Female Intelligence Agency presents: Normal Nipple Photos

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Nipple concerns and a gallery! This article explains some common nipple concerns and displays images of normal nipples. It has these sections: Areola shape Bumps on areola Hairs on areola Puffy nipples Areola skin Inverted nipples The Gallery! Helpful links Nipple shape worries Many women worry if their nipple looks funny or odd or is inverted.  Some worry about hair, or those 'bumps', or the shape or the size. It's been amazing to observe how MUCH women indeed angst over these things - mostly in vain... ...because there is enormous variation in nipple and areola size and shape among normal women! For example, areola size and color varies with women. Also, areola color can appear darker when it's hot because of increased circulation, just like your skin appears redder when the blood vessels dilate near the skin in hot weather. Bumps on areola If you worry about those 'funny bumps' on the areola, those are supposed to be there; they are called Montgomery glands or areolar skin glands. Their function is partially unknown, but scientists suppose they are there to lubricate the nipple/areola area. These Montgomery glands can be about unnoticeable, OR stand out as bumps on the areola. They often become more prominent during pregnancy. Also, it appears they are white in some women. Some women have squeezed them and can get a white substance out, but please do NOT squeeze them because that causes them to become infected. In one study, it was noted that women with more areolar glands had better or more optimal breastfeeding start after delivery. They also noted that the glands were seen in virtually all women in the study but with great interindividual variations; their areolar distribution was nonrandom, and about 1/5 of the women had glands giving off a secretion (this is about women who have just given birth). (Developmental Psychobiology Volume 48, Issue 2, Pages 100 - 110) Hairs on areola/nipple Also, many women have some hairs around the nipple (on the areola). This is perfectly normal because there are hair follicles in the areola. There is no need to 'treat' the hair, but if you absolutely don't like them, cut them off with scissors - don't 'pluck' them with force because that can damage the hair follicles. However, if the hairs are so many that they mimic the male hair pattern on chest or if they keep growing in larger and larger quantities, that may mean that the body has higher levels of androgens (male hormones) than normal. If a woman has excessive hair growing in typical male hair pattern, the symptom is called hirsutism. There are many causes for hirsutism, so please follow the link above to learn more. One common cause for such hirsutism is polycystic ovary syndrome. However, don't use the mere existence of hair as a "diagnosis" for that but consider all the other factors and possible symptoms as well. It is possible to use laser hair removal treatment on areolas. Click on the picture to see a larger version. Puffy nipples If your nipples are 'puffy' and not constantly erect they are called flat nipples. That is perfectly normal too, and very common especially among teens. Typically the nipple can "stick out" or become erect when stimulated by cold, or a clothing, or rubbing. This puffy or flat appearance may stay as it is until a woman becomes pregnat. For most women with flat or inverted nipples, the nipples evert (poke out) during pregnancy as the elasticity of the skin changes. Even if not, a full-term baby can usually suck out a slightly inverted nipple. Areola or nipple skin Someone once wrote to us: "...when i get really cold, or get goosebumbs all over my body, the whole things really scrunch up, like, my entire areola scrunches itself up into a wrinkled little mound. it looks really weird and ugly, and i haven't ever seen other people's breasts do it. what is wrong with my areola/nipples??" Well nothing is wrong. This is what my areola does too. It's a normal reaction to the coldness or to irritation / stimulation. The little muscles in the areola do a similar goosebump thing as your other skin can do. Also note that skin on areola has less feeling or sensation to it than other areas of your body. If the areola was very sensitive, then breastfeeding would probably be quite uncomfortable because the baby pulls and tugs it! The nipples are sensitive but the sensitivity changes with hormonal changes, such as occur at mestrual cycle or pregnancy. Also this varies with individuals. The skin on the nipple and areola can also be flaky or scaly, with little scales of skin coming off. This can be just dry skin or eczema (far more likely), OR a symptom of Paget's disease (rare). Areola color Areola skin tones are caused by two pigments: red and brown. Therefore, the resulting areola color can be various shades of pink and brown till very dark brown. Dark skinned individuals usually have a darker areola than light-skinned individuals. However, areola color also varies quite a bit between individuals. Some pale-skinned individuals can have totally pale areolas where it does not appear darker than the other skin. During pregnancy, the areola usually darkens substantially. This will create a large contrast between the areola and the rest of the breast. Newborns have limited vision, but can see such a contrast easily, and thereby the darkened areola helps the newborn locate the nipple. In a few months after giving birth, the areola will start fading. However, it usually does not fade back to the pre-pregnancy color but remains slightly darker. Areola color is also known to change because of hormonal changes, birth control pills, aging, or because of certain medications. Inverted nipple An inverted nipple is 'turned inside' instead of pointing outside. It appears like a indentation in the middle of the areola. It is possible to "coach" the inverted nipple out so it becomes an 'outie' and everts. If a nipple that was an "outie" suddenly inverts, this along other symptoms such as itching and pain may be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer. We've made a separate page about inverted nipples where you can read more. The Gallery! These pictures are here to let you see some of the normal variations in nipple shape and areola size/shape. There are lots of variations as you can see! The photos below are by volunteers (and none of them to-date happened to have inverted nipples). Women who have not been pregnant She has small areola. The 'bumps' on the areola are called Montgomery glands. Some hairs near the edge of areola She's in her early twenties. Tubular breast - large areola A dark areola and slightly puffy nipple of a 18-year old girl. Hair around the areola She is 31 years old, hasn't been pregnant. A 25-year old. Acne on the breast. She is 23 years old. A 21-year old; had breast reduction 7 months ago so nipple shows scars. A fairly flat nipple. A 30-year old woman's nipple Large areola. Inverted nipple. She's 23 years old. a 19-year old Hair on the areola edge Again, hair around the areola Hair around the areola. Click to see a larger version. Hair and a little "puffiness" but it is normal!       Women who have been pregnant A 50-year old woman's nipple. She has large areola. You can see the bulging vein on the areola Nipple of a woman who has stretch marks on her breasts Veins visible on the breasts Different shape nipple - drooping/asymmetrically Nipple with no areola Nipple where the areola is asymmetrical shape Here's a wrinkly areola because of cold. Lactating pregnant woman. Same nipple as on the left; now montgomery glands showing well on the areola Veins showing on a large areola of a nursing mom. She is currently pregnant the second time. Pregnant, week 20, the sixth time. A nursing mom 1 month postpartum. A woman currently nursing a 6-month old. This lady was unable to produce milk after pregnancy. A nipple of a lady 12 weeks pregnant. A nursing mom. A nipple of a lady while 20 weeks pregnant. Nursing mom You can see various hairs in this picture. A nursing mom; you can see drops of milk. It said that after a month putting toothpaste on your niple it will grow up one cup size. I put it on before going to bed but when i wake up its all on my clothes because i dont sleep with a bra on. So will it really help? Thank you THE INTERNET is an incredible source of LIES and SCAMS. No, toothpaste on nipples won't help. Total silliness! More information and links about nipples: Nipple anatomy from Breastnotes.com OBGYN.net Breast Care FAQ - Breast Symptoms Questions and answers about pain, Itching, Discharge, Lumps, Bumps and Masses in breasts Nipple problems Information about nipple discharge, inverted nipples, hairy nipples, itchy, scaly nipples, and extra nipples. Breast Nipple Discharge and Its Evaluation What could white, or clear, or brown, or bloody, or rusty, or milky, or green nipple discharge mean? Supernumerary nipples at Wikipedia Basic information about extra or supernumerary nipples.

THE BOOK! Female Breasts: The Taboo - The Purpose presents practically all of the information on this website, the galleries, and the best testimonials - in an upgraded form as compared to the website. Click here to see samples and read more!

Other people's comments

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The following comments are made by visitors of our site, and may or may not agree with the viewpoints presented on this website. The comments and opinions below belong to the commenters who made them. They are posted here because they might further help and encourage men and women who visit this website; however 007 Breasts is not responsible for this content or any loss/damage caused by reading these.

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Is it normal to have one nipple light and the other slightly darker? I'm only 18 and never been pregnant...

Alexa

I have heard of this happening, so I assume it is normal. At any case, all it is, is variations in pigment so it is not dangerous.

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Thank you for making this site! I have been worried about the bumps on my areola ever since I was 12. I also worried about having "puffy" nipples and thought something was wrong with them because nobody (to my knowledge) in my family has them. Thanks to your site, I know that I am normal. Maybe even better than normal ha ha! Thanks again :)

Cassie

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I do not like wearing bras and try not to wear them in winter under sweatshirts. In summer it is more difficult since my nipples are hard all the time and even show through 2 layers of cotton material. Is there anything I can do to make the nipples soften or not show through?

Susan

You might try get silicone nipple covers. The drawback is, they won't breathe.

Another idea is, perhaps nursing pads would work? See them at this site for example. You can buy those in many places.

