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8 Awesome And Surprising Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Boobs - SELF

By Rachel Grumman Bender

"Accessory nipples" are a thing.

The girls. Tatas. The twins. Whatever you choose to call them, you have to admit that breasts are pretty amazing. They’re both beautiful and functional (breastfeeding, anyone?), but oftentimes we don’t give them much thought unless they’re tender right before our period arrives or because we’re on the hunt for the right bra.
But how much do we actually know about our mammaries? Here are eight interesting facts worth knowing about your pair.

1. Breasts don’t come in matching sets.

“Nobody has a ‘perfect’ pair of breasts,” Nolan S. Karp, M.D., associate professor in the Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center, tells SELF. “No one is ever perfectly symmetrical.” Although Karp has noticed in his practice that the left breast tends to be bigger than the right, one study found that the right breast is slightly bigger than the left.

2. Breasts have no muscle.

They’re made up of tissue, fat, and glands. Breasts sit on top of the pectoral muscles, but breasts themselves don’t have any muscle in them. So you can do push-ups your arms give out, but it’s not going to make your set any perkier (sorry).

3. They don’t just bounce when you run—they dance.

When you jog or run, your breasts can bounce more than eight inches and move in all different directions—not just up and down, but also side-to-side, in and out, and in figure eights, according to a British study. (Yes, they actually did a study to test this.) With an estimated 50 percent of women dealing with breast pain while exercising, the study authors hope their research will lead to creating more supportive bras for women.

4. And pain from that movement has nothing to do with how big they are.

The same study found that breast pain during exercise was just as bad for women with A-cups as FFs. The research included women with cup sizes up to JJ.

5. They are pretty much eye magnets—for everyone.

Turns out, you may need to tell both men and women that your eyes are up here. A 2013 study in the journal Sex Roles had participants look at a series of photos while tracking their eye gaze and found that both sexes focused more on cleavage and waistlines than faces, especially if the women in the photos had an hourglass shape.

6. Nipples are the clitorises of the upper body.

A whopping 82 percent of women say that having their nipples and breasts stimulated gets them aroused, according to study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. “The breast’s nipples and areola are rich in blood vessels and nerves, so they’re really erogenous zones,” says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., assistant clinical professor of obstetrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and co-author of V is For Vagina. A Rutgers University study may explain why: The researchers found that sensation from the nipples light up the same areas of the brain as sensations from the clitoris and vagina.
Capitol/via YouTube

7. You can have an extra nipple, and they’re twice as common in women.

Accessory nipples—which make them sound more like a fun pair of earrings—are more common than you think. Up to six percent of women have them (and up to three percent of men). Extra nipples tend to run down the milk line, meaning below and in line with your original nipple like other mammals.

8. People will shell out big bucks for breast milk.

It’s basically liquid gold—and we’re not just talking for babies. Breast milk has become a lucrative market thanks to adults, from CrossFit fanatics to chronic disease sufferers, who see it as an immune-boosting, protein-rich superfood, according to a 2015 study. But keep in mind that, while breast milk is nutritionally rich for growing babies, there’s little evidence that adults consuming raw breast milk are gaining any benefits beyond a placebo effect, according to the study’s researchers. What’s more, if the pumped breast milk isn’t stored properly, it can carry bacteria. HIV is also a concern, as it can be transmitted through breast milk. Breast milk banks screen donations for HIV, hepatitis and other diseases such as syphilis. The Internet, however, does not, so be very wary about buying breast milk on the booby black market.

 

 
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Every Question You've Ever Had About Your Breasts, Answered
By Lauren Valenti

Breasts have been, interestingly, one of the buzziest topics of 2015—from the #freethenipple movement to the push for acceptance of public breastfeeding to the proud women who go viral for celebrating breast cancer survival with beautiful areola tattoos.

But breasts aren't just an "issue"—they're something we live with every day. And considering how close they are to our hearts, it's kind of crazy that so many of us still have so many questions about our own anatomy.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we looked to ​Sherry Ross, M.D., a Los Angeles-based gynecologist, to answer our most burning questions about breasts, once and for all.

Why do our breasts feel like rocks before we get our period?

"It's the raising hormones, estrogen, and progesterone you experience 1-2 weeks before your period," she explains. And if you suffer from PMS, it's likely you'll have exaggerated breast symptoms. During your period, you should also steer clear of caffeine, tobacco, and certain medications as they can bolster these side-effects.​
Why do we get random hairs on our nipples?

