When puberty occurs, not only internal, but also external changes occur in the body. And during this period, when growing up, girls begin to ask questions about how old the breasts begin to grow and how long it will last. This topic will be disclosed in detail in this article. The question is quite interesting, and it excites all the girls. This topic is especially relevant during puberty.
Female breast
Female breasts are not just iron, but also adipose tissue, the volumes of which periodically change throughout life. This happens for many reasons. Mainly due to hormonal changes and during puberty. But also heavily on the volume of the female breast affects body weight. If a girl at the time of maturation also begins to gain weight, then not only does the active growth of the mammary gland occur anyway, she will become even larger due to an increase in the total body volume.
The concepts of "formation" and "growth"
When does the breast begin to grow? Often people confuse the concepts of “formation” and “growth”. The development of mammary glands does not mean an increase in breast size. It is formed during embryonic development. This is a process that not only increases the size of the mammary glands. During this period, their functions also develop.
The breast is formed not only in girls, but also in boys. Only in males, the milk line gradually disappears. And in girls, under hormonal influence, it turns into the mammary gland. But if the breasts begin to grow in boys, this is already a disease called gynecomastia. It occurs due to hormonal failure in the body and requires immediate treatment.
Female breast growth
Breast growth begins in infancy, continues in adolescence and even adulthood, that is, all life. In childhood, the development of the mammary glands is almost imperceptible. Then many are interested in the question: how much does the breasts begin to grow in girls? An active increase in this organ begins in adolescence, during puberty. Then breast growth is greatly reduced - before pregnancy.
It must be remembered that its increase is largely determined at the genetic level. There is a high probability that the girl’s mammary gland will form at the same age as her mother or grandmothers. And this probability is estimated at forty-six percent.
The age when breast growth begins depends largely on the national and racial affiliation of the girl. Representatives of the equatorial race ripen much earlier than other girls. Therefore, their breasts begin to grow much earlier than, for example, in Asians. In girls from Northern Europe, it also begins to increase late.
It is generally believed that active growth stops 2-3 years after the establishment of a stable menstrual cycle. But these terms cannot be called accurate, since any human body is strictly individual. There are also cases where menstruation can be unstable even for twenty years or more. In this case, the mammary gland continues to slowly grow further.
When the breast begins to grow, small tubercles or swollen spots may appear on the areola around the nipple. These are just the findings of special glands, thanks to which the nipple is moistened. This function for the girl does not matter much yet. It becomes important when breastfeeding.
Growth stages
According to numerous studies, breast growth has five stages:
- The first (initial). It starts from the moment of birth and lasts up to ten years. At this time, the chest does not yet have volume, it is flat. But if you look at it, then the milk line is visible below the nipple. This is the border along which the mammary gland then develops. A few days after birth, discharge sometimes appears from it. But this does not last long.
- The second one. This is a period from twelve to thirteen years. Big changes are taking place over this period. The chest becomes more elastic and soft, the nipples increase. The skin on them darkens. In the area of ​​the nipples, swelling appears. But this is still undeveloped breast tissue. The first signs of growth appear after changes in the hormonal background.
- The third. It begins during the puberty. In girls, it occurs at different ages. At this time, rapid breast growth begins. It becomes a conical shape, the top is a nipple. Then the breast is rounded, but it still does not form to the end.
- Fourth. Puberty is coming to an end, and with it the breast is almost completely formed. It continues to grow, milk ducts develop. There are sensations of itching and pain, because the skin begins to quickly stretch. The skin on the chest becomes thinner, and through it a mesh of vessels is already visible. The breast becomes an adult, acquires clear boundaries of the nipples and areoles. This stage can last up to sixteen years (sometimes up to twenty or even twenty-five years).
- The fifth is pregnancy. During this period, the chest is fully formed. But due to changes in the hormonal background, it begins to grow actively. Additional glandular tissue appears, and ducts develop. At the breast, the shape of the nipples and their areoles change, which then remain so for the rest of their lives.
Why did the breasts start to grow sharply?
In the period from infancy to adolescence, the mammary gland grows very slowly and almost imperceptibly. At this time, it takes the form of a small seal around the nipple. A sharp increase in the mammary glands is usually observed during puberty. At this time, sharp hormonal jumps occur. As a result, the breast grows ten centimeters per year. During this period, it acquires a rounded shape. Glandular tissue is formed.
Causes of Breast Growth
Not all parents can talk about changes that occur during puberty in an accessible and phased manner. And in this case, the girl’s excitement is clear: the breast began to grow, why? What's happening? There are several reasons for the growth:
- its increase is associated with a change in hormonal levels;
- progesterones and estrogens are produced;
- glandular tissue forms;
- developmental features (sometimes active growth can begin already at the age of six to eight years).
“Wrong growth”
If the girl’s breasts began to grow, for example, at the age of eight, this is not a pathology, but a feature of development. For some, this process can begin at the age of six. It all depends on the characteristics of the body. But why did breasts begin to grow after the fourth stage? These are already alarming symptoms. For example, if the chest has not grown to fourteen years. If there is no growth of mammary glands, then it is necessary to consult a doctor - an endocrinologist and a gynecologist - and undergo a thorough examination.
You also need to go to specialists if the breasts began to grow suddenly in an adult girl. With the option, if she did not take hormonal drugs and is not pregnant. In this case, pain and swelling is already a pathology and a thorough examination is required.
Additional causes of breast growth
When the breast begins to grow, this process is accompanied by painful sensations and itching, which is a normal condition. But if active growth began after puberty, this can be caused by the use of hormonal drugs. Another reason is pituitary tumors, causing the brain to give false signals to the body. As a result, the level of hormones rises and the mammary gland increases sharply in volume.
How are menstruation and breast growth in girls related?
The period when the breasts begin to grow in girls coincides with the onset of menstruation. This is a normal development, as puberty occurs and the hormonal background changes. During menstruation, the breast becomes very sensitive. Sometimes it even hurts to touch it. The chest becomes harder.
These are also external manifestations of its growth. During this period, the girl’s body, or rather the girl’s body, prepares to accept a fertilized egg, it prepares for possible motherhood. The level of progesterone and estrogen changes. When pregnancy occurs, the fifth stage of breast growth occurs, completing.
If ovum fertilization does not occur, the hormonal level returns to its normal rate again. Soreness and hardening of the chest pass. But its size nevertheless does not decrease. Therefore, with each menstruation, a certain jump in breast growth occurs.
Breast growth throughout life
At what age does the breast begin to grow? It is safe to say that from birth. Most and very quickly, it increases during puberty. Then growth gradually slows down, but does not stop completely. It increases during pregnancy. There are cases when the breast grows even during menopause.
Why does breasts grow small?
The chest can be large, medium or small. It depends on many factors. Why does she stay small? Initially, you need to remember how much the breast begins to grow. This process, as mentioned above, begins with infancy. Her active increase occurs in girls during puberty, which can occur from eight to sixteen years (sometimes longer).
But there are some reasons because of which the girl’s breast sometimes hardly grows and remains very small for life. The reason for this may be a low level of estrogen or hormonal imbalance, sometimes heredity. In some cases - low body weight, nationality or abnormalities in the endocrine system.
Girls, when the breast begins to grow, must carefully monitor their posture. If the fair sex is constantly slouching, then the formation of the mammary gland slows down. If a girl wants to have big breasts, then there is a series of exercises, performing which you can achieve good results at any age. Fitness and aerobics are also great.
Improper nutrition can also affect breast growth in girls, even if an increase in this organ occurs during peak - puberty. Adipose tissue sometimes takes on the function of the endocrine gland. And in this case, full girls are formed earlier than thin ones.