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Hi, I've always been scared because I thought my large areolas and it's glands were abnormal. I'm eighteen years old. Also, I have soft nipples, "flat breast" where my nipple barely pops out until I take my shirt off in the cold. On my areolas, and around the side of my breast, sometimes the skin is a little flaky. The skin around my armpits isn't too moist, but it isn't nearly as dry as the flakes I sometimes find on my breast. I've had all of these features for years. I read the whole article, I got some reassurance and now I don't feel so bad about myself.

Mercedes

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I am eighteen years old, and my bra size is 34 B. Because I have Type I Diabetes, puberty came EXTREMELY late for me. I did not get my periond until I was seventeen and under treatment of a pediatric gynocologist. My main concern is with my nipples. I believe they are too small. Everything else is fine to me, but my nipples have been a source of angst and frustration for some time now. I learned I have flat nipples (thanks to your wonderful website), and that actually gave me a large amount of relief. But even when erect, my nipples are so tiny. They will only protrude about 1/8 of an inch, and their diameter is slightly smaller than that of a pencil eraser. Are they "normal" and developed, or are they still developing? Are there any medical consequences associated with small nipples? Would small nipples affect my ability to breastfeed?

Thank you.

If you just got your period 1 year ago, then your breasts / nipples could still be developing and growing. However, I do not really know how diabetes would affect all this.

I wouldn't worry about the nipple size. Your nipples don't sound strange to me at all. They have tiny openings for the milk to come out. During pregnancy the breasts and nipples will grow a LOT. Then, the baby does NOT grab the NIPPLE to feed and suckle on - it takes into its mouth a good part of the areola which includes the nipple. The baby's mouth presses against the AREOLA and the nipple just lets the milk out. See
breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_videos/23_latch_on.html
breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_videos/10_latchon_general.html
kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/latch-resources.html
Notice the baby takes into its mouth the whole or most of areola! Not the nipple only!

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It seems likely that the sexual meaning of breasts is cultural. All the same, it isn't something we can change, any more than we can change the meaning of a word just by wanting to--even though the meaning is culturally (i.e., linguistically) determined.

Mike

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Is it normal to have one nipple light and the other slightly darker? I'm only 18 and never been pregnant... >

Lucia

I have heard of this happening, so I assume it is normal. It's not very common though. All it is, is just skin pigment.

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OK girls, I'm a 16 year old guy and I am here to clear out all the lies you gals think about yourselves. Here's the deal, guys love any kind of nipple/breast. I don't care if you're an A cup with a tiny nipple or a DD with huge areolas... It really doesn't matter how large they are, in fact many guys actually like smaller breasts and areolas because we think they are "cute".

AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THOSE BUMPS! Guys will just think they are supposed to be there and will never think about them again I promise. If you are ever told that your breasts are too small buy another guy (not boyfriend/husband) just ignore it. Your boyfriend will not care what size, shape, color, etc. your breasts and nipples are, he will like them because they are YOURS and will almost always find them PERFECT THE WAY THEY ARE.

I hope this cleared up some misconceptions (more in teenagers) that some girls may have had.

Brandon

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My breast was not big. How can I improve it? I want it milk. I have my nipple pierced, and it doesn't make them erect all the time, and it's really annoying, because it keeps catching when you get changed. I'm thinking of taking mine out.

muskaan

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I am a bit self-conscious of my nipples. I have small, less-than-A-cup breasts but they are nicely shaped. My nipples used to be very flat all the time and are now very erect and round all the time after having had them pierced. The jewellery is gone now but they are still erect. I do prefer them more now than when flat though.

The interesting thing is while the NIPPLE grew, the areola did not. So now they look a little disproportionate.

But seriously girls, your boyfriends just love your breasts, it doesn't matter what they are like! And if he is one of the few that think they are not good enough, then he is a loser and should be dropped immediately.

This site is fabulous, I wish every woman could see it, particularly every girl before she gets a warped view of 'normal'!

Stella

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I have my nipple pierced, and it doesn't make them erect all the time, and it's really annoying, because it keeps catching when you get changed. I'm thinking of taking mine out.

india

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Before I had children I had small breasts. my nipples where sort of flat (I see from the pictures that this is true for me) but came out no problem when cold or aroused. Since then I have breastfed 4 children and have stretch marks on my breasts. They really had to stretch as I make alot of milk in the first few months. Now that I am no longer breastfeeding my areolas have sunken in. My breasts almost turn inside out when I lift my arms. It looks terrible. You don't seem to address this problem. is this permanant now? does it go away after a certain time of not breast feeding when something inside them builds up again?? (wishful thinking!?!) why is it like this?? Any information is good information - if you have the time!

Bronwen

I am not quite sure what you mean by the description that your breasts turn inside out. But be it as it may, it all sounds like it's certainly within normal limits, because pregnancies and nursing change our bodies. If it's years from weaning, it is probably permanent as it is now.

However, if you are saying that your breasts feel emptyish inside, then IF it's just a few months since you weaned, then they may indeed "fill in" with fat once again.

What you "lost" was fat. It happened during pregnancies, because during pregnancy, the fat gives way for milk gland development.

With weaning, the milk glands atrophy as they're no longer needed.

In many women fat gets deposited back in the breast after weaning, but not always.

You would probably enjoy visiting this website, it's about mothers' bodies overall, not specifically breasts: The Shape of a Mother.

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Wow -I love this website! It's an amazing, positive, self-affirming celebration of the diversity of the human body. Thanks for helping to spread the message that we're all "normal"

Carleen

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I seriously cried when I found out inverted nipples are common, I'm pregnant and still inverted... It made it so much easier knowing other women out there arent "freaks" that I thought I was... Thank you soooo so much!

Ashley

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I stumbled on to this site. It has been an eye opener to the problems that so many women face every day of their lives and suffer in silence. I take my hat off to them all and do hope that there is more that can be done both for their bodies and their self-respect.

Chris

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I have had a few warts on my hands recently, and so I was worried that I had a wart on my breast because I had never seen any bumps on my areola before.

I have one, on my right breast, and most of my warts were on my right hand, so I had thought it was a wart. But now, I realize it's a Montgomery Gland.

And a good thing too! Otherwise I probably would've used a wart removal band-aid on it, which would likely be worse than "popping"/squeezing it!

I am so thankful for your site. And I have not seen any breasts like mine either. But the guy I'm with loves them, and has made me love them too, which I never thought would happen, until it did. :)

Barbara

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Thanks for this awesome site. Ladies!!! Picture a Flower Garden: It has flowers of different shapes, sizes and colours. Instead of beating ourselves up, lets find our place in this Flower Garden and enjoy our beauty both within and without.

Judy

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Does any woman with pierced nipples know if it keeps them erect? I'm considering it!

becky

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I love this site and I hope it helps any woman who is struggling with the lie they have been fed by the media and society about what "normal and sexy" is in breasts. Keep up the good work.

Eric

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Right off the bat, I'm a guy. I was wondering the net and stumbled across this site, a great informational site if I do say. I learned a thing or three. (That hair around a womans nipple is not 'rare' and that inverted nipples are. Plus the name of those extra little bumps on womens areola, Montgomery Glands!)
After reading the comments left by so many different women. I just want y'all to know for each and every size and shape of breast there are, there are men who like them and THAT IS NORMAL.
I myself have a conundrum for you ladies. I prefer small to flat A-cup breasts with large nipples AND I prefer large (D and up) NATURAL pendulous breasts with large nipples and large dark areola's and Montgomery glands and can see blue veins. So what many of you ladies see as problems, I see as perfection. And I'm not the only one either.

Aaron

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Hello Ladies,

I'd like to say to all of you out there that you should never be ashamed of your body. As this page shows, there is a great variety of appearances and don't think that each of you is not beautiful to someone. The beauty of God's creation is in it's variety and diversity.

Be happy with the gifts that you have been given.

Steve

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Hey, I'm 14 years old and worry about my nipple size! I am a 38dd and have very small nipples, which I am worried about, is there any chance that they will get bigger or are they going to be small forever?

Jess

Hello Jess,
You're probably meaning your areola size and not your nipples. Look through our gallery on this page. You will see great variety. Some girls have very small areolas.

They won't probably change for now, but when/if you get pregnant, most women's areolas enlarge, sometimes quite a bit.

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Thank you so much for this website! I've always felt weird, because I have gigantic areola's, not only that, but after 5 kids and breastfeeding them all, I started noticing more "bumps" on them. I was always embarrassed to ask the dr. for fear of being laughed at. Now I know, I'm perfectly "normal". Thanks Again

rosie

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I think this site is very good because it can help women know what normal and relieve the stress that women suffer from needlessly. It has helped me also by enabling me to just be informed so that I can encourage my wife during the times when her self esteem is low. Since seeing this website she has become more comfortable with her own body including her breasts.

David Wheeler

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When I scrolled down to the pictures, I almost cried with relief. I too am a virgin and was convinced that the "disgusting and abnormal" bumps on my areolas would repulse men. But your site shows women who look just like me! Praise the LORD--I'm not a freak! Thank you.

