Boobs seem pretty straightforward
(unless yours point east-west, of course).
They give you a heads-up when your
period’s on the way. They signal when
it’s cold. Plus, they do their part when it
comes to attracting a crush. But as close
as you are to your breast friends, there’s
probably a few things even you don’t know
about them. So we handed your hooters
the mic. Here’s what they want to say.
We Can
Change Size”
Hormone fluctuations
during your cycle cause
glands in the breast to grow
in preparation for a
possible pregnancy, leading
to swelling and tenderness.
In fact, estrogen is also why
taking the Pill can result in
the (sometimes welcome)
side effect of bigger boobs.
“Oral contraceptives with
higher amounts of
estrogen in particular can
cause fluid retention in
the breasts and stimulate
the growth of breast cells,”
explains Harold Carlson,
MD, chief of endocrinology
and metabolism at Stony
Brook School of Medicine.
And they aren’t the only
medicine to have that effect:
Antipsychotics like
Risperidone (often
prescribed for bipolar dis-
order) and metoclopramide
(a common treatment for
heartburn) increase levels
of the hormone prolactin,
which can cause breast sore-
ness and even occasionally
stimulate growth and milk
production. If you aren’t
loving the situation, speak
to your doctor about taking
a drug that lowers prolac-
tin levels. A hormonal IUD,like Mirena, may also have
fewer side effects, because
its active ingredient is
progesterone.
And speaking of size, bigger
is not always better. “In the
past five years, the number
of my patients in their 20s
seeking reductions has
doubled,” says Brian Labow,
MD, associate professor of
surgery at Harvard
Medical School. Millennials
“don’t want to give up sports
or go through their 20s with
back and neck pain.”We’re Not Ticking
Time Bombs”
Yes, breast cancer is too
common—but that’s no
reason to freak out now. “I
have a lot of patients in my
practice who are very
concerned about breast
cancer, including some
under 35,” says Julie
Gershon, MD, a radiologist
in private practice in Avon,
Connecticut.Mammograms aren’t rec-
ommended for women with
average risk before age 40
(doctors may give different
advice to young women with
a family history or other
risk factors).We Like It When
You Feel Us Up”
Contrary to what you might
have been told in the past,
the American Cancer
Society (ACS) says there
isn’t much benefit to clinical
breast exams at the
doctor’s office or formal
breast self-exams at home.
Still, “it’s useful for women
to know what their breasts
normally feel and look like,”
says Stuart J. Schnitt, MD,
professor of pathology at
Harvard Medical School. So
once a month, right after
your period, touch yourself
a bit. Since breasts change
throughout your cycle,
checking in at the same
time each month will help
you identify discomfort and
abnormalities over time. Be
on the lookout for lumps,
nodules, or thickening. Note
any skin changes, discolor-
ation, or discharge. Get
anything weird checked—
but don’t panic. “Most
women have benign lumps
and bumps at some point in
their life,” says Dr. Schnitt.We Need a Little
More Support”
Anywhere from 64 to 85
percent of womenEstimated percentage of people who
have a supernumerary (aka third or even
fourth) nipple. Among them: Carrie
Underwood, Mark Wahlberg, Harry Styles,
Lily Allen, and Chandler Bing. Extra
nipples are often mistaken for moles, so
you could have one and not even know it.5
reportedly aren’t buying
the right size bra! “A well-
fitting underwire bra
supports all breast tissue
and does not lie on any
part of the breast itself,”
says bra expert Tina
Omer, owner of
lingerie boutique
Aphrodite’s Closet. To
find one, you need to
know more than band
and cup size: You also
need to know about your
“root shape,” the area
where your breasts attach
to your chest wall. If your
breast root is narrow,
it may require a
differently shaped under-
wire than what many
mainstream bras offer,
leading to digging or
poking. To figure it out,
stand facing the mirror.
“Your root has a width,
measured under your
breast, and a height,
measured around the
armpit,” says Omer. Using
a washable marker, put
a dot on the innermost,
lowest, widest, and
highest points of one
breast, then connect
them. If the shape is more
like a ‘U,’ you have a
narrow root, whereas if it
looks like a Nike swoosh,
your root is wider,
Omer explains.(text) NaNcy Redd. (Photos) maRley kate. (fashioNeditoR) adam maNsuRoglu. (haiR) aRmeNd albaNi. (makeuP) lisa camPos usiNg dioRskiN. (maN
icuRe) fRaNces liaNg. (model) meliNa/msa models.Percentage of mothers in
one study who found
breastfeeding erotic. A lot
of them felt guilty about it,
but it’s totally normal!
Hormones released during
nursing might end up
turning you on.50
104 Cosmopolitan • MAY 2017 WWW.COSMO.PH