Do Your Breasts Change During Menopause?

It is normal for your breasts to develop and change throughout your life. You may even notice changes—including annoyance and swelling—ahead of your period. But what happens to your breasts once you reach menopause ?

Per the National Institute of Aging, menopause occurs 12 months after your last menstruation, normally between ages 45 and 55 years. During the time around your final menstruation ( besides known as perimenopause ), it is not uncommon to experience respective changes—heavy and irregular menstrual bleeding, hot flashes, climate changes, and differences in your body .

One of those differences that you may notice is changes to the determine of your breasts. They may become saggier, larger, or smaller than convention. sol, what about menopause causes those changes ? here ‘s what you need to know about why and how breasts change shape as you historic period .

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What Happens to Your Breasts During Premenopause ?

One of the biggest changes that happen to your breasts leading up to and around menopause is that they lose their elasticity. That is what causes your breasts to look saggier than normal, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library .

Your nipples may besides change as you near menopause. They can shrink, and your areola may become invert. You may besides notice small bumps near your nipples. Those are called intraductal papilloma, and they may produce discharge or shed blood, per the Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library. If a papilloma becomes uncomfortable, you can consult your healthcare provider about surgically removing the demote .

You may besides feel lumps in your breast. Lumps ascribable to menopause are not rare, and they are often benign. however, the risk of summit cancer increases as you age, per the National Library of Medicine. so, you should receive a annual breast cancer screen and consult your healthcare supplier if you feel lumps in your breasts .

What Causes Breast Changes Ahead of Menopause ?

In the times leading up to and around menopause, the come of estrogen in your torso gradually decreases, Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and generative sciences at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., told Health. Estrogen is a hormone that normally promotes breast growth .

According to the National Library of Medicine, a lack of estrogen affects your mammary glands—which normally produce milk during your generative years—and causes them to condense. As a resultant role, your breasts shrink .

alike, decreasing estrogen makes the tissue in your breasts loses its elasticity. That is what causes your breasts to lose their shape and become saggier than normal .

If you are taking hormone therapy to quell the symptoms of menopause—like hot flashes and temper changes—you may besides notice pain and swelling in your breasts. That is because the hormone therapy mimics the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome as you replenish the lose estrogen in your body .

Can Your Breasts Become Larger as You Age ?

Although it is particularly common to notice your breasts and nipples becoming smaller than normal as you reach menopause, some healthcare providers point out that they may besides enlarge .

” This is a substantial thing, ” Lauren Streicher, MD, a professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and generator of Hot Flash Hell, told Health .

There are a few potential factors that cause your breasts to enlarge before and during menopause. One explanation is that some people naturally gain weight as they long time .

” It ‘s good one of those things that [ cisgender women ] can experience during this midlife transition, ” Jennifer Wider, MD, author of The Savvy Woman Patient, explained to Health .

” During perimenopause and menopause, there are hormonal fluctuations and finally a drop in hormones that may cause slant gain, ” said Dr. Wider. “ As a result, some of the burden reach can occur in the breasts, resulting in blown-up breasts. ”

however, it ‘s not all about weight gain. Dr. Streicher explained that hormonal shifts during perimenopause could cause a redistribution of slant, sometimes causing the breasts to enlarge .

Genetics can play a role, ampere well. In a study published in 2012 in the journal BMC Medical Genetics, researchers found that some people are genetically predisposed to having large breasts. however, the researchers besides stated that it is not clear what particular genes influence breast size .

The Bottom Line on Breast Changes and Menopause

If you notice changes to your breasts leading improving to and around menopause, you should not worry. It is typical for your breasts to lose their form and become smaller or larger or feel lumpier than normal. You may even notice that your nipples change their shape. All of those changes occur as your body produces less and less estrogen .

” Breast changes in menopause are a real thing, ” noted Dr. Streicher .

however, it is always a good theme to consult your healthcare supplier if you notice any changes in your breasts. Lumps and inverted nipples are among the most common symptoms of breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). annually screenings can help detect summit cancer early .

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