Jessi

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Oh my, thank you so much for this information I seriously thought I had breast cancer because just today when I got out of the shower I noticed my areaola was big and puffy and I completly freaked out! But I didn't tell anyone 'cause I was too scared so I went on the net and researched and I found this site and it helped me soo much, by the way, i'm a 12 year old girl and that's why I didn't know much about this stuff 'cause no one ever told me about it so thanks to this site I know there's nothing wrong with my breasts !

Stephaniee- xo

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thank-you so much for this site! I always assumed that my asymmetrical and slightly sagging breasts with large areola and montgomery glands were 'abnormal'... now I see that perfectly round breasts with perfectly pointing nipples is just unrealistic! keep up the good work!

Katie

I think this site is really a nice idea....especially for people who are wondering if they are normal or is there something wrong....the truth is always nice to hear in an age of deception and misconceptions

Sarah

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WoW! This site has saved me. I am 22 and have always been so self-conscious about my large aereolas. I cover them while showering, making love, or changing in front of my boyfriend. And we have been together for 3 years. I don't even like looking at them in the mirror. The only time I wouldn't mind him seeing me was when I was cold, because my aereola decreased in size. I truly believe this site is my road to recovery. I cannot put into words how wonderful it is to see that so many women have such beautiful and different breasts. Thank you for helping me to love mine!

Lindsay

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Thank you for showing me and other women how normal our "imagined" abnormal breasts, nipples, and areolas are.

Kelly

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Thank you for this site. Now I know I am not the only one worrying about my nipples. I had hairy areolas and inverted nipples. I also had stretch marks arround my areola and I guess its normal.

ara mikaela

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i found this site extremely helpful. i've always been ashamed of my breasts--I thought they were abnormal because they had bigger areolas than those shown in hollywood/porn movies. I also wondered whether or not the "bumps" (montgomery glands) were a symptom of cancer or something. Haha. Thank God I discovered your site. Or else I would still be misinformed by popular media.

agate

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I have large breasts and have large areola and very fine hairs, I even have noticeable veins surprisingly none of this bothered me. I hate the fact they droop (39 with no children but significant weight-loss) but I have lumps on one of them I now think these are montgomery glands I've been brave enough to talk to doctors but they just dont bother to explain stuff. Thank you for your site my family has a history of breast cancer so its really nice to be able to have some idea of normal.

Ange

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I kinda wondered at why my nipples were rather small. I didn't think it particularly unusual, but atleast I know it's not uncommon.

Chubara

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I was very selfconcious about my huge nipples.But after looking at this site I feel a whole lot better!

harsey

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thank you for your website! it has made me more confident about myself.

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This website provides excellent information! Thanks for explaining, and showing, how many different breast variations that there are. I see I'm not the only one who worries!

Kim

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I just wanted to say thank you for the site... the gallery, especially is nice when people start to wonder if they are normal. Thank you.

Danielle

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I think that this site is amazing! I was worried about my nipples being inverted and bumps around my areola but I was too embarrased to talk to my mom or doctor about it. This was the first site that came up in my search on google and it is a relief to hear that I have perfetly normal breasts. Thank you!

Rachel

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Why is it that everyone seems to accept that large breasts are more favoured and more sexy. Gals, take heart I think smaller breasts has so much more sex appeal - and such woman can just be more comfortable in sporting activities..Bigger is NOT better

Take care

Gerhard

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MONTGOMERY GLANDS AND EXCESSIVE SQUEEZING...please read on if you are uncomfortable with your breasts in any way:

I do not want to start off the same way as everyone else but honestly thank you so much for this site. I'm a 27 year old who has come to terms with my breasts but has always wondered why they don't look like "girls gone wild"ish.

I have had enlarged areola as long as I can remember and have started "popping" my montegomery glands as soon as I thought they were zits (10+ years old). from poking and prodding and obsessing I've realized that my areola has only gotten larger and that my bumps have never even faded let alone gone away. I have stopped many times throughout my phase but haven't ever fully quit squeezing these "zit-like" things. I wish information like this was available to me at a younger age.

I've had access to internet several years now but have yet to see breasts like mine. My areola is largish and I have over 30 enlarged bumps on each of them (a few of them with dark hairs around the edge of the areola). The lumps are especially prominent when my nipples are hard... almost looks triangular if you look down at them like the areola is part of the nipple. I hope to submit some photos in the future to further educate young girls that you are not alone and this is not abnormal. Please stop "squeezing" and "popping" perfectly normal parts of your body. If I had heard this years ago I do believe my areola would be much smaller...

We are all beautiful. If one young girl reads this and sees how unimportant a porn body is I could only hope to tell her how much more important personal acceptance is. You WILL be o.k. Even the most fantastic friends will offer uneducated opinions on your body if asked. I love my friends but even to this day I won't go topless in front of my roommate because of the insecurities I've felt in front of other females.

on the upside....MALES DO NOT FEEL THIS WAY! Please don't sell yourself short... there are amazing men out there who only glance at what you consider an abnormality and only see amazing uniqueness and beauty. You are not alone and you are truly UNIQUE... not ABNORMAL. Please do not obsess... believe in yourself and know that all of the truly influential and strong women in our society are the people who were concerned about things far removed from themselves.

I really hope this allows someone to see things from a different side of light!

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I would like to say thank you for this wonderful site about 'normal' breasts. I have some stretch marks near my breasts and under my arms. Before finding this site through wikipedia, I had always thought I was the only girl in this world with these ugly stretch marks and had always been so ashamed of myself. But now after reading this site, I can truly think that I am a beautiful person just the way I am.. and most of all, I am perfectly normal!

Thank you so much for making me happy with being myself once again...

N

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I have a question about Montgomery glands. I am too embarresed to bring this up to my gyn, but I pick (squueze out the white substance/fluid like a pimple) at them and I am afraid this might cause cancer. Do you know anything about this? Will they go away if i stop. I keep picking at them because they look gross. Any help you can give would be appreciated. By the by I am 24 and have not had children, don't know if this makes a difference.

thanks

It shouldn't cause cancer, no, but it can cause them to become infected. In fact, they might already be infected and stay that way while you squeeze.

Stopping squeezing them won't make them go away because they are there for a purpose. But yours may look more prominent if they happen to be infected (I can't be sure of that), and so then letting the infection heal might make them appear less prominent, sort of 'blend in' more with the rest of the areola.

They are part of our anatomy so please don't feel they are something gross.

Also, we have had several people ask about this so you're not the only woman in the world who's squeezed them... that's why our page mentions not to squeeze them - because some do. So your doc might have heard of it happening too.

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My boobs are huge and so are my nipples. They have scars on them because I was on Dr. 90210 and I got a size D. And I also have a lot of hair around my nipples and my aerola and I am 21 so now I know I am not alone.

rihanna

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Thanks for making this website easy and straight to the matter.I really felt uneasy when I first noticed the bumps on my breast and I did not want to go to my own doctor can you beleive that?I am really glad that this website is around because it's for women with Real questions like this no matter how small I was really worried but I don't have to worry anymore.Thank you for listening and answering my questions and have a great day! Alani Major, Washington, D.C.

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I had always been looked at with jelousy, because I matured early. My nipples started to bud when I was 8, they were an A by 11, B by 12, C by 13, D by 14, they were a double D until I was 16, then went back to a D. A few weeks ago my friend made a comment that my breasts were already beginning to sag. Everyone else said she was nuts, but I was uncertain because she was always so free with compliments. Since that day I had been looking at my breasts with dissatisfaction, and I had JUST gotten over the uncomfortable shock of getting them! But after I looked at your site, I KNEW they were normal. It's a common misconception that all breasts are "perky", and now I have proof! It turns out, all my friends are unhapy with their breasts, so I'll recommend this site! Thankyou sooooo much!

Luv,
Trish

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This site really helped me to not feel so self conscious about my nipple hair. I am 21 and I have been thikning that I am weird because I have hair around my aerola. I thought I am not feminine enough, but this site has been helpful for me to know that I am not alone and this is not abnormal.

I wish the media did not portray "perfect" breasts because this makes women everywhere feel uncomfortable because they do not measure up. I have learned that beauty is being you, however you are. Plus, if you have a good guy who truly loves you for you, he will think you are beautiful exactly how you are and these little things wont really matter. Us ladies simply need to have confidence in who we were made to be!

Worried

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THANK YOU! I spent a whole day convinced I had breast cancer because I noticed some prominent bumps on my areolae that I have just leared are Montgomery glands. Why didn't anyone ever mention this??? Like a doctor, or sex ed teacher in school?
Speaking of glands - though off the topic of breasts - I want everyone reading this to know that next to the labia are several glands, I think the Bertolli's glands, that can become blocked up and hard; spent a day thinking I had labia cancer, too, until I went to the doctor and she told me to sit in a bath with Epsom salts.
It's ridiculous how little we know about our own bodies.

veiny boob girl

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I just learned after all these years I have Montgomery Glands which a Dr. has never stated such. I also have inverted nipples, don't see what I have above..... As a young girl, I was so embarrassed of my breasts, I still am but as you get older you accept what you have. Believe me, I have "freaked" out a few people in my days, inverted nipples are not as common as I thought.

