When does bust growth begin?
So, let's figure out at what age do breasts begin to grow? It is impossible to give an exact answer to this question, since everything here depends on the individual characteristics of a particular organism. The growth of the mammary glands and the age at which this process occurs depends on hormonal levels. It often happens that by the age of 9-10 a girl already has noticeable roundness. In most cases, the process of bust enlargement is observed around 12-13 years.
Other indicators of puberty:
- The appearance of hair in the armpits and pubic area.
- Increased sweating in a girl.
- Beginning of menstruation.
- The hips and pelvis become more rounded.
- The daughter often becomes shy, withdrawn, and does not make contact with her parents.
During this period, it is very important to try to explain to the child that all the physiological changes that occur at this stage are a completely normal process and should not be embarrassed. It is better if the conversation is conducted by your mother or older sister.
Until what age can breasts grow?
The fact is that establishing a constant hormonal balance in the body of each girl is a strictly individual process, which is why it is impossible to say with certainty how long the process of full puberty will last. The beginning of puberty is considered to be the appearance of the first menstruation and an increase in the volume of the mammary glands. This process lasts for several years, on average from 5 to 8. 80% of girls 2 years from the start of their first menstruation have a stable breast size (that is, the breasts no longer grow).
It is not possible to know exactly to what size a girl’s breasts will grow. However, every young representative of the fair sex has the opportunity to predict this. The size of the mammary glands directly depends on hereditary factors. To guess your possible future breast size, just look at your mother and women in your immediate family line. Just remember that pregnancy and breastfeeding almost always introduce adjustments to the shape, size and position of the breast. During pregnancy and lactation, there is an active change in hormonal status and, as a result, a change in the shape and size of the mammary glands.
The mammary glands undergo restructuring processes throughout a woman’s life. However, this does not mean that they constantly change shapes and sizes. All changes occur internally at the cellular-structural level.
How to calculate the period of stopping breast growth in a girl?
To understand when approximately the process of increasing roundness should stop, doctors use a simple formula. It looks like this: the age at which menstruation began, plus 3-5 years. That is, for example, if a daughter’s period began at the age of 13, then by the age of 16-18 the bust should have already formed.
Expert opinion
Ksenia Dunaeva
User experience expert and comment moderator. Higher medical education and more than 5 years of actual practice.
Ask Ksenia
Of course, it cannot be said that after the growth of the mammary glands stops, they will not change in any way. Due to the fact that the breasts have a close connection with the girl’s hormonal background, with various fluctuations at this level, the bust may change slightly.
— How much does breast augmentation surgery cost?
— Such an operation cannot be cheaper than the reasonable cost of a high-quality implant. The cost of high-quality silicone implants ranges from 40 to 70 thousand rubles (per pair). Plus consumables, payment for the surgeon’s work (it is clear that the work of a good, eminent surgeon costs more than the work of a novice doctor).
Therefore, I am sure: a high-quality breast augmentation operation cannot cost less than 170 thousand rubles. And the average cost of such an operation today ranges from 170 to 300 thousand rubles.
Stages of development
Having found out at what age girls’ breasts grow and what additional symptoms may appear, let’s look at what the stages of this process are. Despite the fact that this process occurs differently for all representatives of the fair half, depending on their hormonal background, there are still several identical stages. Let's find out more about them.
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From birth to 10 years
After birth, it is quite difficult to distinguish between the mammary glands of boys and girls. If you carefully examine the nipples of the fair half, you will see a barely noticeable milk line located slightly below the nipples. It is from this area that breasts will begin to form during puberty. By the age of 10 years, the breasts have a glandular base, slight roundness, and slight roughening of the nipples may be observed.
It often happens that immediately after birth, babies experience slight discharge from the nipples. This is a completely normal process and is not considered a pathology in medicine.
