Nip. Dug. Sensitive Chest Raisin. Teat. Pacifier. Boobknob.
Ladies…I present to you…your NIPPLES! Last week, we delved into why the hell men these little mammillas (rhymes with vanilla). Now we go on to WHAT’S UP WITH THESE NUBBINS THAT SIT ON TOP OF MOUND LEFT AND MOUND RIGHT.
Before we begin digging into the types of nipples, let’s all get on the same page as to what nipples are. Nipples are the lil’ round part of your breast inside of the areola. For some folks, this is where milk comes from if they’re chestfeeding; for others, this is a prime real estate for a piercing.
Whatever function they have for you, let’s be clear: nipples are not the tan, pink, brown portion of your breasts. The usually darker circle, oval or ellipses around the nipple is called the areola (rhymes with Motorola). Just like vajayjays, there are tons of variations in nipples and areolas.
What are these types of nipples, you say, Dr. B?
Protruding nipples are when the nipple literally protrudes out of the areola. These pointy nips come in a variety of lengths. They can point up. They can point down. Left. Right. You name it. They usually are raised a few millimeters above the surface of the areola and point out. They look like they can cut glass. These are commonly what we talk about with “headlights on.”
Flat or Puffy nipples are when the entire nipple is flat with the areola. When a flat-nippled person is cold or their nips are stimulated, the nipples typically come out to play (again, headlights!). Puffy nipples are a common term for these nipples, and it’s referring to puffier areolas. This shape occurs when the nipple and areola puff up together and look like lil’ hills on the breast.
Inverted nipples contract into the breast. Sometimes you can coax these nipples out if you apply pressure or slight pulling around the nipple. These women often struggle with breastfeeding but it’s still totally doable with a little seashell device called “breastshells” (literally I can’t make this up).
Unilateral Inverted means that, if you have two breasts, one is inverted and the other isn’t (wink). This is totally fine and wonderful if your breasts have always been this way, but, if one of your nipples has recently become a bit more introverted, we gotta worry about other things, such as a breast mass. Ask your trusted provider to check it out for you.
So you see my accessory nipple
And say I’m a “bosomy cripple”?
Whatever; my nub’ll
Beat anyone’s double—
I’ve got me a mammary triple!
(author unknown but we know he’s got a third teat!)
Polythelia is a condition in which extra nipples appear in humans. Accessory nipples (also known as supernumerary nipples) are present at birth and occur in just 2% of all women, and even less frequently in men. They appear along lines that occur on both sides of the torso starting in the armpit and extending downward to the groin; extra nipples can appear anywhere along those lines, but are most commonly found below the left breast. Just like puppies! Accessory nipples usually do not cause problems and therefore don’t normally require medical treatment, though some people with polythelia choose to have them surgically removed. Actor Mark Wahlberg is widely known to have an extra nipple below his left breast, and the animated Simpsons character Krusty the Clown is likewise afflicted. And who can forget Chandler Bing’s third one (google Bing-a-ling for hilarious October-worthy memes for your friends!)
Do I have tit zits?
Whoa, sister, don’t panic. Let’s take a quick step back. So, we discussed different kinds of nipples above, but now what about those bumps around the nipples? These are not tit zits! Lots of folks have little bumps around their nipples; these bumps on the areolas are called Montgomery Glands. These glands are sebaceous, so they secrete sebum, which is a lubricating oil. Why the hell do breasts need lube? Well…we aren’t altogether sure (no one has supported that research grant yet). There is one theory: the sebum secretes a scent that could point newborns in the right direction for breastfeeding.
But what about the shape?
This is a question I get a lot! Not shocking, the internet is full of crap. Breast shapes vary widely. If you have two breasts, they can be the similar sizes or cup-fulls apart. They can be Nat Geo style, then can rise as high as Tori Spelling’s. They can point outward like Marty Feldman’s eyeballs.
Your breasts can change with weight loss, age, or where you are on your cycle. Seriously…with breastfeeding? How big did yours get? I got up to a G cup!!! So, the punch line here is not to get too hung up on shape, but get to know what’s normal for YOU.
Quick word about breast tissue:
Breasts are pretty amazing. Breast tissue is made up of milk glands, milk ducts, supportive tissue and fatty tissue. The supportive tissue in your breasts is considered dense, and the fatty tissue non-dense.
Some chicas have pretty dense breast tissue. Maybe you’ve heard this during a mammogram or in preparation for one, but what does it mean? It just means that your breast tissue looks denser (aka whiter) on a mammogram. As mentioned above, supportive tissue is denser, so you have more supportive tissue than fatty tissue, are younger, have a lower BMI, or take hormone replacement therapy for menopause. I wanted to cry when I had no dense tissue at my last mammo, but happy to report the girls are hangin’ in just fine! Dense breast tissue is totally normal and common, but it could mean that your care provider will recommend additional screening options for breast cancer.
Stay tuned because next week…we talk about BOOB ART and other weird and cool tit tips.
Love,
Dr. B!