Pam

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I have very pale nipples, and it always made me self-conscious. Seeing this gallery and reading about how different nipples and breasts can be from woman to woman has reassured me that I'm not weird, and that there is nothing to be ashamed of! Thanks!

Jen

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Comments: My 22 months old granddaughter has one nipple out the other nothing, it just looks like a normal breast for a toddler,today the breast with the tiny nipple had a pimple on it and very irritaded no scratches on it or insect bites just irritated all around the little nipple,it looks like a pimple . Please is this normal ? My daughter has made an appointment with her pediatrician but I was concern Thank You.

Ana

My 10 mo. old granddaughter has what seems to be a little lump under her nipple. My daughter called the pediatrician to make an appt. She has one for next week. Hiwever, the doctoor didn't seem to be too concerned, saying it is probably a breast bud. What can you tell me about this?

Mary

Both of these sound like a breast bud. The irritation or itching is probably due to the skin stretching when the breast tries to grow. See, any time the skin (anywhere on the body) has to stretch, it itches.

If this appeared just lately and was not present from birth, then it can be a reason to be concerned, because you don't want your daughter to start going puberty this early.

There might be some estrogenic influence from somewhere.

Soy formula is the one biggie that's associated with estrogenic influence in infants and toddlers.

Check the shampoos you're using. Switch to organic produce if she's eating foods. Pesticides can exert estrogenic influence as well.

Search Google for
precocious puberty
endocrine disruptors

and read this article from Nexus Magazine as well.

Hope this helps. Please realize I'm not a doctor, and am just guessing. I have no idea if this applies to your situation. But this is what I've read before about this condition.

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Why are women's nipples taboo while men's are nothing? Men's are just smaller versions of women's. If you took pix of them and made them look the same size, you couldn't tell the diff. Men can go shirtless most places in public. Just carry a shirt to throw on before going inside businesses. Washington state has a law that allows women to go shirtless (nude from waist up) anywhere men are allowed to do so. Also, if men have been allowed to go shirtless in a place, they can't change the rule on men to keep shirtless women out.

Allie

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Wow, I am 48 and while dressing for sleep, I saw that my areola's had changed to pale. I freaked a bit and thought about an internet search. Your site, first one to come up on google, put me at ease. Thank you for such an easy way to not worry about that sudden change. It's most likely happened before, but I just didn't notice. I'm tired, going to bed stress free. Thanks.

Cathy

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your site has made me feel a little bit better about the apperence of my breasts. im 16 boys always tease me saying that my chest is saggy droopy or to far space apart, but nobody has everseen them but me. but if you look down my shirt you can tell. I think this site has really helped me alot thankyou

josily

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I am man. The site is a very interested and most influential on the topic of breasts. The myths men have regarding breasts play a negative role and make woman do un natural and sometime unhealthy things with their breasts. Both men and woman need to be educated on the subject of breasts and their upkeeping.

Daniel

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Hi I am a girl frm sri lanka and I was scared of my breasts before, and now I [know] it is in a normal size. Thanks 4 u site!!

Kavindiya

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Im so concious of my breasts, not only is the left bigger than the right, but my nipples arn't centralised. I'm only 18 and feel I am too young for a boob job, I've been considering it for the future, possibly when I am 21. My boyfriend never noticed my insecurities but when I pointed it out he does pick on me, but I know hes just kidding, because he thinks I'm being silly. My friend is dead against me going through with a boob job. I'm not necessarily thinking of enlarging them, but seeing if there is an operation for centralising the nipples. Any information on this would be a great help. Thanks

Jane

My guess is that you simply have asymmetrical areolas. In other words, it's not the nipple per se but the shape of the areola that perhaps makes it look like the nipple is not in the middle of areola.

I don't know if there is any surgery to change that. It really is nothing to worry about. People's areola shapes do vary. Maybe you can send in a pic to be added to our gallery.

And, if a surgeon does operate on them, then you probably won't be able to breastfeed, or at least not fully (it might be incredibly difficult). This is because any cuts near the nipple area cut the nerves to the nipple and can cut the milk ducts too. The body works this way: suckling on the nipple sends a message to brain so that hypothalamus excretes a hormone that tells the milk cells to "release" the milk. It is called the 'let down'. But if the nerves are cut and are not connected, then this won't work. Also you might lose nipple sensation.

So don't worry about this. It's not worth the anguish at all!

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I am 59 years old and my areolar's have faded to a very pale colour, can you tell me why? I have finished my periods approx 2 years ago.

Sandra

Areola color seems to be sensitive to the hormones, or somehow depend on the hormones. You probably know how much darker areolas get during pregnancy, and then after pregnancy they gradually fade somewhat. So I assume this is a normal change associated with menopause.

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Thanks for letting me know my areolas are not abnormal. Never heard of Montgomery glands before. Spent years thinking I was a freak.

kris

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when should a women leak colstrum how many months pregnant

justin

The breasts start making colostrum around second trimester. But your breasts may never leak any of it out. Leaking usually happens to women only after the mature milk has come in. A lactation consultant can probably express a drop or two.

So don't worry if you can't see any colostrum or if it is not leaking. It's still there. Baby will suckle it out.

Colostrum is not produced in large quantities. But remember that a newborn baby's belly is the size of a marble — it doesn't take much to fill it.

Read also about the normal course of breastfeeding before giving birth.

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your site made me feel much better about my breasts. now I know im not the only girl thats ''flat chessed''. thanks alot!

demi

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sence becomming pregnant, I have noticed that my areolas have become darker and larger than they were before, I was just wondering if this is now permanent or if they will return to normal after I have my baby?

Jamie

Well, what is normal? Are breasts normal before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding, or after all that?

The darker color will gradually fade after pregnancy but not quite to the same color as before pregnancy. But it's all normal. Many people think the darker color is for the newborn - it makes a more striking contrast so that the newborn with not-perfect vision can easily spot the food place. As we know, newborn babies can see dark/light contrast but not differentiate between shades of same color.

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I find your site interesting and helpful. I am 28 years old and started plucking out hair around my nipples about twelve years ago. I have caused scarring around my nipples because I would do anything to get the hair out. I thought it was abnormal and I was embarrassed by it. I wish I would have had a site like this to learn from when I was a teenager. Today I still have a plucking problem which makes the issue/scarring worse. HELP! What can I do? What is the best way to reduce irritation and scarring (other than to stop picking)? This has been years of embarrassment. I've even seen a laser hair removal dermatologist, but she has not helped! Thank you, Nikki.

Cut the hair with scissors without pulling or plucking it.

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Thank you so much for your site. I was always concerned about the "bumps" on my areola and thought I was "wierd," but know I know I'm normal and that gives me a great boost of confidence.

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Congratulations on your site. Truth wins for everybody, once it is given a way through the silence.

Practically all women have some degree of nipple hair, yet this is rarely demonstrated even on the breasts on your site. Many women are embarrassed by this because they don't realise that every one else has the same thing to a lesser or greater extent.

How would I know? Because I am a cosmetic physician and I run laser hair removal at my practice www.peachcosmeticmedicine.com

Everyone who comes to my practice for this reason gets a speech on the normality of nipple hair. Many are amazed; some cry. They realise I am telling them the truth and not merely trying to make them feel better; because in the process I am losing treatment fees. And so their hearts and minds are healed of this anxiety without the need for any treatment at all.

So: nipple hair is normal, nipple hair is OK, and anyone (male or female) who suggests otherwise is simply revealing that they haven't seen many natural breasts.

Yours sincerely
Dr John Mahony

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Hola. I am a 14 year old girl, and I was feeling my boobs and one has a lump in the nipple. I was just woudnering if this is normal or not. Thank you

Steph

You are probably feeling the nipple within the areola. Remember areola is the dark-colored part surrounding the nipple. That would be perfectly normal.

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after my frist pregnancy my breast still one bigger the another one,you think it is going to be like this forever?thank you.

flavia

Yes, it sounds like that's the way your breasts are. Pregnancy really doesn't make one breast smaller and another bigger or anything like that. Pregnancy makes your breasts grow - both of them.

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Some consider me lucky, I wear a 34D bra and have excess fat around my middle, but surprisingly enough my breasts don't sag at all I dont have to wear a bra and they look exactly the same. But sometimes when I look at myself in the mirror, I dont look normal, there is tissue in between my breasts..where most people have bone. If you squeeze them together as hard as you can I will still only have 1 line in between them, I cant wear low cut shirts and I feel insecure in a swimsuit, I dont look like the girls in my boyfriends magazine, and I never will.

Uni-Boob

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A commenter was quoted on your site saying the following: "They are not JUST "baby feeders." Some women can be stimulated to sexual climax by nipple arousal alone; does this seem like a function of feeding a baby? Body parts have multiple functions, and breasts ARE sexual objects as well as baby feeders."