Chances are, you've had more than a few stray hairs spring up in your lifetime. And while they may be a little disconcerting, there's no need to worry. "During different stages of life and hormonal surges, hair growth around the nipples is considered normal," assures Dr. Ross. "The areola naturally has hair follicles and some women are more prone to this than others.​"

We know lots of women have breasts that aren't the same size...but is there a reason?

"Body parts that come in a set of two are never exactly a mirror image of each other—​different is normal​!" says Dr. Ross.
​Why do our nipples itch sometimes?

Normally, nipples shouldn't itch, but it definitely happens and a change of season could be to blame.

"Dry or damaged skin on the nipple can cause them to itch," explains Dr. Ross. "Eczema is a common and abnormal skin condition causing this delicate area to become dry, scaly, red and itchy. Nipple eczema can occur during ​pregnancy and breastfeeding."

If they do itch, use a moisturizer like lanolin cream, extra virgin coconut oil, or, you know, nipple balm, to treat them.
What's causing our breasts to sag *besides* gravity?

Simply put, poor support = saggy breasts. While a form-fitting, everyday bra will provide support to breast tissue for typical daily activities, you must wear a sports bra when exercising.

"If you wear a regular bra, ​the delicate and sensitive breast tissue will bounce and move in such a way where pain and trauma can occur," she says. " If there is lack of proper long-term support, breast tissue, with its fibrous ligaments and fatty tissue, will stretch and become saggy.

Is non-organic deodorant posing a serious cancer risk to our breasts?

You've heard the medical myth: Using a deodorant filled with aluminum-based and sweet-smelling ingredients plugs the sweat glands and ducts close to the breast tissue, changing normal cells to cancerous ones.​ But you can relax according to Dr. Ross, as there is no conclusive or even reliable medical evidence that proves deodorants increase your risk of breast cancer. Swipe away!
How often are lumps in our breast cause for concern?

Before you send yourself into a tizzy, know this: Breast lumps are common, affecting 8 of 10 women, and most are not cancerous.

As far as analyzing these lumps, you must pay close attention to your menstrual cycle.

"If you're feeling a breast lump just before your period, chances are it will go away once you finish your period," explains Dr. Ross. "During the premenstrual time, hormones cause an increase in nodularity of breast tissue creating benign cysts that will ultimately go away once you start your period."

There are, however, instances in which you must always get a lump, big or small, checked out by a professional.

"If you have a persistent breast lump or cyst, it is important to have your doctor examine you and determine if further testing, such as a breast ultrasound, is necessary," she says. "In this instance, size does not matter."
How often should we be performing self-exams on our breasts?

First thing's first, you should know your body very well. ​"Breast tissue can be intimidating in the beginning, but once you are familiar with your own breast tissue and all its normal lumps and bumps, you will be able to find abnormal changes if they occur," she says.

The best time to check your breasts? During the first week of your period when the hormonal effects on breast tissue have subsided, says Dr. Ross.

Worth noting: Most breast cancer organizations no longer recommend a monthly self exam—read more here.

At what age should you get your first mammogram?

The thing is, women and physicians are equally confused about this. For example, while the American College of Obstetricians/Gynecologists says 40, continuing every 1 to 2 years until 50, when they should be done yearly, The American Cancer Society suggests getting them annually starting at 45, then getting them every other year starting at 55. What is universally agreed upon? Dr. Ross believes it's knowing your individual risk factors, as well as weighing the benefits and overall risks when making your own screening guidelines. Risk factors for breast cancer include:
A number of first-degree relatives with breast cancer
Having had your first menstrual period before age 12
If you had your first pregnancy after age 30 or you've never had a full-term pregnancy.
If you've had a number of previous breast biopsies
If you've had breast cancer before
Presence of atypical hyperplasia
Mammographic breast density
Excessive alcohol consumption
BMI is less than 30
Physical inactivity
What kind of things compromise the health of our breasts?

The biggest culprits: ​Low levels of vitamin D, consuming high-fat meat, butter and dairy along with fried foods, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and physical inactivity, says Dr. Ross.

And that's not all, unfortunately.

" ​Currently research is being done to pinpoint other environmental health hazards, such as radiation, chemicals, flame retardants, industrial chemicals used to make rubber, vinyl and polyurethane, pesticides and other pollutants, which make breast tissue more susceptible to breast cancer.​"

What can we do to reduce our risk of breast cancer?
According to Dr. Ross, the four most important things you can do are:

Eat a colorful, plant-based diet
Limit alcohol consumption
Exercise regularly
Control your weight




10/9/2015
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