When it comes to "breasts," almost everyone has them, but not everyone understands them! If you care about your appearance, you might be concerned about the size and shape of your nipples, but when faced with questions about "breasts," you often only have a vague understanding: "Why are my breasts different sizes?" "Why have my nipples turned dark?" "Why is hair growing around my nipples?!" That's when you need to learn a few things about nipples.
I. Functions of the nipple
The nipple, the round protrusion in the center of the breast, is of great significance to women: it has a lactation function, with milk secreted and discharged from the mammary ducts through the nipple, bearing the important responsibility of nurturing the next generation; the nipple contains abundant nerve endings, making it an important erogenous zone for women.
On another note, if it's just two small dots, then for men, there really isn't any other significance besides distinguishing the front from the back.
II. Things You Didn't Know About Nips
1. Breast size: It is normal for breasts to be asymmetrical, with one being larger than the other!
Just as no two leaves are alike, a person's two nipples are also different; some are larger than others. As long as the nipples do not affect milk production and there are no other discomforts, it is generally acceptable to leave them as they are different sizes. However, if the difference in size occurs in a short period of time, it should be taken seriously as it may be a sign of breast disease, and a gynecologist should be consulted as soon as possible.
2. Nipple color: Darkening of nipple color is unrelated to sexual experience.
Some people hold the prejudice that dark-colored nipples in women indicate a rich sexual history. However, the color of skin is actually determined by the number of melanocytes in the body. The nipples and areolas have more melanocytes and are more prone to pigmentation due to the influence of sex hormones. As women age, the differences in local skin color become more pronounced.
During puberty, most people's nipples and areolas are rose-pink, while a few are more brownish. During pregnancy and lactation, changes in estrogen and progesterone levels increase melanin production in the skin's melanocytes. Besides pigmentation and hormonal influences, nipple and areola color is also affected by racial differences, genetics, environmental factors, and individual skin tone.
3. It's normal for nipples to have hair.
It's normal for women to have fine hairs growing on their areolas; this doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with your nipples. If you don't like the hair, you can have it removed with wax. However, if the hair grows too thickly, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as acne, obesity, or irregular menstruation, you should be wary of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
4. Nipple retraction is a common symptom.
Approximately 10% to 20% of women have inverted nipples to varying degrees, and having inverted nipples is not something to be ashamed of.
Women with mild nipple inversion can gently massage the areola with their thumb and forefinger. Moderate to severe nipple inversion can make breastfeeding more difficult and may cause milk stasis, which can be improved by using breastfeeding tools. Severe nipple inversion requires a doctor's visit, and surgery may be necessary to correct it.
5. Nipple sensitivity varies from person to person.
It's well known that nipples are a sensitive area, and some women may react to even slight stimulation, instantly becoming aroused. However, not everyone's nipples are sensitive. (Nipple protrusion doesn't necessarily indicate arousal; it could also be due to factors such as cold air or friction from clothing.)
There is a type of orgasm called a "nipple orgasm," where a woman can reach orgasm simply by her husband stimulating her nipples, without having sexual intercourse. This is because the brain's excitation pattern in response to nipple stimulation is the same as that in response to vaginal sensory cortex stimulation. There is also a condition called "heartbreak nipple syndrome," where individuals experiencing nipple stimulation do not experience arousal but instead feel sadness or distress.
6. If you can squeeze "water" from your nipple, seek medical attention promptly.
If a woman experiences discharge when she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, it may indicate a problem that requires prompt medical attention.
Serous: Seen in early pregnancy, normal menstrual period, and cystic hyperplasia;
Yellow, brown, or green: commonly seen in chronic mastitis;
Milky white: Commonly seen around the time of lactation, and in galactocele cysts;
Purulent: Seen in acute mastitis or breast abscess, etc.
Bloody fluid: Commonly seen in intraductal papillary tumors, intraductal papillary carcinomas, duct ectasia, chronic mastitis, etc.