My response to this person is, I can be stimulated to sexual climax by licking my ears. Does this mean that all women should be forced to wear earmuffs in public?

By the way, I love your site. It has made me feel much better about myself as a woman. Thank you.

Kelly

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In my areola area near my nipples I appear to have several other nipple-like protrusions. When I was breast-feeding milk came from these "little nipple" areas as well.What is this and Anything to worry about

Mary

Maybe you have multiple or supernumerary nipples. Check out Variations of human anatomy: mammary gland and and google "supernumerary nipples" to find more.
It's nothing to worry about.

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I just wanted to say I am so grateful for the site you've made. I've been really self-conscious about my breasts for a long time. I'm 17 and I have large areolas. I'm also a virgin, and I was scared that any future sexual partner would be repulsed by their size. All we have to look at are women on tv with small to average sized areolas, and it really brought down my confidence. But after looking at the pictures on your site, I realize that many women have large areolas and they are considered perfectly normal. So thank you so much for making me feel better about my breasts.

Alex

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I had a breast reduction, paid for by the national health service not only because they were hurting my back and shoulders and chaffing me, but because of my mental health and confidence. I am 21, they were 32F and now more like 32C or D. My nipples are SO pale that you can only make out the aerola because of the scar line. I think they would be considered flat nipples too. I wonder if people consider this unnatural as much as they would implants? I am only just 5ft tall and quite petit so they were very out of proportion. I wouldn't have implants even if I were completly flat chested, because I prefer small breasts.. thats why I prefer any natural breasts as opposed to implants but if I prefered big breasts would I still think that way? I loved the site.. helped a lot. (by the way if I were to have the chance to have the operation all over again, I still would. yes it was very uncomfortable and the scars were big, they have faded loads and I don't have problems with my back anymore. Plus it has boosted my self esteem a ton.)

Kate

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im currently 34 weeks pregnant. before I was pregnant by nipples were nice and pink and a good firm size, but now their darker and bigger and saggier. I am planning to breastfeed, will they go back to normal? I dont like how they are now :(

ashley

After the pregnancy hormones go off, the areolas will gradually fade in color but not exactly to the same pink you had before. The areolas will stay larger size. This has nothing to do with breastfeeding, by the way, but it is caused by the PREGNANCY itself.

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Hi, I was browsing through your site and felt so relieved. I don't have perfect breasts, I think the media really gets to us girls and guys. I think most people are not perfect, there are a few blessed ones though. I've realised that I should accept my body and be happy with what I have. Im eating healthily and think that really helps. We are all unique and shouldn't worry about things like how perky our breasts are, just be happy!

ash

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I always thouht I had normal breasts until I was 22 and dating a guy whom upon seeing them asked.."whats wrong with them?" I had a child at 15 and since breast fed 3 children. I wear a 36 D and they sag and the areola is rather large. Up until that jerk I was ok with them.. I am 35 now and was thinking about having them "fixed" My husband says he loves em.. but I think he is just being nice. I don't let him touch them or see them. This site has helped me some. I guess it is my ex's way of thinking that needs "fixed" I am going to have a heart to heart with my husband tonight...and just maybe I will feel better about him "seeing them"
What we have done to our boys and men by making the female breasts so taboo?? I am sure has hurt many women emotionally..God put them on me..for my children..and they seemed to love em.. my middle child would of died without them..(heart problems and caffine in my breast milk helped her lil heart beat stronger) I guess it doesn't matter what a guy thinks..they were not made for him. Thank you for helping me see the light..( I still feel "bad" about them..but in time I am sure it will get better.) Girls, women...don't let a man define how you should look...be thankful and blessed that we are able to give life and feed it!! and thank god we don't have to "feed fullgrown men" LOL can you imagine?? *shiver*

Amy

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Comments: Hi, my breasts have the what you call 'mound on mound' look, and I am already almost 20. I had my first period when I was 11 and my breasts stopped developping when I was about 13. I read your reply to previous comments, that the breasts should develop further, but it seems to me that being 20 is too late for any further development. I really can't stand my breasts and I only feel comfortable wearing a padded bra, beacause otherwise my puffy nipples can be seen through my top. Is there anything I can do about it?

Temi

Well those stages of development just describe the outer appearance in general, of most girls. But it isn't something that is supposed to happen, or "should" happen. The internal development is what should happen, and has happened. Female breasts come in so many shapes that even this mound on mound shape isn't that unusual.

Plus, I'm not saying it won't change because it still may. Many girls get rounder breasts in their early 20s, for example.

So no reason to worry. Just study, work, enjoy life, whatever it is that you are pursuing.

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Comments: wut is the avreage size niple/areola for a teen girl (age 14) who has 34-36c boobs and my arolea/niplpes are falt and not always erect. when they are erect the are the size of a quater and when they are not they are the size a a tea candle- about a 3.5cm diameter i lokoed at ur sight and coudlnt' find the average size for a teen, although I now no im normal neway I would liekto no wuts the average size is- by the way I love thx so much- so am I big or average- I no im not small . and thx again.

liz

I don't have any statistics on the matter but it sounds like you are quite average (not big).

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thanks for the great site! though I am still a bit worried; i am 16, and am a 40b. I have never been pregnant but my breasts look more like the photos of someone who has breastfed, as I have large areolas and have fairly prominent montgomery glands. even though sometimes I think my breast arnt normal, I love them. they look so nice in a bra! is there some reason I have post-pregnancy looking breasts?

Carley

I do not know for sure why that would be. But you're not alone - many girls have large areola even if they haven't been pregnant. Anyway, there is no reason to worry about it.

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I have those bumps on my nipples and I busted some of them thinking they were pimples. White stuff came out of it when I busted it. Is that bad and does it have some thing to do with breast milk? I don't have any kids.

jessica

To my knowledge it doesn't have anything to do with breast milk. It's not good to 'bust' them, of course. Just make sure the little wound doesn't get infected now.

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my nipples dont look like any of those..why not..im 14 and I wear a 32 a is that bad??

logan

It's not 'bad'. See we do not have every possible variation 'covered' on the nipple gallery page. We're especially missing any flat nipple pictures. You're probably just normal and fine.

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Ladies, just so you know.
I'm a guy and I have a definite preference for smaller breasts. In fact, I would not even want to go out with a lady who wanted implants. It is more important to me that she be comfortable with herself just the way she is.

KR

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Natural is the key. Whether AA or DD, they're yours and they are YOU. Personnaly, I give a 2nd look to a small chested woman as visually, that's my preference. But it is "what's inside" that counts and the auora one gives off that makes one sexy. The teen girls that are worried about being too small, should not be. The "big breast fanciers" are the Vocal Minority. As a footnote, I had two female friends who worked at the same bar in a Vegas casino. Both very attractive...one a AA who paid a few grand for enlargements, and was very proud of them...but it wasn't her. The other, very fit but experiencing back pains, had hers reduced to a D and wishes she went down to a C.

Lance

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Your site is good, but it didn't answer my question. I am a 16 year olf Female and when I was 8 months old, I was burn by hot boil water. One of my breast is normal and in shape, but the other one is not. on my Left breasr I do not have a nipple and it is not in shape. it is flat but it a bit fat. Is their any way that my nipple can grow? is their anyway for my breast to grow. I feel uncomfortable, I wear padded bras so no one can tell, but there are stuff that teneegers get to wear and I can't. Please help me.

You are wondering if your breast bud got damaged when you were a baby. It is possible. If the breast bud did get damaged, then your breast will not grow. Maybe you can see a doctor to confirm this.

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im 15 years old.. I wear a 34 A and I have a question about my buds. they are puffy and my breast arent ROUND because of it. they kinda point out.. will they be like this forever?. or will they eventually get round by the years?. i dont really care about my breast size. I care how they look.

if anyone knows the answer to this question.. my email is skizzythaklown@yahoo.com

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I think your site is excellent!! :-) So far it has provided some much wanted information for me!! But I am wondering if you can answer this (hopefully you can!). I see some women carrying on about areolas that are much too large. But my areolas are 1cm long (I measured them). They look rather like pimples & aren't very sensitive at all. How is this going to affect breast feeding in the future?

Amy

There's no reason to be concerned. See, breasts, nipple, and areola grow and develop a lot during pregnancy. They will be very different from the way they are before pregnancy.

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Hi I am 23 years old and I thought my aerolas were big but looking at the pictures they are not that bad. Now my nipples on the other hand I am self conscious about. My one nipple is shaped like a kidney bean and I do not think that there is an opening for breast milk to come out of. Is there surgery for this? Thank you for a great web site.

Nipples come in all kinds of shapes. In each nipple there are several tiny openings for the milk to come out, not just one. Typically you can't see those openings at all in women who haven't been pregnant because they are tiny and kind of closed. So don't worry, they are there even if you can't observe them.