Puberty
Around the age of 13, a teenage girl's bust will begin to enlarge. At the same time, hormonal changes in the entire body are also noted. This can affect not only the external changes of the schoolgirl, but also her psychological state. In this case, minor painful sensations may be observed in the area of the mammary glands. This is explained by stretching of the tissues in this area.
In addition to pain, symptoms such as burning and itching may appear. Externally, the bust becomes more rounded and firmer. Now is the time to pick out your daughter's first bra. The underwear should not put too much pressure on the breasts, as during this period their intensive growth occurs. The bra should be made of natural fabrics. This will help eliminate irritation and allergic reactions.
Puberty
At this stage, the girl experiences intensive growth of the mammary glands and an increase in the volume of connective tissue. In this case, the breast looks like a cone, and a nipple is formed. Now a schoolgirl may experience the greatest degree of discomfort, since the growth of the bust is now the most intense. Unpleasant sensations occur during running and exercise.
It is interesting to note that there are cases where a girl’s bust increased by a whole size in a day.
Final period
After puberty ends, breasts stop growing. This occurs around the age of 15-17 years. By this stage, the milk ducts have completed their formation, and blood vessels can be visible through the skin of the breast. Gradually the unpleasant sensations pass. The nipples acquire a clear outline and become darker. The formed size remains stable until pregnancy. Sometimes bust growth can resume due to various endocrine diseases. If a schoolgirl experiences visible changes in this area, she should definitely consult a specialist.
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The influence of hormonal levels
Women's breasts are exposed to various hormones throughout their lives.
Moreover, there is a strictly balanced set of specific components responsible for this part of the body. In particular, three hormones are responsible for the shape and size of the mammary glands:
- Estrogen.
- Progesterone.
- Prolactin.
These substances affect the body of women from the beginning of the menstrual cycle until menopause. They are secreted by the ovaries and adrenal glands.
Unfortunately, after menstruation ends, the breasts return to their previous state.
This previous state is directly related to the final establishment of the menstrual cycle, after which the bust stops growing. But even then it cannot be said that the process of breast formation is complete.
The mammary glands can reach their largest size during pregnancy and lactation, which again occurs under the influence of hormones. Many experts argue that nulliparous women have underdeveloped breasts.
Therefore, normal hormonal balance is very important. This is the main factor by which one can judge at what age a woman’s breasts will grow. Girls who are unhappy with their breasts and consider this to be a consequence of hormonal imbalance should consult a doctor.
After a series of tests, he will prescribe appropriate treatment. In this case, it is not advisable to correct the situation yourself. This can have serious consequences for the entire body.
Myths and interesting facts about breasts
There are several opinions about how you can become the owner of a chic bust. Some of them are true, while others mislead girls.
The most common myth is that when your breasts start to grow, you need to eat more cabbage, then they will be large. It's not like that at all. Neither cabbage, nor, as many believe, legumes, grains, red fish, sheep's liver, have anything to do with the size of a woman's breasts. Cabbage only reduces the chances of developing mastitis and cancer.
True facts:
- A lush bust is provided to overweight women, since it consists largely of fatty tissue. It’s probably no secret to all women that as soon as you start losing weight, the first thing that goes away is your breasts.
- Foods such as walnuts, pumpkin, and flaxseeds will help make the mammary glands more elastic. It is also necessary to include foods high in folic acid in your diet. These are cereals, dairy products, pork.
- Physical exercises can have a positive effect on breast growth: push-ups and resistance band training. This will improve your shape and tone your muscles.
- Some believe that the bust begins to increase from sex. But this fact has not yet been verified for sure. Scientists are of the opinion that a sharp release of estrogen stimulates breast growth, but to achieve this effect, long-term abstinence is necessary. Only sex after a long absence can provoke such a surge.
- Birth control pills affect breast growth. The bust may increase by several sizes. But such drugs must be taken regularly and this phenomenon indicates a violation of the normal hormonal balance.
