Let’s talk about breasts. You may know them as mammaries, boobs, boobies, bosoms — you can even call them t*ts if you want to.
Edited by Nicole Pacardo | Original photo from ABS-CBN News
People have thought of every name out there to describe these two “shapeshifters” that nearly half of the population have resting on the front of their chests. But for some reason, a number of people still can’t accept that for every word used to describe mammary glands, there are infinite varieties of them, a lot more than simple labels can contain.
Flashback to my young hopeful self at the beginning of puberty during primary school. My boy classmates did not shy away from teasing the girls who “developed” earlier than the usual age of maturity. Unfortunately, the sexualization of women, even only for undergoing normal bodily functions, had been incessantly happening even as young as we were back then. They were indeed despicable circumstances, but little did my past self know that the worst is yet to come in this patriarchal society we live in.
As growing girls, breast comparisons between female friends and peers could not be helped. It almost seemed like boobies were one of the vital representations of womanhood (totally not accurate, by the way).
Pancakes and mosquito bites, you name it. These were only some of the labels that were quickly ingrained in the mind of the 11-year-old me who was just learning and is only about to experience adolescent breast development. I was already devastated that I did not luck out in the height department. And when the time finally came, my breasts were not exactly the redeeming factor I had hoped for. Or so I thought.
I remember persistently asking my mother about breast growth, in so much fear of being a late-bloomer or having no development at all. That was when I was told that my mother also peaked late, and well-endowed girls often came rare and unpredictable in the family. So my young self has come to the realization that breast size and shape are mainly thanks to genetics.
GIF from Tenor
It is no surprise that breasts are actually hereditary, and every person has equal chances of inheriting from either parent’s chest characteristics. This explains why your sister may have larger bosoms than you do. Genetics play a vital factor in determining not only the size and shape of the breast but also its tissue density.
If only I could turn back time, I would tell younger me not to be too hard on herself. Since as we grow older, we continue to learn that breasts rely on many other important factors aside from genetics.
The more I learned about the female body and embraced my own, the less I got insecure. It took me a while, and I still relapse sometimes. But the road to growth and acceptance is never linear, as the famous saying goes. Even the most famous and confident female celebrities were unsuccessful in averting random criticism and conversations about their beloved bosoms on the internet.
"The more I learned about the female body and embraced my own, the less I got insecure."
Ellen Adarna responds to a critic on Instagram | Unedited photos from Cosmopolitan
Ellen’s response affirms the breasts’ utmost biological function: to keep babies fed, of course.
And although genetics play a vital role in breast shape and size…
Breasts also reliably adjust along with hormonal changes.
GIF from Tenor
Hormones cover everything from the basic menstrual cycle (where breast density is highest after ovulation) to pregnancy (where the body releases prolactin during lactation) and menopause. During these hormonal shifts, breasts alternately gain and lose fullness. The main culprit for this is the fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone levels. These hormones are responsible for the stimulation of growth in your mammary glands.
As your body undergoes natural changes, so do your bosoms.
Age, weight, and overall lifestyle can influence the size and shape of the breasts, areolae, and nipples.
GIF from PopSugar
According to plastic surgeon Dr. Constance Chen, breasts also become larger as people gain weight. But this is not applicable to all women due to breast tissue and density differences. It is also important to note that gaining fat means acquiring it in your entire body, not just in the breasts.
On the other hand, breasts get noticeably smaller when under a strict diet or intensive/regular workouts. Why? It’s because when the body burns more calories than it consumes, it starts to use its reserved fat proportionally. And even though fat plays a big part in breast tissue and density, breasts are not just “fat.”
GIF from Pinterest
In fact, breast structure comprises a combination of glandular, connective, and fatty tissues along with a complex system of glands and ducts (including your nipple). These ducts are pretty much a one-size-fits-all, but the adipose tissue can be susceptible to weight fluctuations.
That said, weight can have a lasting impact on breast appearance and composition. Thus, rapid weight loss affects collagen and elastin production, which are hormones that help keep the boobs perky.
Speaking of “perkiness,” this fades over time due to the production of fewer reproductive hormones such as estrogen. Since estrogen is also responsible for fat storage, decreasing estrogen levels leads to the loss of glandular tissue (which could affect one’s breast size and shape).
Skin elasticity also decreases as we age, and thus, sagging is inevitable, unless, of course, you have corrective surgery.
Sometimes, you can even blame things on gravity too.
GIF from MTV UK
My Tatas are not Equal and That's Okay
Some have tried to classify breast shapes and sizes based on appearances alone. But let me tell you that there are no official or medical classifications for the variety of breast shapes and sizes out there.
"There are no official or medical classifications for the variety of breast shapes and sizes out there."
Published data have shown that only one out of 504 women had symmetrical breasts (British Cancer Research 2006). Symmetry is actually rarer than your left boob not twinning with your right. Nobody is perfect, after all, just like what Barbie Imperial emphasized in an Instagram comment.
Asymmetrical boobs should not be a big deal, unless severe and may constitute a medical emergency. If prominent differences in volume are noticed, inform your doctor immediately to preclude the risks of breast cancer.
That aside, boobs of all shapes and sizes are normal. With breasts considered a feminine symbol in a patriarchal society, the ideal breast size and symmetry concept still resonates with many people amidst the years of efforts in body positivity and women empowerment.
What constitutes the “ideal breasts” has ricocheted back and forth for centuries, which only tells us that the notion of having “perfect breasts” is nothing but an illusion. Instead, we should pay attention to understanding all of the misconceptions about the female body and focus on acquiring more confidence in learning to love our bosoms.
"What constitutes the “ideal breasts” has ricocheted back and forth for centuries, which only tells us that the notion of having “perfect breasts” is nothing but an illusion."
Graphics by: Sofia Vinuya
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