Changes in Breast Forms from Time to Time

From puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, to menopause, women's breast forms can change. In general, this change is natural, although there are also those who consider it abnormal. Therefore, consider the following explanation about changes in breast shape. The position of a woman's breasts is located in front of the chest muscles. The breast itself is composed of several tissues, such as fat, connective tissue, blood vessels, and mammary glands. This mammary gland plays an important role in producing milk. Basically, the size and shape of each woman's breasts is different. This difference is usually influenced by the amount of fat and hormonal changes that occur along with the normal life cycle.

Development of Breast Forms

The following are the stages of changes in breast forms that occur during the life cycle, from puberty to menopause:

• Breast forms at puberty

When a woman enters puberty, her body will produce and release the hormone estrogen. The release of this hormone makes the shape of breasts that previously looked like boys, will begin to grow and develop. This change in shape occurs because the hormone estrogen stimulates the mammary glands in the breast.

• Breast shape during menstruation

The production of estrogen and progesterone will increase when you experience your first menstrual cycle. The increase in these two hormones triggers the growth and development of tissue in the breast. At this stage, the breasts will appear larger and denser. This change in breast shape occurs in preparation for a possible pregnancy. But if pregnancy does not occur, then the breast will return to normal size.

• Breast shape during pregnancy

During pregnancy, changes in levels of pregnancy hormones, such as the hormones progesterone, estrogen, and prolactin, cause changes in breast shape in preparation for breastfeeding. The mammary glands will be stimulated to produce milk in the period before delivery.

• Breast shape during lactation

When you breastfeed, the hormones estrogen and progesterone will decrease. The decrease of these two hormones will be replaced by the hormone prolactin. The prolactin hormone plays a role in producing breast milk, making the breasts become denser, firmer, and bigger. In addition, the nipples will also be enlarged and the color of the areola become darker. After the breastfeeding period, the breast tissue will shrink back and return to the shape of the breast before you gave birth.

• Breast shape during menopause

Breast atrophy or wasting occurs when women are 40 to 50 years old, when they reach menopause. This breast reduction occurs when the hormone estrogen decreases. As a result, the mammary glands and breast tissue lose its elasticity so it will become loose. In addition to sagging, other changes in breasts that can occur when entering menopause are the appearance of stretch marks, widening the distance between breasts, and the appearance of breasts becoming flatter. Some people consider breastfeeding to be one of the factors that makes sagging breasts. However, the actual breast loss is caused by various other factors, such as drastic changes in body weight, excessive physical activity, and smoking.

Unbalanced shape changes in both breasts can cause breast asymmetry. Breast asymmetry is a condition in which one breast is larger than the other. Even though it's not a worrisome condition, you still need to be alert to the symptoms that accompany it. Moreover, if one breast becomes bigger suddenly. In general, changes in breast forms are natural and not dangerous. But as we get older, the risk of developing certain diseases of the breast will increase. For that, do your own breast examination (BSE) and breast examinations to the doctor regularly, to be aware of and detect early if there are abnormalities.