Breast Development

Female Breast Developmental Stages
Stage-1 (Preadolescent) only the tip of the nipple is raised
Stage-2 buds appear, breast and nipple raised, and the areola (dark area of skin that surrounds the nipple) enlarges
Stage-3 breasts are slightly larger with glandular breast tissue present
Stage-4 the areola and nipple become raised and form a second mound above the rest of the breast
Stage-5 mature adult breast; the breast becomes rounded and only the nipple is raised

Does everyone develop breasts at the same time?


No. It is very normal for some girls to start to develop breasts when they are 7 or 8 years old, while others don’t start until they are 12 or 13. Every girl has her own “clock” that her body follows. For example, girls who do gymnastics, dance, track, or some other very active sport may go through puberty at a later age. Even if your development is normal, it is still hard if you seem to be the first one or the last one to develop breasts. Talk to a parent or an adult that you trust and tell him/her how you are feeling. If you develop early, remember that other girls will soon catch up. It is a good idea to talk with your health care provider if you have not started any breast development by the time you are 13 years old.

Your breasts start growing when you begin puberty. Puberty is the name for the time when your body goes through changes and you begin to go from being a child to an adult. During puberty the hormone levels in your body change and this causes your breasts to develop and your menstrual periods to start. Heredity (the way certain characteristics are passed down from generation to generation) and nutrition determine when you are going to begin puberty and develop breasts.

Things to Expect:

Your breasts may feel tender, sore, or uncomfortable during puberty.
Your breasts may give out a little bit of milk as they’re growing.
One breast might develop faster than the other.

These differences will eventually fad out, and your breasts won’t feel as tender.

Because your breasts are new, and not everyone will get them at the same time, they may get a lot of attention. Keep in mind that everyone’s breasts are different, no matter their shape or size, your breast are a unique part of you.

Breast Anatomy:

Breast shape is determined by the amount of Fatty Tissue it contains. Breasts are made up of Fatty Tissue, Milk Glands, and Milk Ducts (carries the milk from the gland to the Nipple).

Nipples come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some girl’s nipples get hard and stick out when they’re cold, or when they’re aroused. Some girls have inverted nipples; inverted nipples stick inward instead of outward.

Breast Development in Females
It’s an exciting time when your breasts finally start growing. And often an anxious time, with lots of worries… like how big will they get, will they look good, and is anything wrong with mine? So here is the basic information you need to know about healthy breasts. The development of tender breast “buds” is usually the first sign of puberty in girls. Some girls notice breast growth as early as age 7 or 8, while others don’t start until age 13 or so. The timing is determined by your own biologic “clock” that tells your body to start producing high levels of female hormones. Breasts go through five “stages” of growth over the next five to six years, until their full maturity is reached by age 17 or 18. The final size of a girl’s breasts is determined by heredity and can range from very small (like bra size AA) to very full (such as size EE). Breast size varies greatly among women, and all sizes and shapes are normal and healthy.

The breast made up of milk glands and ducts, connective tissue and fat. In teenagers and young women the breast tissue is firm and dense, and then becomes softer and more fatty with age. There is no muscle tissue in the breast, which is why there are no exercises to make them bigger. However, the pectoral muscles that lie underneath the breasts can be firmed up to provide lift and shape (think of the “pecs” on male body builders.) Since the breasts do contain lots of fat cells, women will notice their bra size increases with weight gain.

Nature designed a woman’s breast to produce milk for her baby. In our society however, the breast is often viewed as a symbol of femininity and sexual attractiveness, so it is normal for a young woman to have lots of questions about her breasts.