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Thank you for actually putting photos of the nipples on the internet.m You won't believe how ignorant I actually am when it comes to my own body. I am 37 yrs old and am barely finding out that the ugly bumps on my breasts are Montgomery Glands and that they are normal. Lately, these glands have gotten larger and more visible. I have not had children and I didn't know what they were. My breasts resemble one of the pictures you have posted. I guess this means I'm normal. Thanks again..

dd

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I am 17 years old and I am very self concious of my breast. It wasn't until I came on this website that I noticed I wasn't the only one with what looks like hypoplastic tubular breast. I've read many different articles and seen many different pictures of people with this and I am pretty sure I have it as well. I hate my breast and I am very embarrased by them. I am considering breast implants when I am around 18 or 19. But, please can you tell what the positive/negatives effects of getting this done? Can you also tell me what can help my breast get larger? And how would you get a hold of those hormones that transexuals use to grow breast? Please help me because this is making me depressed. I hate looking at my body and my friends say I should seek help, but it is easy for them to say, they don't have this problem.

Michelle

If you go to our page about breast implants, there at the bottom of that page are some links about the bad health effects of breast implants. In a nutshell, you need to have additional surgery maybe every ten years at the very minimum, to replace them, because they're not lifetime devices. Complications are fairly common too, in which case you need additional surgeries even sooner. And, some women unfortunately get debilitating disease from them (silicone poisoning -and all implants have silicone in the shell part).
I don't know where to get the hormones that transsexuals use; however please see Our questions page for more info on the side effects of that.

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THIS SITE IS UNBELIEVABLE!

I just want to say thank you.

I am 19 female and because of the way the media portray the norm, I have always felt my breasts were ugly and abnormal. I have a large areola, well I thought it was huge, but seeing the huge variety I have realied how misled I have been. Looking through this site has been so enlightening. I now realise how beautiful the nipples and breasts I have seen are, and also my own, contrary to the 'media's perfect image'.

I have some stretch marks, they aren't too bad, but for years, since I started developing they have given me a big complex. I use sesame seed oil with francinsense oil and lavender on them and a few that I have on my thighs. This is very good for the skin and does help them fade. The stretch marks have always been silver, and so I think I will have to accept that they are here to stay. It just upsets me because they are right at the top..almost not on my breasts, so this prevents me wearing the clothes I would love to.

However like that really good picture and this whole site has made me realise; the media makes us think all we are, is sex objects and nothing more..therefore we have to be perfect and fit into their very specific mould of what a woman should look like. Otherwise what else would we have? Well the thing is we have so much more than being an object of sex. Plus sex is beautiful with someone that finds you beautiful.

Thank you everyone that has contributed. I don't know how long I would have gone on, thinking I was alone, abnormal and ugly. We are all beautiful x

Vicky

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I got my period when I was nine, and my mother had me take shots of some sort of white liquid (injected into my thighs on a monthly basis) for almost a year. I am now fifteen, have a 36D bra size, but I'm worried about my breasts. There doesn't appear to be any areola, and my nipples are low on my breasts. There have also been a couple of whitehead pimples near my nipples. If I pull my breasts upward, I get a faint outline of skin which puffs out around my nipple, but I don't know if this is a soon-to-be areola. Did the shots stop my areola development, and if so, how can I get it to start again? And how can I get rid of the whiteheads? By the way, I am fifteen years old now.

Another question I had was my veins are visible through the skin in my chest and breasts. I don't know if this is because my skin is pale, but I'm very self-conscious about it. I avoid tank tops because my veins can be seen in the front of my shoulders as well. Is there anything I can do about this?

I have been very distressed and too embarrassed to ask a doctor or anyone in person, and I'm afraid that I'll be ashamed of my areola-less, veiny breasts when time comes that I show them to my husband in the future.
Thank you very, very much for your time.

-Jess

It really sounds like your areola has developed however much it will develop. I suspect that you being pale skinned makes the areola color very very light, and that the faint outline of skin you mentioned is the outline of your areola. Are those whiteheads within that areola area? If so they may be Montgomery glands and not whiteheads.

The shots were probably Lupron Depot drug, used to treat precocious puberty.

On the visible veins, yes it's normal for them to show in pale-skinned individuals. You can try tanning in natural sunlight maybe? Just be careful to do it slowly so you won't burn. Otherwise I don't know, that's just the type of skin you have. See also others worry about veins on chest and breasts at BreastTalk.co.uk. Your future husband should love you regardless. And, try talk to him beforehand about your worries and fears... so you will know his reaction. I can't imagine any loving husband getting upset at such a thing. Everyone has their differences in the physical makeup of their body. Who knows your future hubby may have terrible acne or something else he's self-conscious about...

Is it normal for the nipples and areola to be scratchy and hurt sometimes? I'm 17 years old and have breast size 38C.

Sarah

No, it's not really normal but not dangerous either. The skin is irritated, it sounds like. You may have dry skin for example, or some other skin condition. Check what kind of fabric you wear against them, like your bras or shirts. Wear cotton ones. Or, they may get irritated simply by a seam in bras going over the nipple as is the case with me. Check also this link OBGYN.net Breast Care FAQ - Breast Pain, Itching, Lumps, Bumps and Discharge.

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i can't thank you enough for your site. I older and resist most traditional conventions of femininity, and am supportive of other's positive body images. but when it came to my breasts (they are tubular) I have had so much self-consciousness and pain, because not only are they different, but not sensitive and I always wondered if they would feed my baby.
my mind said it was stupid, but not seeing "normal" breasts and bodies in the outside world really has an impact on boys, girls, and men and women's body expectations.
this site is so straightforward, and the pictures really help drive home your point.
hey--they're just breasts, everyone has them!
thank you and love yourselves ladies--like they say, "a boob is a boob, and that is a good thing!"

toni

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hello, I'm sixteen and have puffy swollen niples I have had this problem for 2 years. whats the differnce between tubular nipples nad the fourth stage fo development in breast growht?

There is no such thing as "tubular nipples". The tubular breasts term refers to the appearance of such breasts, which is tube-like, 'tubular'. Often, hypoplastic breasts (underdeveloped breasts that don't have enough glandular tissue) are tubular in appearance. But not nipples.

Your nipples are probably just fine, so don't call it a 'problem'. They are probably flat, but that is pretty typical.

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thank you for the site. my daughter is only 10 and has large breasts(c cup) and she thinks she is abnormal after showing her the site she now knows women are all differant shapes and sizes

gary

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I'm 18, and have a few questions. First off, I am 5'2", weighing 115 pounds. When I was 13, I lost a lot of weight (like 50 pounds) and it has caused my breasts to sag really badly. I realize there are TONS of questions about this already, but I think my situation is a little different. Not only do my breasts hang down, but my areola areas are literally each the width of a can of soda, and they wrap around the breast, rather than situate themselves upward on the breasts. I don't understand how that happened!

I'm going to a super expensive college in the fall, I have absolutely no money. Is there anyway my insurance will pay for areola reduction surgery or something of that nature? I don't know what do, my b/f actually asked me about it once [genuinely concerned, not like "what are those!!!"] and ever since I've been very self-conscious about showing my breasts to anyone.

I'm afraid insurance wouldn't pay for such a surgery since it would be purely a cosmetic thing. But, it's still normal for the areola to be several inches wide. Big areolas naturally can look like "reaching upwards the breast". Remember, areola is just skin &mdahs; pigmented differently, but still skin.

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If a woman has normal sized areolas and the nipply is not perfectly centered within them, is there any way to fix it? Also, what causes that to happen?

J.P

I'm pretty sure plastic surgeons can fix and do about anything, including moving nipples to another location. However you would probably lose all sensation in the nipple, and you will not be able to breastfeed after such a surgery.

However, I wonder if the "problem" is not the nipple but instead that the areola is not circular in shape but kind of odd-shaped, not symmetrical. That would then make it appear that the nipple is not in the middle of areola. But that's really nothing to worry about, happens to other women as well.

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I don't have an areola at all. Is this normal?
Sandy

I think it is, since I've seen one such case... her pic is on the gallery page among the women who have been pregnant, second row, second pic.