So, the final stage of the breast growth process is the final formation of the menstrual cycle. Therefore, we can roughly say that the mammary glands enlarge until the age of 16-22. For most women, breasts reach their final size by age 18.
In this case, it is necessary to take into account not only age, but also the process itself. In some girls, the mammary glands do not begin to enlarge for a long time. This happens infrequently, but should not cause concern. Over time, everything will change if there are no hormonal imbalances.
Each girl can calculate the approximate age at which her bust will increase. But don't get hung up on this issue. The volume of the mammary glands is not the main criterion of beauty. Everyone sets the degree of sexuality herself, the main thing is how the girl treats herself. Every man has his own tastes. It is impossible to meet everyone's preferences.
Symptoms of breast growth
It is quite simple to recognize the period of active breast growth in a girl. The following changes occur:
- The appearance of pain and discomfort. Often a schoolgirl complains of itching and burning. With moderate pain, there is no need to worry, because this is a completely normal physiological process. If the pain is severe, it is necessary to show the child to the doctor.
- There is thickening and enlargement in the nipple area. This can be felt by touching.
- The halos become darker.
- The nipples become more prominent and can be easily seen through clothing.
- Light hairs may appear on the mammary glands. Don't worry, this is a completely normal process that occurs on a hormonal background.
- In the area of the halo, you can notice dots and tubercles. These are glands that are designed to moisturize the breasts. This is necessary during breastfeeding.
- It is quite natural if one of the mammary glands becomes slightly larger than the other.
To avoid stretch marks during intensive bust growth, it is necessary to use moisturizing cosmetics. A regular baby cream is suitable for this purpose.
General information
The aesthetic role of the female breast is far from the most important. Its main component is the mammary gland, which is designed to provide nutrition to the born child. It consists of lobes, between which connective tissue septa pass. Those, in turn, branch into smaller segments. And the latter are formed by alveoli and efferent ducts, which, uniting, flow into the milky sinuses and ultimately open on the nipple.
The function of glandular tissue depends entirely on hormonal influences. Three biological substances play a key role in the regulatory process: estadiol, progesterone and prolactin. The breasts have receptors for each of the hormones. Estrogens promote the development of the milk ducts and stromal elements, progesterone stimulates the growth and increase in the number of lobules, provokes retention of intercellular fluid, and prolactin helps to increase sensitivity to the first two and is responsible for the production of a specific secretion - human milk. Therefore, during periods when hormonal changes occur in the body, the breasts are subject to the greatest changes.
What should parents do?
Faced with changes during puberty, many girls become scared and withdrawn. The mother’s task is to explain to her daughter that all the changes that happen to her should not cause embarrassment and fear.
It is important to talk to your child more often. The schoolgirl needs to be told that all these signs indicate that she is becoming a woman. Parents need to understand that one conversation will not be enough. You should support your daughter throughout the entire period, take an interest in her life and try to support her in everything.
Causes of poor breast development
Sometimes it happens that a girl’s bust does not grow at all or its development suddenly stops. Such symptoms often indicate serious physiological disorders in the body, so they should never be ignored. It is important to show the teenager to a specialist. Most often, breast underdevelopment is associated with hormonal imbalance, namely a lack of female hormones called estrogens. Parents must understand that the sooner the problem is detected and timely treatment is begun, the greater the chances their daughter will have in the future as a mother.
Hormonal disorders are usually treated with hormonal medications. Intravenous or intramuscular injections are often required.
Other factors
Breasts can increase not only due to any internal hormonal or pathological changes, but also under the influence of other factors.
We are talking, first of all, about weight gain: when a woman begins to gain weight, her stomach and chest are the first to become rounded - those areas that represent a strategic reserve of fatty tissue. Therefore, before you panic about your suddenly enlarged bust, you should make sure you haven’t gained a couple of extra pounds over the last month? In this case, a light diet will allow you to return to your previous size.
