13 things you didn't know about boobs; 8 will intrigue you

Boobs. Breasts. Jugs. Bazoomas. Whatever you call yours, when puberty hits – you get them. And for most of us, we have them for life. So ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, the BreastCare specialists at St Joseph’s Hospital in Newport put together 13 boob-related dimes of information to help us all get to know our breasts that little bit better 1. Most women have one breast larger than the other And for some reason it’s usually the left one. Boobs will be at their most symmetrical between the 14th and 16th day of a woman’s cycle. 2. Average boobs contain 4-5% of a woman’s body fat A pair of D-cup breasts can weigh between 15 and 23 pounds, the equivalent of carrying around a six-month old baby. 3. Smoking and exercise can cause breasts to sag Both activities cause damage to the ligaments and elastin that keep breasts firm and high. 4. Sleeping on your front can cause the shape of your breasts to change over time The best sleeping position for retaining the shape of breasts is lying on your side. 5. 2-6% of women and 1-3% of men have an extra nipple But contrary to popular opinion, extra nipples can only appear along the milk line which runs vertically down the torso – they never appear in the centre of the chest. 6. 10-20% of women have inverted nipples There are two types of inverted nipples – ‘shy’ nipples which can be pulled inwards but at other times protrude outwards, or true inverted nipples which are always pulled inwards. 7. During pregnancy, nipples can go darker Pregnancy hormones stimulate a temporary increase in melanin production meaning that your skin can get darker, especially in areas like your nipples where there is already more pigment. 8. One breast can produce 450ml of milk per day Meaning a pair of breasts can produce just shy of a litre of milk each day. 9. Humans are the only primates whose boobs get bigger during puberty and stay that way And scientists don’t know why. Other primates only have full breasts when feeding offspring. 10. 80% of men will look at a woman’s breasts upon their first meeting Women will also look…but they’re more subtle about it. But a 2013 study discovered that men who prefer bigger breasts are less financially secure, while the opposite can be said for men who prefer smaller breasts. 11. Living a healthy life, eating well and exercising reduces the risk of breast cancer recurring And can also help to reduce the risk of developing it in the first place. 12. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life The rise has been blamed on a number of factors, including increasing numbers of women delaying motherhood and consequently having fewer children, as well as the ageing population. 13. But there’s good news – the number of people dying from breast cancer has almost halved since the 1980s This is despite a small increase in the number of reported cases. Early detection can make all the difference, so women are encouraged to self-check and see their GP if they notice any abnormalities. Source netdoctor.co.uk]]>