While the idea of an everted (pointed outwardly) nipple might be the first image that comes to mind when you think of nipples, not all nipples point out! In fact, inverted nipples, or nipples that point inward, are probably way more common than you’d think. Here, several doctors break down everything you need to know about inverted nipples:
1. Inverted nipples are often genetic. Dr. Adam Kolker explains that inverted nipples are most often genetic and due to a thickened, short, or underdeveloped lactiferous duct. Dr. Franziska Huettner of the Plastic Surgery Group of NYC explains that the lactiferous ducts connect the breast gland to the nipple and allow for the passage of milk. She explains, “When these ducts are shortened, they have a tethering effect on the nipple causing it to retract towards the breast.”
2. You’re not alone! Estimates vary (as does the degree of inversion), but Dr. Anne Peled, MD, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in San Francisco says that it’s thought that as many as 10-20% of women have some degree of inverted nipples. A 1997 study about breastfeeding women found that nearly 10% of participants had inverted nipples.