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Fixation on breasts appears to be the cultural evolution of puritan modesty and deprivation. Yet, even further, the deprivation became ignorance as women gave up during a period the breastfeeding that their breasts were made for, a sad commentary upon human knowledge and has easily it can be converted into destructive misconceptions. In that evolution, women's breasts have become a fixation for some, and shameful for others where society might prefer that breastfeeding be done only in private, as if there was something morally wrongful about it. Respect for their function and the desire for infant welfare even in a restrictive social environment need not require infants to schedule their feedings with the technology available for socially discreet clothing made for the purpose. Exhibitionism need not be a part of the breastfeeding process for mothers, and usually isn't for those who appreciate the background from which such modesty flows. Like any other part of the skin surface of humans, any part can be made to respond to a sensual touch by such attention, and is a part of the gift of sensuality that humans are capable of, male or female. For women, brain sensuality even without touch is the source of heightened sexual awareness that with touch may develop into sexuality. To date sight has yet to be developed in females of which we are aware, but could simulate the visual sensuality that men respond to equally in the realm of sexual excitement. Since freedom to explore the true nature of sensuality has only recently become a common phenomenon in emerging from restrictive religious perceptions, it's possible that further study might show that males who are fixated on large breasts are those who were inadequate or insufficiently nurtured during the bonding of breast feeding, or for whom it was absent, and therefore breasts take on an unusually sexual appearance, being unrecognized for anything other than sex. For those more familiar with their biological nature, large breasts are not necessarily the sexual symbols that media hype has made of them. Much of that study remains to be done adequately to determine the origins of such fixation, however, and define the source. Certainly no other mammals have that fixation that we know of indicating that it is purely cultural, and perhaps, somewhat unnatural regardless of how satisfying it may be as it is marketed to men and to women.

Pat R.

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I have been reading your site with great interest tonight. I actually found it after doing a search on Google to see if any men find inverted nipples attractive!

I presume I developed my inverted nipples at puberty. In the changing rooms at school, I noticed my nipples were different from the other girls' but thought I just had small nipples. It wasn't until my late teens that I read about inverted nipples and realised that's what I had.

I've always been very self-conscious about them (I turned 40 this year) and I don't know why but recently, I seem to be obsessing about them more and more and have been doing quite a few searches on the internet about them.

You've really got me thinking about whether breasts are only there to give our babies nourishment or whether they are sexual organs as well. Something I haven't seen mentioned, even on the page that talks about the nipple and sexual arousal, is why does the nipple erect and harden at orgasm? Is that also to do with the hormone you explain about or does it suggest that the breasts do have a sexual role to play as well as being there to nourish our babies?

I have always believed that it must be something to do with suckling as a baby that men have a fascination with breasts and enjoy touching them and sucking on the nipples. It's very interesting to read that it is probably the opposite and because a lot of babies aren't breastfed that this fascination has developed. I thought it came from the fact that when we were breastfed, it was a comforting and wonderful place to be. So as adults, it is still a comforting and wonderful place to be, except with a partner rather than our mothers. That argument doesn't hold up though, as if it were true, women as well as men would want to caress other women's breasts and not only if they were attracted to other women sexually anyway.

All interesting stuff and thank you for getting me thinking!

Lara

It has also been asked why some women's nipples become erect during sexual arousal. Is it because nipples have a sexual function? Nipple erection (standing out) happens when the tiny muscles on the areola and nipple contract. Those muscles are similar to the ones attached to hairs all over your body (responsible for the goose bump effect). A woman's nipples can stick out or become erect as a response to various stimuli like cold, rubbing against clothes, or nipple stimulation by hand. So erect nipples per se are not a signal of being sexually aroused. And, not all women's nipples become erect during sexual arousal; it varies. Maybe the muscles contract because of the general muscular tension in your body during arousal and especially during orgasm or maybe the hormones have something to do with it, but in any case nipple erection is not a phenomenon unique to sexual arousal, nor does it happen to everybody.

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This site is great. I have recently started obsessing about my breasts and came to the conclusion that they are pretty normal. This site calmed me down quite a bit. Also, reading the message boards on plastic surgery sites is also a deterrent to getting surgery. It sounds painful and the women are generally left with scars, which if someone is prone to obsessing about "imperfections" may result in less than 100% satisfaction as well.

mtleh

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I have been aroused by the sight of all womens breasts since I hit puberty. This changed when my wife became pregnant! Her breasts are the fullest and most beautiful I have ever seen but the thought of my son nursing those same breasts has changed my perception entirely. I can only guess that my purely "sexual" outlook on breasts came from my upbringing. I was not allowed to see a womans naked breast until I was about 14. Don't misunderstand me. The entire female physique is very stimulating to me but now a breast is no more stimulating than the nape of a womans neck (which is still stimulating). Sexual desire is a chemical response to sensory input. The same way fear is a chemical response to sensory input. We are taught that when we see a wasp (for example) about to sting us we should be afraid. The same thing applies to sexual arousal. We are taught that breasts are to be hidden and thusly objectified as something sexual. Breasts are a part of the female anatomy as are knees, ankles, and hips. By the way all of the aforementioned can be stimulating. I believe it is through society that men are taught to objectify womens breasts. I do not place the blame squarely on the backs of men however. My wife and all of her friends are constantly squaking about their desire for breast augmentation after they are done having children. This objectificaion of breasts by women does as much damage as the trained responses my father and other men in society taught me. My wife says that she finds my chest to be a great turn on but society doesn't say that I have to keep it covered therefore it is not taboo. Womens breasts are not that much different than mens. I would go so far as to say that a woman has more right to bare her chest than a man does. Men have no use for their chests like women do. I applaud your site for the open-mindedness to confront societal issues head on.

P.S. Most men rank the style, color, and upkeep of a womans hair highly on their sexual arousal factor but women aren't made to wear hats all of the time.

john

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Hey,Id just like to say "I love your web page". My opinion to all the young(and old alike)girls who are considering breast implants is:dont!Be happy with what GOD gave you.I like big to small breasts;I thinks they all can be beautifull,but nothing is beautifull about a sack of silicone.Thanks!

rick

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hello I am a 20 year old who is having really bad pain in my nipples I was wondering what could cause this

kaci

I'm not a doctor so these ideas are just my own 'common sense' guesses...
It could be a skin irritation, dermatitis, caused by maybe a new soap or lotion or something you are using.
It could be bras - either too small bras or the material bras are made out of, or some other clothing rubbing against your nipples. Go bra free for a few days to test that.
Check with a doctor if in doubt.

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Nice website but it didn't help my problem. My nipples have been hard, overly sensitive and sore for the past four days. In a nutshell, they look like I'm freezing cold. I took a warm bath and put Vaseline on them last night. They aren't hard anymore but they still hurt when touched. Is this a normal thing that will go away soon or could there be a medical problem?

Kat

I don't really know. Try wear only a cotton bra or no bra to check if it is allergy to the material in your bra. Otherwise, this site has lots of info on pain and itching and other breast conditions: OBGYN.net Breast Care FAQ - Breast Symptoms (Pain, Itching, Discharge, Lumps, Bumps and Masses).

Hello. I'm a 18 year old female who has med to large breasts. I've been wondering if my areolas are placed correctly. Whenever I look in the mirror, I notice that they kind of sit low on my breasts. Is this normal?

OntheLow

Yep, this is normal.

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i recently became so selfconcious because my ex boyfriend commented on how pale my nipples were, but after seeing your website ive relised that they may be paler than some peoples but there still perfectly normal. thanx

reassured

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I really love your website. It really helped me understand that I shouldn't have to worry about why I'm developing really slow. I'm fourteen years old and am very unhappy about my breasts, but when I visited this website, it made me feel much better. Thanks!

Jojo

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Thank you so much! I am 20 years old and am between a 34 A and 34 B. Growing up I never really remember having a problem with my breasts until the middle of high school. It seemed as though guys were always talking about how big a girls breasts were and they even passed around ratings sheets in our schools.
This is when I first began to think maybe I was abnormal, but I liked the way my breasts looked. They are perky and I have small aerolas.
Yet I must say that it is the comments from other girls that really gave me the worst body image. In college my best friends began to tease me. She used to blurt out "I can't beleive how small your breasts are!" It is kind of ironic giving the fact that she admitted to us one of her breasts is a B and the other is a D!
I beleive that comments from other girls hurt the worst because you think, ok they have breasts and know what they should look like and if they are telling me something is wrong with mine then they obviously must be right.
Your website has helped me to appreciate what I have. I wish there was a way to require images like this to be shown in sex ed classes, to help girls at a time they really need it.

Ashley

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I think this site is amazing. All this time I have felt like I have deformed breasts. But looking at this site I can't believe that there are other women with breasts exactly like mine. It is incredible. I can never find a bra that fits quite right. I have always wondered if there was something seriously wrong with me because my breast did'nt look like all the pictures you see in the media! Thank you for opening my eyes to the fact that I am normal and my breasts did actually develop, they are just shaped differently. Thank you so much 007B

lesden

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Thank you for showing me the little bumps I have on the areola are actually normal. I have a question about dryness of the skin. Can that cause little red bumps on or near the areola. I am just experiencing this. It might be a rash from sweating at the gym. But not suree.
Thanks

Mary

You can have many kinds of skin conditions on the skin of your breasts and on the areola. Please see OBGYN.net Breast Care FAQ - Breast Symptoms or a doctor if they don't disappear soon. It can very well be irritation from somethign, like clothing or soap you're using.

For dry skin in general, try flax oil (internally).

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Thank you so much! I have always wondered if my Nipples were going to cause a problem when I have a baby. I have very large breasts but my nipples are very small and barley noticable. Seeing pictures of other people with the same thing and hearing that they could breast feed has given me the boost of confidence that I needed. Thank You!!

