Boobs seem pretty straightforward( unless yours point east-west, of course). They give you a heads-up when your period’ s on the way. They signal when it’ s cold. Plus, they do their part when it comes to attracting a crush. But as close as you are to your breast friends, there’ s probably a few things even you don’ t know about them. So we handed your hooters the mic. Here’ s what they want to say.
We Can Change Size”
Hormone fluctuations during your cycle cause glands in the breast to grow in preparation for a possible pregnancy, leading to swelling and tenderness. In fact, estrogen is also why taking the Pill can result in the( sometimes welcome) side effect of bigger boobs.“ Oral contraceptives with higher amounts of estrogen in particular can cause fluid retention in the breasts and stimulate the growth of breast cells,” explains Harold Carlson, MD, chief of endocrinology and metabolism at Stony Brook School of Medicine. And they aren’ t the only medicines to have that effect: Antipsychotics like Risperidone( often prescribed for bipolar disorder) and
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARLEY KATE
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Percentage of mothers in one study who found breastfeeding erotic. A lot of them felt guilty about it, but it’ s totally normal! Hormones released during nursing might end up turning you on.
metoclopramide( a common treatment for heartburn) increase levels of the hormone prolactin, which can cause breast soreness and even occasionally stimulate growth and milk production. If you aren’ t loving the situation, speak to your doctor about taking a drug that lowers prolactin levels. A hormonal IUD, like Mirena, may also have fewer side effects, because its active ingredient is progesterone.
And speaking of size, bigger is not always better. It used to be that women seeking reductions were about 40, on average, but“ in the past five years, the number of my patients in their teens and 20s seeking reductions has doubled,” says Brian Labow, MD, associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. Millennials“ don’ t want to give up dance or sports or go through their
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HEALTH
20s and 30s with back and neck pain or spend $ 300 on a custom bra,” Dr. Labow says. He sometimes removes as much as four pounds of tissue from each breast!
We’ re Not a Matching Set”
Whether you have boulders or mosquito bites, for two-thirds of women, the pair don’ t match— many of us have a larger left breast. If your seemingly identical twins suddenly become fraternal, head to your doctor. You could have an infection or worse.
We’ re Not Ticking Time Bombs”
Yes, breast cancer is too common— 1 in 8 women will have it in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society( ACS). But that’ s no reason to freak out now.“ I have a lot of patients in my practice who are very concerned about breast cancer, including some under 35,” says Julie Gershon, MD, a radiologist in private practice in Avon, Connecticut. Mammograms aren’ t recommended for women with average risk before age 40( doctors may give
Number of weeks into a pregnancy when mammary glands start to develop. All embryos start off the same, but at week 8, testosterone kicks in for boys— that’ s why men have nipples too!
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