device into the space between the breast tissue and the underlying muscle through a small incision under the nipple or in the armpit.