Let’s talk about boobs and nipples

During puberty you may notice, along with many other novelties, that you start to develop breasts and your nipples begin to darken slightly. Some of us will have full, bouncy boobs, while others may look and feel more like little bumps on our chests – and both are fabulous! We all have different nipples too: they could be pink, brown, cream, or purple and they can also be pointy, flat or even inverted. Our bodies are completely unique and that should be celebrated! 

Some people prefer to go braless for comfort and others favour the support from bras – it’s your body, it’s your decision. There are lots of types of bras available, from lacey and sexy, to sporty and comfy – try a few on and get a bra fitting to make sure you pick the right size. And remember, it’s your choice if and how you want to show your boobs off! 

Breasts are usually fully developed once you have finished puberty, but that won’t stop them from growing or shrinking in the future too. Let’s investigate the way your boobs and nipples can change as well as how to take care of them.

You may wake up one day and feel like your boobs are suddenly tender and swollen. This could happen every month or maybe just every so often. Actually, breast pain just before your period (or in the second half of your cycle) is a very common symptom of PMS – they’ve even been dubbed as “period boobs”. 

“Period boobs” tend to feel achy and heavy. Putting on your regular bra could feel suffocating and even when you move around you may notice a sensation of fullness accompanied by a dull, heavy pain. ^[1] The reason behind this is a change in hormones. As with many other PMS symptoms such as mood swings, headaches and bloating, this change is produced by an increase in the levels of the female sex hormones: oestrogen and progesterone. 

You could love the way your boobs look during this time or you could get annoyed with the dull pain – either way, this symptom should ease off during or right after your period. But if the soreness ever gets too much, then why not try wearing a comfy sports bra or going braless to relieve the pressure? You can even ice your boobs to reduce the swelling too!

It’s not only boobs that can get sore but nipples too! And due to the outward shape of some of them, nipples can be extremely sensitive and easily irritated. 

External factors that have the potential to cause nipple soreness and irritation include:

• An allergy to a laundry detergent or a particular type of clothing material 
• Friction from ill-fitting bras or tops, especially if you’ve been exercising and are sweaty 
• Sex (nipples can feel a bit sore if played with too vigorously!) 
• Breastfeeding

Then there are the hormonal changes (involving rising levels of oestrogen and progesterone) that could contribute to nipple pain too, similar to those that affect your boobs just before you get your period. 

To help ease any nipple discomfort, try rubbing them with a balm or hypo-allergenic cream. Plus, if you’re prone to nipple chafing during physical activity, it can also be helpful to rub petroleum jelly or another similar ointment to your nipples before exercising. And if you suspect that your laundry detergent may be to blame, you can always try a few new ones until you find one that doesn’t irritate your skin.

Even though a lot of nipple and breast pain is more annoying than something to be seriously concerned about, it can occasionally be a sign of a bigger issue such as breast cancer. It is also likely to be more serious if you feel pain in only one breast or nipple. ^[2]

If you are worried about breast cancer, then there are some more obvious signs to look out for such as nipple discharge or a lump in your breast. A great way to detect any breast lumps is to perform a self-exam. We knew this can sound like yet another chore, but breast exams don't have to be a drag! Why not play your favourite getting-ready playlist and have a feel while carrying out your body moisturising routine? 

Here are some simple steps to follow, to make sure that you ace your breast self-exam:

1. For comfort and ease, it’s a good idea to stand in front of a mirror so you can get a good look at your breasts from lots of different angles. 
2. Check out your boobs and nipples for any changes in contour, swelling or dimpling of the skin. 
3. Use the pads of your three middle fingers to feel the entire breast and armpit. Press down with light, medium, and firm pressure to check both boobs each month and examine for any lump, thickening or hardened knot. ^[3]

If you find any changes that are unusual for you, it’s best to contact your doctor as soon as possible. This will help put your mind at ease if it isn’t breast cancer, while also ensuring that further tests can be carried out straight away if necessary. But it is worth bearing in mind that breast and nipple changes can happen for many reasons and the majority of them aren’t serious – after all, breasts aren’t supposed to all be completely smooth or shaped as perfect circles! Plus, a lot of women have breast lumps and only 1 out of 10 times they are cancerous. ^[4]

Boobs are a great and important part of our bodies, they're even helpful in giving us a heads up about puberty or an upcoming period. It's only fair we look after them too, right? After all, the better we know them, the more we can appreciate what makes us unique and ensure that our whole body is healthy! 

If you want to continue learning about how our bodies differ from each other’s, why not find out more about the different types of vulvas?

The medical information in this article is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your doctor for guidance about a specific medical condition.

[References]

^[1]  https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003153.html

^[2]  https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-pain/

^[3]  https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam 

^[4]  https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/womens-health/how-should-i-check-my-breasts/