Chances are, the answer is yes — you have normal boobs! Luckily, most seemingly ~weird~ things about your boobs are totally fine. But maybe you can't help but wonder if that little bump or tiny hair on your boob is concerning.
First things first: breasts come in all different shapes and sizes, and all kinds are beautiful. (Same goes for your nipples!)
So for the most part, your boobs are probably fine. But if you still
have questions about what is and isn't normal (and we understand why you
would), we have answers. We chatted with Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, family physician at One Medical, about everything you've been wondering about your boobs.
"It's
human nature to assume the worst," says Dr. Bhuyan. "But the reality is
that breast changes are just a normal part of the human body."
You have sore boobs
Dr.
Bhuyan says soreness of the breasts is one of her female patients' most
common concerns. But before you completely rule out any issues, check
if both of your breasts are sore, or if it's just one. "It's more
concerning if just one breast is sore," Dr. Bhuyan says.
She
also explains that causes for sore breasts can range anywhere from a
fluctuation in hormones, change in diet and exercise, an ill-fitting
bra, to even caffeine. And since your hormones levels fluctuate during
your period, it's common to experience breast pain around that time. In
addition, hormonal birth control or too much coffee can cause tenderness
in your boobs.
But regardless of the cause,
it's probably a good idea to check in with your doc. "If you have sore
breasts, it is important to see your PCP (primary care provider) to find
out what the cause is and deduce the seriousness of it," says Dr.
Bhuyan.
You have lumpy boobs
You
may have heard that finding a lump in your breast could mean breast
cancer, but that's not necessarily the case. "When people see changes in
their breasts, a common tendency is to think that they could have
breast cancer," says Dr. Bhuyan. "Breast cancer can present itself in a
lot of different ways and most of the time, it's not breast cancer, but
it's still nice to see your PCP just to get that reassurance."
If
both of your breasts feel lumpy or ropey and you've always noticed
this, your breasts are likely perfectly normal. "Most women do have
variation in their breast tissue that just causes lumps and bumps," Dr.
Bhuyan says. "Lumps can also mean harmless cysts."
So
when should you be concerned? If you feel a new lump that you haven't
felt before, you should see a doctor to figure out what it might be,
says Dr. Bhuyan.
One boob is larger than the other
According
to Dr. Bhuyan, virtually all women have one breast that is larger than
the other, and that's completely OK. It's just how our bodies are
designed!
But if you notice a sudden change in
your breast size, you should see someone to figure out why, Dr. Bhuyan
says. "A sudden change can mean that there's an infection, or it could
just mean harmless fatty tissues or cysts."
The shape of your boobs is different from what you've seen
There are so many different boob shapes out there — in fact, according to bra company ThirdLove's breast shape dictionary, women have one of nine different sets of breasts. But the bottom line is, the shape of your boobs is exactly the way it's supposed to be.
If you notice your boobs are a little more droopy
than others', yes, that's common, too. Dr. Bhuyan says the shape of our
breasts is actually genetic. "Some people have breast tissue that's more
dense or some people might have more fatty tissue — it's all normal,"
she says.
You have bumps on your boobs
Around
your nipple area (aka the areola), you'll probably see some tiny bumps.
These are just natural bumps from hair follicles on your breasts.
"Those bumps can change as we get older or throughout the month with our
hormonal cycle," Dr. Bhuyan says. "If that area looks different, it's not alarming because it's just part of our natural hormonal changes."
But
if you have a new, different bump on your breast, it could be a cyst.
Cysts are also harmless — they're just fluid-filled collections that
are right underneath your skin, says Dr. Bhuyan. But even though they're
super common, it's a good idea to get them treated by a doc. And as
tempting as it might be, don't try to squeeze or pop those cysts! If
there's an infection inside those bumps or cysts, it can go deeper into
your skin.
You should also see your doc if
you notice a single solitary bump on your breast skin, or any kind of
new bump you haven't seen before, as those bumps could be a sign of
breast cancer.
You have nipple discharge
While
it's super common for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to
experience nipple discharge, if you don't fall into either category, you
should pay a visit to your doctor to find out why.
The
causes of nipple discharge can range anywhere from hormonal changes to
breast infections or even cancer. However, Dr. Bhuyan says the discharge
can come from a lot of unexpected reasons.
"If
you have milky nipple discharge or a thin, clear nipple discharge, it's
usually a reason that's less concerning," she says. "But if you have
bloody nipple discharge, you should immediately see someone to get that
evaluated."
You have skin changes on your boobs
If
you see skin changes such as puckering skin that looks like dimples or
redness in the breasts, you should see your doc to address those issues.
Dr. Bhuyan says for young women, the way breast cancer presents itself
is usually through pain, skin changes, and redness in the breast area.
Though
it's possible you might just have a rash or eczema, which are both
pretty harmless BTW, according to Dr. Bhuyan, dimpling or pitting of
your skin is a pretty concerning finding. If you see this, make sure to
see a doc.
You have skin discoloration on your boobs
One
of the main reasons for discoloration in your skin is an infection.
"You can get skin infections anywhere, not just on your breast," Dr.
Bhuyan says. "While infections are common, discoloration could also
be an underlying cause of breast cancer." So if you see discoloration
or inflammation in your breast skin, it can be helpful to see your
doctor.
You have boob hair
Hormones
or genetics are usually what cause hair to grow on your breasts, and
certain medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can
cause excessive hair growth as well. But Dr. Bhuyan reassures that it's
not anything to worry about.
And if you want to
tweeze or shave those hairs, it's completely safe to do so. But if you
want to leave them as they are, that's fine, too.
Bottom
line: if you're worried about something going on with your boobs, it's
totally OK to chat with your doctor to feel comfortable about your body
and give yourself reassurance!
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