Why Are My Breasts Suddenly Getting Bigger?

Women’s bodies are made unique, especially due to milk-producing glands called breasts. This part, by the will of nature, develops throughout the woman’s life till menopause. There are several stages of normal breast development as the body goes through puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. However, this duration and growth varies with each woman.

If you’re also concerned about knowing, “Why are my breasts suddenly getting bigger?” this article is for you! It’s crucial to identify the difference between normal breast growth and sudden growth as the problem can be any – from a small infection to severe diseases, like breast cancer.

So, if you recently observed that your breasts are suddenly getting bigger, you should know why it is happening to make it clearer. Let’s quickly delve into knowing the common reasons behind this growth.

Reasons for Sudden Breast Growth

Here are some of the reasons why your breasts are getting bigger:

Menstruation

Menstruation is a common phenomenon occurring in women. A female’s body undergoes many changes during the menstrual cycle, including increased breast size. This increase in the size occurs due to the rise in progesterone and estrogen levels in the body just after ovulation. At this time, the breasts not only look bigger, but they get highly sensitive.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Substantial changes occur in a woman’s body due to pregnancy and breastfeeding. The hormone levels change during pregnancy, which affects the breast size and structure. The breasts prepare themselves for lactation by increasing the size of mammary glands. Furthermore, breastfeeding releases other hormones, such as prolactin and oxytocin, which are essential for milk production. The breasts experience fullness during the early stages of breastfeeding, which makes the breasts look even bigger.

Weight Gain

Our breasts contain adipose tissue, also known as fat, responsible for providing support and volume to the breasts. When weight gain occurs, our body stores the calories as fat. Our bodies distribute this fat in various areas, including the breasts. As the portion of fatty tissue increases, the breast size increases, and they get bigger. The degree of change in breast size due to weight gain can vary among individuals as hormonal factors and genetics determine where the body stores fats and it’s different for each individual.

Age Factor

Breast development usually starts in puberty – between the ages of 8 and 13. This is because a woman’s body starts experiencing hormonal changes, which is the production of estrogen and progesterone. With that said, the complete development of this milk-producing gland is observed till the age of 18. However, it may continue to grow in their early twenties as well. While this body growth peaks in the late teens, the breasts start losing their glandular tissues around menopause at almost 45 to 55 years of age, ultimately causing sagging. Overall, age has an influential role in a woman’s life when it comes to breast development and body growth as her body goes through a lot of hormonal changes.

Common Questions about Breasts Getting Bigger

Since every woman’s breast development is different and each goes through different stages, it is common to have questions about the breast development process and the changes in its size. Here are some questions with answers to help you understand the change in your breast size.

Why are my Breasts Getting Bigger after Menopause?

During menopause, changes occur in the body composition and hormone levels. A decrease in the production of estrogen and progesterone occurs. These hormones are responsible for maintaining the density of the breast tissue. A decline in the concentration of these hormones leads to an increase in the proportion of the fatty tissues, which plays a significant role in increasing breast size. Menopause usually occurs around the age of 50, and at this point, your breasts will lose their elasticity, and they may start sagging, which can make them appear bigger than usual.

Why Do Breasts Hurt When They Grow?

As a girl enters puberty, the body undergoes significant hormonal changes. The level of estrogen and progesterone increases, and your breasts begin to grow under the stimulation of these hormones. Changes in the hormones can affect the amount of fluid present in your breasts, making your breasts sensitive, which can often hurt when you touch them. These hormonal changes occur throughout a woman’s life, during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause.

What Foods Make Your Breasts Bigger?

There is no scientific evidence that eating certain foods will increase breast size. Breast size depends upon factors like genetics and hormones. However, eating a healthy diet involving proteins and fibers and weight gain may lead to breast growth. Foods that increase the production of estrogen and progesterone or contain these hormones can be helpful for breast growth. Soy products, milk, and fennel seeds are known to have reproductive hormones responsible for breast development.

When to Consult a Doctor?

A person should always consult the doctor if they feel or see something unusual about their breasts. For example, if you find a lump in your breast, it is essential to seek medical attention to make sure if it is cancerous or not. Common signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:

• Swelling of breasts
• Discharge from the breasts
• Pain in nipple
• Nipple turning inward

One should rule out these symptoms immediately if they find a lump in the breast. Or if you see a spot on your breast that is red and painful, get it examined by a doctor, as it might be due to some infection.

How to Make Breasts Bigger?

Most of the women are not satisfied with their breast size. Some desire them to be big, and others want them small. If you are wondering about how to make your breasts bigger, read the following points:

• Over-the-counter Medications: There are some over-the-counter lotions and ointments containing phytoestrogens and aphrodisiacs claiming to enlarge the breasts, but there is little to no evidence that they will work.
• Exercise: Certain exercises, such as chest presses and pullovers, can increase muscle strength, size, and shape. However, these exercises will not directly increase your breast size. They are mainly used to tone your chest muscles.
• Massage: There have been many misconceptions that massaging the breasts can increase their size, but unfortunately, that is not true. Massage does not affect the breast size.
• Push-up Bras: If you want to make your breasts look bigger, you can wear a push-up bra. These padded bras lift the chest tissue, making your breasts appear bigger.
• Breast Augmentation: Changing your breast size non-surgically is highly unlikely; therefore, there are surgical ways for breast enlargement. Breast augmentation is a surgery performed to increase breast size, and it gives prominent results.

Conclusion

The development of the breasts is a natural process, and breasts go through different stages of development during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. The breast size increases during these stages due to various factors, including weight gain and hormonal changes. Estrogen and progesterone levels directly influence breast growth. Most of the time, this increase in breast size is entirely normal. Diet or exercise cannot alter the breast size. Only breast augmentation can make your breasts bigger. It is crucial to consult a doctor if you observe an abnormal or sudden growth in your breasts to rule out cancer as soon as possible.