Menstuff® has compiled the following information on Small breasts.
More on Breasts
Why Do Girls' Breasts Get Bigger?
When Should A Girls Breasts Start Growing?
Girls often worry when they notice that their friends' breasts are enlarging and theirs are not. It is important to understand that there is a lot of variation in the normal timing of breast growth. For example, it is normal for breasts to start growing as early as nine years of age and it is also normal if they do not begin growing until 14 years of age. In general, a girl will experience breast growth within one year of the time her mother first noticed her own breasts growing (timing is even closer among sisters). It may be very interesting and helpful to discuss this with them. Most women remember how old they were when they first wore a bra, just as they remember their age at their first menstrual period. These two events are closely related with breast growth generally beginning about a year before menses. Because nutrition, exercise, and health (both physical and emotional) can all affect hormone levels, family history of timing of breast growth (and menses) provides only a rough guess about when it will actually begin. Another thing that girls should know about their breast growth is that it is not always the same for both breasts. This should not be cause for worry because there is usually catch-up by the time breasts are fully grown, which can take a few years. In many girls, however, one breast remains slightly larger than the other. This is rarely noticeable to anyone else!
How Big Should Breasts Be?
There is no good answer to this question, as we all come in different sizes. Some of us are tall and some short. Similarly, some girls have large, medium, or small breasts. Nonetheless, many girls are unhappy because they think their breasts are too small or too large. Attitudes about breast size are often influenced by fashions. In the Flapper days (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 Wonder Bra, 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 an infant. 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. Also remember that you have time on your side as breasts continue to grow, especially during puberty and pregnancy. Improving nutrition may also contribute to increased breast volume.
Can Teenage Girls Get Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is almost unheard of in adolescence. On the other hand, breast lumps are common at this time of life. This apparent contradiction is explained by the fact that teenagers often get cysts or tumors in their breasts that are not cancerous. These result from sensitivity to estrogen. Most of the time, these kinds of lumps will disappear on their own, but it is always a good idea to have them checked by a doctor. Some girls have many small nodules in their breasts, a condition that used to be called fibrocystic disease. This term is no longer used because of current awareness that it is not a disease, but a variation of normal. When a lump is found, doctors will usually wait up to three menstrual cycles before taking any action, as they most likely will disappear. Mammograms, which are x-rays of the breasts, are not generally helpful in teenagers. We encourage teenagers to learn and practice self-breast examination techniques so this will become a health habit by the time they reach their fifties when your chance of having breast cancer increases. Use of birth control pills does not increase the risk of breast cancer during adolescence and, in fact, has been shown to lower the risk of developing noncancerous breast tumors.
Is It Normal For There To Be Discharge Coming Out Of My Breasts?
The nipple is the exit point of numerous tiny ducts that lead from the interior of the breast where glands produce milk. Therefore, the most common discharge occurs when these glands are stimulated, as is true at the time of delivery of a baby. As long as sucking continues, milk will be produced and discharged through the nipple. Interestingly, vigorous rubbing of the nipple can also cause a discharge of milk. If the discharge is bloody or pus-like, it may indicate one of the rare serious conditions like an infection or tumor. Similarly, absence of menses associated with a nipple discharge may indicate a tumor of the pituitary gland or may result from certain medications. Obviously, a physician should be consulted whenever there is a nipple discharge in order to figure out its cause.
Source: By Iris F. Litt, MD
Some Thoughts from a Small-Breasted
So that leaves me with padded bras and gel inserts. Ive never tried the inserts for a variety of reasons, one being that Im afraid they will fall out at an inopportune time. So when I need to fill out that shirt, I go to my padded bras. For a quality padded bra, I suggest using the air- or water-filled ones. Of the ones that I have tried, the air bras have a better shape. The only problem with the air bras is that they make a faint rustling noise when you push on them because of the plastic surrounding the air. The noise doesnt bother me (who is going to think my breasts are the source of a faint rustling noise?), but it is a consideration. In any case, both air and water bras feel a lot more natural than traditional padding.
