Busted! The Top 10 Breast Myths Debunked
Elisabeth Dale on 29 Feb 2012 at 9:30am
Think you know everything there is to know about breasts? I thought I did, until I wrote a book on the subject. Then I discovered that I’d been a real boob about own boobs. Women shared with me their top questions and my research uncovered some surprising and uplifting answers.
Top 10 Mammary Myths:
1. The average female breast size is a C cup
The truth: Women come in all shapes and sizes---from AAA to KK (and beyond). The fastest growing segment of the bra industry is the larger cup sizes of DD and above. No one is sure why women’s breasts are getting bigger, but it has little to do with increased rates of breast augmentations.
2. Breast development ends in your early to mid-teens
The truth: Many women don't achieve their full boob growth until their mid-20s and breast tissue continues to change all the way through menopause. You may be an early or a late boob-bloomer!
3. You'll wear the same bra cup and band most of your life
The truth: Bra manufacturers estimate a woman wears 6 to 8 different sizes over the course of her lifetime. Breasts are more like moving targets on our chest, often changing two different sizes in one month.
4. Breasts are meant to be perfectly symmetrical
The truth: Most women have two different breasts on their chests and they are rarely “twins.”
5. Men prefer women with bigger breasts
The truth: Studies show that women over estimate the size of breasts that men prefer. Partners are more accepting of our bodies and seem to be happy to be around any breasts at all.
6. Women who opt for breast implants always do so to increase their cup size
The truth: The majority of women who have breast augmentations are married, with two kids (average age 34). Since breasts are mostly made of fat and not muscle, implants are the only way to add back volume lost from pregnancy. They may or may not choose to go bigger, and many others choose to change their implant size over time. Alternatively, just because a woman has large breasts doesn't mean she had a boob job (see #1 above).
7. More young girls are getting breast implants
The truth: In 2010, only 3 percent of all augmentations were performed on girls 18 to 19 years old. Statistics show that young boys undergo more breast reductions, than young girls get breast enlargements.
8. Bras cause breast cancer
The truth: Despite Internet rumors, there is no evidence that wearing a bra is related to increased incidence of breast cancer.
9. Women with small breasts can't breastfeed
The truth: Breast size is determined more by the amount of fat stored in a woman’s chest, not her underlying milk glands. Milk production is regulated by baby’s nursing demands. Many larger breasted women have difficulty with latch on and positioning due to their increased size.
10. If you don’t wear a bra, your breasts will sag
The truth: No one really knows what keeps our breasts afloat. It may have more to do with your DNA than anything we wrap around our breasts. Weight gain and loss, plus smoking decrease elasticity and lead to sagging skin. Although studies show that it’s important to have the proper support when you exercise so that you don’t stretch or break down breast tissue.
Bottom line? Know the facts about your body and embrace your breast life!
Elisabeth Dale is an author, speaker, and founder of TheBreastLife.com. Her book, bOObs: A Guide to Your Girls, features advice from experts together with personal stories and experiences (“mammoirs”). Check out her website or follow her on Twitter @thebreastlife.
Big or small breasts... Are just what you are born with. It's part of that lovely package that drives a man to do foolish things to make his lady friend find him worthy of her time and emotions.
That said... My first wife was a B cup that grew into a C cup as time passed. I found them lovely and just never thought about them too much. She did have exceptional legs and a full curve butt. The package was special.
Then... After the divorce and being single for 10 years I met Ms Volumptous. She is tall, top heavy and not to heavy in the seat. She was a competitor in business and we faught each other for every sale. Originally I thought it was that stunning body that got her all of that business but after I actually got to know her it became clear to me that her huge boobs just got doors open... Then her clever mind found a way to encourage her customer to see things her way. She knows how to use that package of beauty and brains to make men want to help her out. It is almost unfair for a woman to be given that combination of talent and beauty. I'm blessed that she is my friend and partner in life.
I've never been able to convience her to marry me but... That's the way she is.
Great article! I also thought that going bra-less led to sagging, and that a C cup was average (although I heard the latter during puberty, so it's old information).
I must admit, I always thought not wearing a bra made your breasts sag more. Not that I'd know, since I didn't have them period. But I did have a rather saggy female relative who my mom said did not wear a bra most of her life. Thinking back, she also has had serious weight fluctuation and smoked for 30+ years. AND was pretty active her whole life while probably not staying fully supported.
Now THAT I would never imagine!
What a great post! I can attest that women of any size can breast feed. I'm a small B and I made BIONIC milk.
Angie I literally just LOLed. I'm picturing some sort of cartoon about "Bionic Milk Mama."