Experts also recommend that a woman evaluate her diet. Perhaps, recently it contains quite a lot of products containing so-called phytoestrogens - substances similar in their properties to natural estrogen produced in the body. These products include:
- soybeans and various soy products
- legumes (beans, peas, lentils)
- white cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts
- many seasonings (ginger, turmeric, sage, anise, cloves, thyme)
Usually, adding these products to the diet in adequate quantities will not only slightly correct the shape of the bust, but will also have a beneficial effect on its condition.
Basic methods of treating breast growth retardation
It's no secret that the size and shape of the bust largely depends on heredity. As a rule, mothers with gorgeous breasts give birth to daughters, who later also develop roundness of size 3-4. And thin women with neat breasts give birth to daughters with modest shapes.
Of course, it is unlikely that you will be able to somehow influence the size, since you cannot go against genetics, but it is quite possible to adjust the elasticity and shape of the roundness. In addition to proper medical treatment, it is important to follow some methods to help cope with the problem of poor bust development.
Introduction of special foods into the diet
Proper and balanced nutrition promotes healthy development of the mammary glands. During this period, you should introduce foods into your diet that will help you cope more easily with puberty and the period of active breast growth. Consider these dishes:
- All types of lettuce and greens.
- Walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews.
- Pumpkin, persimmon, avocado, mango.
- Cabbage, beans and grains, as they contain large amounts of folic acid.
- Vegetables and fruits with orange and red tints.
- Purified water in sufficient quantities.
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These products have a positive effect on women's health and help shape the bust. To maintain elastic and clear skin, the girl is recommended to avoid eating foods that are too fatty, smoked meats, lard, fast food, and alcoholic beverages.
Physical exercise
To maintain elastic and beautiful skin during puberty, it is very important for schoolgirls to maintain sufficient physical activity. Exercises such as swimming, yoga, athletics, and gymnastics will help. Doctors recommend avoiding strength training and risky sports. To strengthen the mammary glands, exercises such as push-ups and jumping rope will be useful.
Playing sports is allowed only in those cases. If the girl has no contraindications. At the same time, to achieve visible results, training should be carried out regularly.
Timely visit to the mammologist
Starting from puberty, it is very important that the girl regularly visits specialists such as a gynecologist and mammologist. Doctors recommend such visits at least once a year. If any negative symptoms develop, for example, pain, you should make an appointment with a specialist as a matter of urgency.
What influences the process of breast growth?
A variety of provoking factors can affect features such as the size and shape of a girl’s mammary glands. These include:
- Genetic predisposition. The likelihood of having a girl who will later develop a large bust in a family where all the women had chic shapes is much higher.
- Features of hormonal levels. The presence or absence of various diseases of the endocrine system. With insufficient amounts of female hormones, breast growth may slow down or be completely absent.
- Child nutrition. In schoolgirls who are too thin, due to a lack of adipose tissue, bust growth may slow down. It is important for parents to ensure that their daughter receives complete and balanced nutrition.
The speed of the process of formation of mammary glands can also be affected by such features as the region of residence, environmental conditions, playing sports or lack of normal physical activity, nutrition and much more.
Let's sum it up
The development of a girl, especially during puberty, is a rather complex and multifaceted process that requires special attention from parents. As a rule, the growth and development of breasts in schoolgirls begins at 12-13 years of age and ends at 15-18 years of age.
These terms depend on the individual characteristics of the body and some other factors that we discussed above in the article. The parents’ task is to support their daughter in everything and explain to her that all the changes that occur during this period are completely natural and should not be ashamed of them.
— Okay, the decision about breast augmentation has been made, the required amount has been accumulated. Where to begin?
— You need to choose a clinic. The issue of choosing a clinic must be approached very seriously, because this determines how the plastic surgery will be performed, the absence of complications, and the final result.
Before choosing a clinic, you should take the time to study the websites of medical institutions that perform such operations. It is advisable to check whether clinics have a license on the Roszdravnadzor website.
