Although breast size appears to be predetermined, there are many factors that can influence it.
Monthly cycle fluctuations aren't the only reason your breasts get smaller, feel sore, or have other strange symptoms.
Many of the changes are related to hormone levels, but breast size can also be affected by coffee consumption, weight changes, diet and physical activity.
We can say that your breasts can tell a lot about what is happening in your body and your health.
What factors actually influence breast size?Let's find out.
1. Genetics
While genetics isn't a death sentence, it definitely plays a big role in the size of breasts you'll have.
Breast size is a combination of genetic and environmental factors.Some people have a predisposition to large breasts.Furthermore, if we gain weight, our breasts also become larger.
Genes determine the basic parameters of the breast, but not the actual size.
For example, genetic predisposition affects the sagging, volume and shape of the breasts.But breast size can change throughout your life.
This doesn't mean that just because your mother and sister were size 3, you will necessarily be the same size.However, the probability is much higher than that of a woman born into a family where early breast size prevails.
2. Training
In general, you will hardly notice changes in your breasts, even if you do strenuous physical activity with weight lifting.The fact is that the mammary gland is located above the pectoral muscle, it is not part of it.
Many people believe that it is possible to endlessly pump the muscles located under the chest and this will not affect its shape and size in any way.
Although the exercises themselves do not enlarge the breasts, training the pectoral muscles can create the illusion of larger, firmer breasts.
Push-ups, bench press, pectorals are the main exercises that strengthen the pectoral muscles.
- Perform 3 sets of 20 push-ups at the beginning and the same number at the end of the workout.Use this complex at least 3 times a week.
- Chest flies are another useful exercise for the chest.Take dumbbells (or water bottles) in your hands, sit on a slightly inclined bench, keep your feet on the ground.Extend your arms out to the side (arms should be slightly bent) to chest height, then bring them back.Perform 3 sets of 15 repetitions three times a week.
3. Intimacy
The pleasure we feel during intimacy also temporarily increases the size of the breasts.
When we are excited, our heart rate increases, which increases blood flow to various parts of our body, including the chest.This causes the breasts to appear fuller and larger, although this effect is fleeting and can vary between women from barely noticeable to more impressive.
In any case, you shouldn't expect much just from physical intimacy.Once you get back on track, your breasts will also return to their normal size.
4. Phytoestrogen-based products
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Experts say that certain foods have the ability to influence the size of a woman's breasts.
During the transition period, the level of the hormone estrogen increases in girls, which leads to breast growth.At the end of the transition period, hormone levels normalize and breasts remain almost the same size throughout life.
Since the hormone estrogen promotes breast growth, products containing an estrogen analogue, if ingested, can also affect breast size.
Phytoestrogens are plant-based chemicals that attach to estrogen receptors in cells and behave like this hormone.
Phytoestrogens include: tofu, green soybeans, soybeans, sunflower seeds and flaxseeds.Carrots and beets also contain phytoestrogens, but they are recommended to be consumed in moderation as the side effects of consuming large quantities of phytoestrogen-rich foods are not yet fully known.
5. Your weight
The breast is made up of support tissue, mammary glands, and ducts, and the percentage of each varies from woman to woman.
For example, some women have more support tissue than fat and vice versa.If your breasts contain a fair amount of fat, you will notice changes in breast size as you lose or gain weight.
Most likely, the difference will be insignificant if you lose or gain a couple of kilograms, but it will become more noticeable with large fluctuations in weight.
6. Phases of the menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle can be roughly divided into two halves: from the first day of menstruation and before ovulation - the follicular phase, and after ovulation - the luteal phase.
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During the follicular phase, particularly between the 5th and 7th day after the start of menstruation, low levels of estrogen and progesterone are observed and breast volume is minimal.Since your breasts are not affected by hormones during this period, this is the most accurate indicator of what your breasts actually look like.
When hormone levels increase during ovulation, blood flow to the breasts increases and they become fuller, rounder and more sensitive.
In a study of more than 200 premenopausal women who underwent mammography, breast density and size were greatest during the luteal phase of the cycle.
If you notice anything unusual in your breasts, pay attention to changes at different points in your cycle, as it could simply be due to hormonal fluctuations.If the condition does not go away, see a doctor.
7. Spider bites
It is not known for what reason, but for some reason spiders like breasts.Some spider bites can cause an inflamed lump, which can make a woman think she has breast cancer.
In reality, this is most likely a reaction to a spider bite, which can be reduced with antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs.In any case, if you suspect a spider bite, you should consult a doctor.