Shannon

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hi! This is Ana .I am 22(unmarried).from last 1 year I am getting hairs near my nipples(at the edge of dark area)and m very worried.i cannot speak about this to any one cos usually men get hairs on breats.Is this normal in girls also.plz reply

Some hair around the nipples is normal in females. You could try do a search in Google or Yahoo for hair nipples and see the results... It is very common.

But if it is a lot of hair and suddenly, and if you have some other symptoms too or extra hair started growing elsewhere too, you could see a doctor.

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It is nice to know there are other women with not so perfect nipples, the world is to stero tpye of the perfect breast with perky nipples.

Leeya

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What are the chances of inverted nipples to portrude during pregnancy? Can a non-pregnant girl wear a breast shield to re-invert the nipples?

jane

Chances are good that inverted nipples will evert or start protruding during pregnancy. Yes, you can wear a nipple shield to try to pull out the nipples even if not pregnant.

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im 17 yrs old and im really scared about my breast bcuz my nipple s not growing..do u stil think it will grow..?i have boifrend and I nevr let him see my breast..do u think I have breast cancer?i embarrass to tell my parents about it.please respond to me a.s.a.p cuz I really need ur help.. scared

If your breasts have developed, then your nipples also have developed just fine. It is fairly common and normal if the nipples are not erect but flat. Breast cancer at your age is almost unheard of, so don't worry.

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this site is great and informative.. it has made me realize the things about breasts and that having big breasts are normal. thanks.

anonymous

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Hi. I'm 17 years old and I think my nipples are inverted. Is there any chance they'll start to protrude till my 20's???

cintia

Inverted nipples are caused by adhesions that bind the skin on the nipple to the underlying tissue. There is a chance they will protrude as you grow. Also, pregnancy and breastfeeding often make inverted nipples to protrude. See also How can I correct my inverted nipples?

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I need help... I am 13 and my nipples are inverted.I have never told anyone about them because I am way to embarresed. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem?

Chrissy

You don't really have to do anything at that age. To find out more, please follow the links above on this page that talk about inverted nipples.

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I am a 64 yr old woman.........Who has been bra free since 1977. In fact, I dont even own one. I HATE THEM.I swim nude.and have been to many nude beaches around the would. I see nothing wrong with being nude or topless at any pool or beach. I hope to see the day when I am able to walk down the street topless or go shopping topless.

Kay

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My nipples don't look like any of these! It looks like the one on the tubular breast but it's on a more rounded breast. It sticks out and then the nipple sticks out on top of it...is that normal?

Lucy (17)

We don't have nearly all possible variations of nipples on the nipple gallery page... the pics are from volunteers, not chosen to depict all possibilities. So chances are your nipples are normal.

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Thank u so much for your help! I am 14 years old and have alwys wondered what other breasts look like!

Carolina

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Im not sure if this completely applies to this section but I was looking through it and was wondering if it is normal for a 16 year old (thats me) to have very visible veins on her breasts without being pregnant. I was also wondering when the areola generally starts to develop if you could help me out with that that would be great.
miranda

My guess is that it is normal to have visible veins. How visible they are depends so much on person's skin tone and color, too. In pregnancy women often get kind of "bulging" veins on their breasts, but not always.

The areola develops right at the same time as the breast itself... if that's what you mean. During pregnancy it gets darker and bigger. Some women do not have much of an areola... variations are big.

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Thanks for this web site. I always felt like I was the only one that had these bumps. After looking at your site, I now see how normal they are. I too have more than in the picture, but they look just the same. I had been to the Dr. and was told it was fine, but seeing the pictures is even more reassuring. Thanks so much, this is a great site!

Dianna

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i am a 17 year old girl with 34b breast and fair nipples with obvious montgomory glands and I was quite imbarrased to let my boy friend see me topless and this site has taught me that my breast are indeed normal if not beautiful,this site is extreamly liberating

self conscious

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This is a wonderful website. It is so easy to compare your own breast to those on tv. I never really knew what normal breat are supposed to look like. This helps.THANKS

Sonya

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I find this helpful as I always thought these bumps I had were weird and that I would have some time in the future explaining them to my husband. the only question I have, does the areola shrink after breastfeeding is finished and the baby has been weaned?

G

No, areola stays the same size.

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I am crying my eyes out due to the gratitude I have for your website. At nine years old I started my period and had 38 C breasts. I thought the early onset of puberty and breast stretch marks, veins ,etc. were my punishment for the pleasure that I had sometimes felt while being molested at 6 years old. At 20 I started having children and felt that my breasts were lovely and made just for nurturing my children and all the past hurts floated away. Now at 34 years old when I ought to know better I have been letting everyone around me dictate how I should feel about the appearance of my breast. I have not worn a bra in about 8 years, because after gaining 100 lbs the 42 triple D's I lug cause my neck and back much pain when wearing a bra and also I suffer a Psychological anxiety of feeling sexually dirty when I try to wear one. But since I have started college for Nursing at least a dozen or so persons have tried to get me to wear a bra and fix myself up . Their well meaning intentions have left me so self- conscious that I had decided to have my breast surgically reduced and lifted. Even though it broke my heart to think I would never nurse a baby again, was scared to death of surgery and the after pictures I had seen were always very ugly. I knew that once I started working in the hospital next fall I would probally be required to wear a bra and surgery was my quickest option. The only reason I had checked your site was in hopes that I would finally find some before and after surgery photos that looked more like my breast do.But instead I was blessed with what I had always believed that my breast are beautiful to me and that is all that counts and that is what I am going to tell those well intentioned friends from now on. I am also going to continue loosing weight at a healthy pace and due some exercise to build up the ligaments in these boobies of mine if that is possible. Thank you so very much! In Christ's Love Cindy

cindy

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THANK YOU for showing Montgomery glands. Mine seem to have appeared more pronounced suddenly just as I am starting menopause. I don't know yet if I have a problem but I searched far and wide for a picture like the ones on your website. Thank you for the education.

claire

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Montgomery glands, eh? Yep, I've got those... and I never knew what they were! We should all work to educate others about having and/or respecing the healthy, non-sexually objectified female body! It's so very sad to see naturally beautiful girls (i.e. my sister) working towards an unrealistic, dangerous standard.... thank you for this page.

"Breast" Wishes from Illinois
just a girl

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Just a quick note to let you know that I really appreciated this website. Being a large breasted woman with large nipples, I was worried about whether I would be able to breastfeed my daughter whom is due in 9 days. I had no trouble with my son, but that was almost 12 years ago. Now is response to Moonbeam...I commend you on your standing up for breastfeeding. I was and am so thankful there are still some very level headed and understanding women out that. I breastfed my son for over 24 months and plan to nurse my new baby for as long as she wished as well. Wonderful site. Keep up the wonderful work.

AngelEyedPoet

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this site is excellent. I was considering surgery, but im reconsidering!! thanx

Makayla

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I'm glad to see that these bumps I have are normal but I still have more than these pictures and I wish there was some way to make them less noticeable.

Stephanie

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im worried that people wont find me attractive but your site hase helped me accept who I am

sugamomma

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I think breasts are the most natural and beautiful thing there is. I am an aspiring art student and look forward to someday doing beautiful pictures involving this in different type of settings. Women should not be afraid or nervous about their breast they are natural however the shape or size.

PW

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I am so upset that breastfeeding women are still discriminated against. First of all if we had clothing options that were discrete and affordable then we would be able to feed our babies without people even being offended. Our babies need the natural nutrition from breast milk. We also should have breastfeeding clothing and the global support to allow us to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is so wonderful! People do not understand the bond and natural energie that happens for a human and her offspring to be allowed to breastfeed. Women should no longer be discriminated against due to the natural breastmilk that we were scientifically gifted with to feed our babies.

Moonbeam

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Thankyou so much for providing this website. Despite having breastfed both my children my breasts still are very small with small areolas. It was such a relief to see that I'm normal. I have been so embarassed about them that I now dread summer and uncomfortable bras. It was very touching to read the comments of other readers. What a valuable website. Thankyou soo much.

Grateful

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Thank you very much for your hard work. As a volunteer La Leche League Leader I do come back again and again.
Best Regards
Ann

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It all started in a museum when I saw many statues and paintings of naked girls mostly greek and I said to myself "what are those round circle things around thier nipples?" I thought it was ugly and abnormal but came to realize that all the girls have them. then found out they're caled areolas. well, I have none. seriously, there is absolutely NO pigment around my nipples. Pale as pig fat. Can you beleive I thought those round pink circles were a greek thing? help me I dont know anyone else that doesnt have them is it cause im so pale and irish? 17 yrs old.

Gina

Hello Gina,
Look at the nipple picture on the fourth row on this page. This lady does not really have areola either. It's not awfully common but it does happen. This lady breastfed her children just fine, so it should not affect your breastfeeding ability.

Now, since areola usually grows in size during pregnancy, yours may grow too though it's no guarantee. This lady's didn't grow any during pregnancy.

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