Some women feel uncomfortable wearing a padded bra or other enhancement because they think it is false advertising. A woman with this concern is worried that her partner will feel cheated when he discovers that her natural breasts are smaller than he originally thought. My personal opinion is that most guys are so happy to become involved in a sexual interaction that they really dont care that much about the womans breast size. Honestly, I have found that guys care more about the nipples than the size of the breast. If you do find a guy who does have a problem with your breasts, just consider the situationdo you want to sleep with someone who thinks differently of you because of your breast size? I honestly feel sorry for guys who have this problem (although I have never run into one), because breast size has absolutely nothing to do with sexual ability or sensitivity.
Another thing that is important to remember is the benefit of small breasts. I dont have to wear a bra if I dont want to. I dont have back problems or poor posture because of the weight of my breasts. And I can wear a padded bra to make my breasts look bigger if I want to, but it is much more difficult for women with larger breasts to make them look smaller. Jogging, riding horseback, or riding in a car with stiff suspension doesnt hurt me nearly as much as it would hurt a woman with larger breasts.
Sometimes when I look at the Victorias Secret models, I get
kind of bummed out because I will never look like they do in their
underwear. Then I look at Kate Hudson or Gwenyth Paltrow, and I
remember that you can be absolutely gorgeous without large breasts.
Sure, they are a physical marker of womanhood, but there is so much
more to being a woman than having breasts.
Breasts can start developing from the age of 10. They continue to grow and change shape throughout puberty.
Their final shape and size depends more or less on inherited characteristics, but a mother and daughter's breasts can develop completely differently.
Is it possible to change the size of my breasts?
One thing is common for all women: there is no medicine of any kind, no work-out machine or exercise that will significantly change the shape or size of your breasts.
Only in special medical cases can a hormone supplement be used to make breasts grow.
Birth control pills may give the feeling of a larger bosom, but it's only in pregnancy and when breastfeeding that your breasts may grow visibly.
Are silicone implants an option?
If you are very unhappy with your breast size or shape, or have had part of a breast removed as a result of cancer, you may decide to have silicone implants.
For many it is a costly and often painful operation, but it is becoming more common. Plastic surgeons have become very skillful in this field, so the results are usually satisfactory.
However, there have been several health scares as a result of implants. Some women claim the silicone has leaked and caused related health problems, but these claims have not been medically proven.
How is the operation performed?
The implants are placed on the chest under the muscles, which leaves the breast tissue untouched and also means that the nipples will stay in natural contact with the gland tissue.
The implants are inserted under the skin, with the exact location depending on the size and shape of the breasts.
Some women go to hospital for the operation, whereas others are treated as outpatients but rely on receiving rest and care at home. The operation is performed under full anaesthetic.
How much do implants cost?
Most women have to pay for the operation, but it can also be done under the NHS when the need arises following breast surgery, perhaps for cancer.
Also, if you are very distressed by your breast size and it is judged that an operation is the best method to deal with your distress, it can be done via the NHS. Nevertheless, the waiting time is likely to be long.
An average cost for a private operation in the UK is usually between £2,500 and £4,000. Always make sure your surgeon is registered with The Association of Cosmetic Surgeons - ask your own doctor first, who will give advice and guidance.
Source: Based on a text by Dr Erik Fangel Poulsen,
specialist.Dr Dan Rutherford, GP www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/smallbreasts.htm
Breast Reduction without Surgery
Unfortunately, the same study also found that gals may have to make a hard choice between breast size and breast safety, because drinking caffeine also helps protect against cancer.
According to the research, regular drinking of as little as three cups a day can have an enough of an impact on estrogen levels to cause noticeable bosom reduction.
In light of this study, we came up with 20 small-breasted celebs. Keira Knightley, Calista Flockhart, Cameron Diaz, Mena Suvari, Debra Messing, Kate Hudson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Gabrielle Anwar, Mary-Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Catherine Keener, Ali Larter, Sandra Oh, Natalie Portman, Kate Bosworth, Rachel Zoe, Julia Stiles, Mischa Barton, Claire Danes, Evangeline Lilly