Breast cancer doesn't appear overnight, so if you suddenly notice redness, swelling, and inflammation, it could be an insect bite.
8. Lavender oil
Lavender oil, which is often added to soaps, shampoos and laundry detergents, may cause abnormal breast growth, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
For example, in girls with premature breast development before age 8, breast growth symptoms stopped after they stopped using products containing lavender oil.
Lavender oil and tea tree oil are known to mimic the properties of estrogen and block testosterone.Scientists believe that these essential oils have antiandrogenic properties, which explains breast growth.
9. Pregnancy and breastfeeding
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During pregnancy, the breasts also undergo changes that prepare the body to breastfeed the baby.The blood vessels, ducts and lobules involved in milk production dilate and grow.This process leads to increased sensitivity, heaviness and increased size of the breasts.You may also notice that your areolas and nipples become enlarged.
A pregnant woman's breasts can grow several sizes due to hormonal changes and even more so during breastfeeding.
Immediately after giving birth, the level of the hormone prolactin in a woman's body increases, due to which the breasts begin to produce milk and swell even more.As a rule, breasts return to normal size 3-6 months after the end of breastfeeding.
If a woman has multiple children, the effect may be more significant, and the size and shape of the breasts will be different after numerous births and feedings.
10. Contraception
Birth control not only prevents pregnancy and helps regulate your menstrual cycle.Hormonal methods such as birth control pills and intrauterine devices can, in fact, affect breast size.
When oral contraceptives were introduced on the market, their estrogen content was very high, which is why women's breasts became significantly larger.
Modern products contain only a fifth of the hormones originally present, so the effect is not as noticeable.However, it is completely normal if you notice a slight enlargement of your breasts when you start using hormone treatments.This is mainly due to the fact that estrogen leads to increased fluid retention in the body.
11. Your age
Your breasts will probably never be the same as when you were 16.Most women's breasts lose firmness over time and this is normal.This is mainly due to the loss of elasticity and stretching of the ligaments.
Although changes in the breast are a normal process, sudden enlargement, changes in the shape and density of the breast should alert you and be a reason to consult a doctor.
12. Good posture
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It seems pretty obvious, but this is another reason why you need to stop slouching.With good posture, any breast will appear firm and toned.
When you have a strong and muscular corset, the back is well supported, there is no bending forward, the shoulders are not closed, the chest looks bigger, as it does not sag but protrudes.
How to correct your posture
First of all, you need to constantly be aware of how you hold your body.The habit of slouching is not so easy to break, but the more often you think about your posture, it will improve.
- Your weight should rest mostly on the balls of your feet.
- Your knees are slightly bent and your feet are shoulder width apart.
- Straighten your shoulders, arms hang freely at the sides of your body.
- Tighten your stomach.
- The head should be positioned so that the ears are at shoulder level.There is no need to tilt your head forward, backward or to the side.
- Shift your weight from your toes to your heels or from one foot to the other if you have to stand for a long time.
13. Caffeine
Did you know that a coffee habit can affect your breasts?Researchers at Lund and Malmö University in Sweden have found that excessive coffee consumption can lead to smaller breasts.
If you drink no more than one or two cups of coffee a day, it is unlikely to affect the size of your breasts.However, women who drank more than three cups of coffee a day had breasts that were on average 17 percent smaller than those who didn't drink coffee.
Scientists say nearly half of women have a genetic mutation that links coffee consumption to breast size.
This may be because coffee affects estrogen, the female sex hormones.But coffee also has its benefits.For example, researchers have found that it reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.
14. Breast implants
If you have breast implants, you probably don't wonder if your breasts are getting bigger.However, the use of breast implants can cause some of the breast tissue to atrophy.
This is because implants put pressure on the breast tissue, causing it to deteriorate over time.
And anyway, if you have breast implants, it's harder to notice any changes in your breast tissue, so you should have your doctor check your breasts regularly.
15. Menopause
Breasts are a hormone-dependent tissue, so it would be logical to assume that they will become smaller with the onset of menopause due to decreasing estrogen levels.However, this is not entirely true.
On average, women gain a pound a year after menopause.This is due to decreased physical activity and decreased lean muscle mass, as well as a shift in hormones that causes more fat to accumulate in the abdominal area.
Unfortunately, gaining more than 9 kilograms in weight increases your risk of developing breast cancer by 18%.
Additionally, Cooper's ligaments, a connective tissue that acts like an internal bra, stretch over time.
For this reason, with age, the breasts become softer and begin to sag.