Yes! Uneven breasts are common. Very few women have perfectly symmetrical breasts. For some women, the differences are unnoticeable, while others have noticeable asymmetry.
Breasts are Sisters; Not Twins!
If you have uneven breasts, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. Some women have one or two cup size differences between their breasts. Health experts say that asymmetrical breasts are often inherited, so if your grandmother and mother had them, yours will likely be too. They are completely natural. After all, your breasts are sisters, and they aren’t twins!
What Causes Uneven Breasts?
1. Puberty
Women notice breast asymmetry during puberty when the breasts start to develop. The fat tissues in one breast may grow more quickly than the other. Experts are not clear why this happens, but a reasonable explanation is that girls may have more tissue cells on one side, which are sensitive to the hormone oestrogen, which causes breast tissue cells to grow faster.
2. Weight Loss or Weight Gain
When you gain or lose weight, it doesn’t happen uniformly all over. Similarly, your breasts can be influenced by weight changes and hormonal imbalances. It is very normal for fully developed breasts to look different in size.
3. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Hormonal changes play a vital role during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The shape and size of the breasts may not be the same if your baby favours feeding on one side.
4. Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH)
ADH is a condition that occurs when milk ducts have excessive growth. It leads to benign lumps in the breast that are non-cancerous lumps in the breast that affect the appearance and size.
5. Tubular Breasts
Hypoplastic breasts, also known as underdeveloped breasts, have very little breast tissue. This leads to small, thin, tube-like breasts that are often uneven.
6. Juvenile Hypertrophy
It is a very rare condition when one breast is visibly larger than the other. It could be due to hormone production or sensitivity, but the real cause is still unknown. Surgery is required to correct juvenile hypertrophy.
7. Scoliosis
Sometimes a medical condition such as scoliosis – a curvature of the spine, deformities in a woman’s chest wall can also create the appearance of uneven breasts. However, these are less common causes than genetics and weight changes.
Pay Attention if it is a New Thing for You
If you notice a sudden increase or decrease in the volume of your breasts along with thickening of the skin, lumps, or other abnormalities, you should seek medical help.
Coping with Uneven Breasts
This is usually nothing to worry about. Over 30% of women have reported size differences that are hard to hide. If you are concerned about your uneven breasts, you have some options.
1. Find a Perfect bra
If you have uneven breasts, you can wear bras like padded bras. However, Shyaway suggests you try bras with removable padding to bridge the gap between the differences.
Shyaway’s Top Suggestions for Uneven Breasts
2. Talk to a Counsellor
You can get the support and guidance you need by understanding and accepting your body.
3. Join an Online Support Group
You can connect with women who deal with the same issue and take inspiration based on their experiences.
4. Talk to Your Doctor about Surgical Options
You can opt for breast reduction, breast lift, or breast augmentation surgery depending upon the shape of your breasts and get the desired results.
Don’t spend a lot of time thinking about why your breasts are uneven. If you are self-conscious, there are plenty of options depending on what you prefer.
What is your breast type? Read this interesting blog about different types of breast shapes and bra suggestions.