Make Your BREAST GUESS

No.two breasts not even your own!) are identical in shape, size, or feel. But it’s important to pay attention to what makes each one of yours unique so you can spot peculiarities early and start conversations with your health care providers if need be. Consider this your friendly guide to what changes to expect through the years and. what to do if something feels or looks unusual so you can take steps toward better breast health.

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Your breasts should always feel the same.

▶ False. Breasts respond to hormonal changes throughout the month and all through your life. "When you're young, the breasts feel firm and dense because there's more connective tissue and less fatty tissue," says Teralyn Carter, M.D., a breast surgeon and oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Cooper University Health Care in Houston. "But as we age there's less glandular tissue and more fat, so they may feel softer." They may also feel more, well, stretched out, because as time passes the connective tissue that holds their weight loses elasticity and breasts may become more pendulous-especially after menopause, at which point breasts are mostly fat. Menopausal people on hormone therapy (HT), however, tend to have more glandular tissue, so their breasts still may feel firm. And if you still menstruate, you may notice that your breasts become swollen or tender before your period each month. During pregnancy, breast enlargement and tenderness as well as nipple darkening and leakage are totally normal.

THE TAKEAWAY:

The truth is, people's breasts change differently over time, and there's not one specific pattern as to how, Dr. Carter says. Get to know what's normal for your body, and if you feel something unusual at any time, talk to your doctor. "You know your breasts better than anyone else," says Dr. Carter.

Having dense breasts is a medical condition.