Sex, Etc. -- Breasts: What's their purpose?

Breasts: What's their purpose?

The breasts are wonderfully versatile body parts. They’re built to be a baby’s first source of nutrition. And they’re also part of your sexuality, a sensitive area that, when touched, can give pleasure.

Breasts come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors – all beautiful in their own way. (So, stop worrying about how your breasts compare to others!) Even though breasts may look different, they all have pretty much the same parts.

The light pink to dark brown circle in the center of each breast is called the areola. The smaller part inside the areola is the nipple. Some women also have smaller bumps in the areola, and some have hair growing out of the areola, and that is normal. Some women have very large areolas and some women have very small areolas. Some women have nipples that stick out, and others have ones that never surface. Some breasts are round and others are long.

Breasts play a dual role. Inside, breasts are made up of fatty tissue and milk ducts. When a mother decides to breast feed, her baby receives not only nutrition but also protective antibodies from her breast milk. Not all women decide to breast feed, but doctors say it gives infants the best form of nutrition.

Breasts are also sexual. When they’re touched, the nipples often fill with blood and become firm. This can happen when a woman is sexually excited, and when she’s cold. Some women say they like their breasts to be touched sexually. But others say they’d just as soon skip that type of touching.

While you may not need to worry about breast cancer now, it is something you should know about. You should know what your breasts feel like so if there are any changes – like a lump developing – you know it sooner rather than later. That’s why doctors recommend women do a breast self-exam at least once a month. The best time to do an exam is right after your period ends. You use your fingertips to gently feel your breasts and under your arms to check for any lumps or swellings. For more information about how to do a self-exam, click here.

Remember, if you feel anything unusual, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your health care provider.

Your Comments

RE: grow

Posted by: DanR on Apr 22nd, 2008 12:34pm

The time that a female's breasts will stop growing will vary
from girl to girl, but it is generally around age 17 or 18.
The final size of a girl's breasts will be determined by
heredity and can vary in size. Breast size does vary
greatly and (as you read above) all shapes and sizes are
normal and healthy.

my breasts

Posted by: uncertainfreak on Apr 20th, 2008 5:50pm

I confess mine have barely gotten bigger, than small eggs,
awhile ago. I confess i have breast hair and (once)i was soo
embarrassed that i tried to shave it off, which was the
dumbest thing to do, since i have bumps on my boobs now. I
also confess that when i was younger i wanted my boobs to
get bigger so i tried to stretch them out (which hurt
lol). Btw, does anyone know what those bumps probably are
and how to make them go away???

grow

Posted by: xxrockerrachelxx on Apr 18th, 2008 8:42pm

when do brest stop grwoing?

RE: weird breasts!

Posted by: DanR on Feb 18th, 2008 2:38pm

As it says above, breasts come in all different shapes,
sizes and colors and are all beautiful in their own way.
The most important part of feeling comfortable about your
breasts (or any part of your body) is to accept them as they
are, and not try to change them, but try to change how you
view them. This is called improving your body image. Here
is a link to a FAQ on body image that might help:
http://www.sexetc.org/faq/body_image/733.

weird breasts!

Posted by: iluvmyman on Feb 17th, 2008 9:38pm

my breasts are weird...i usually leave my bra on during
sex...i guess here it says that sum breasts never surface,
but i want mine 2 b normal..i feel really self conscious
bout em...how can i get my breasts to come out? does that
mean im not fully developed? cuhs im in college now n this
is getting pretty ridiculous...

RE: breast hair..

Posted by: DanR on Jan 3rd, 2008 8:16am

Don't stress…it is perfectly normal. Some women do have
hair on their breasts and others do not. Just as breasts
come in all different shapes, sizes and colors, this is one
more variation that they can have.

breast hair..

Posted by: jtdpthr18 on Jan 2nd, 2008 12:55am

what if you have it? does everyone? does it mean anything?

Re: hi.

Posted by: lizzieml7 on Sep 7th, 2007 5:19pm

Feeling your breasts is just a way to masturbate and it is
perfectly normal if you like the feeling. It does not mean
you are bisexual or lesbian.

hi: answered

Posted by: StacieS on Jul 2nd, 2007 5:16pm

Nope, that doesn't mean you are bisexual or lesbian. It just
means you appreciate and like your own body. It is common
for people to feel turned on just by touching or looking at
their own bodies - whether they are straight, bi, gay or
questioning their identity.

hi.

Posted by: deppconfusion on Jun 25th, 2007 3:45pm

i like the feeling of my breasts in my hands. does that mean
i'm bisexual or lesbian?

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