Uneven breasts? Here’s what you need to know

You’re looking at your chest in the mirror, hoping no-one will notice that your breasts aren’t identical. Maybe you should wear a different top or bra to hide their shape? You decide a loose cardigan would be best to hide them.

All breasts aren’t created equally. If you’re struggling to accept your asymmetrical boobs, you are not alone. As it turns out, there’s probably a natural reason for it.

The size of your breasts won’t consistently be the same size during your lifetime, and it’s rarely a reason to sound the alarm bells. Their size fluctuates, thanks to usual body cycles like your menstrual cycle and ovulation. Besides these common reasons, there are other explanations as to why one of your boobs may be perkier than the other.

Sisters, not twins

According to Dr Sherry Ross, an American women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre, just as your eyes and feet are mismatched due to genetics; the same goes for your boobs. For example, if your mother and grandmother’s breasts are uneven, then yours probably will be too.

Other reasons for uneven breasts

You’ve gained weight

When you lose weight, you don’t lose it all in one place and it’s the same with your breasts. Your breasts are mainly made up of fat, connective tissue and milk ducts. Together these factors are responsible for shaping your breasts. When you lose weight in your breasts, you might lose more in one than the other, creating a mismatched effect.

Hormonal changes

During puberty, hormonal changes happen. This can cause one of your breasts to start growing first, meaning it could wind up being larger than the other. In pregnant women, one breast may appear larger due to hormones too. During breastfeeding, if a baby prefers to feed on one breast, then the other one could become a different shape.

You have a medical condition

Medical conditions like atypical ductal hyperplasia and hypoplastic breasts, affect the appearance of your breasts. Atypical hyperplasia is when the tissues in your breasts grow excessively. Hypoplastic breasts happen when your breasts are underdeveloped. They may look small, spaced far apart and noticeably uneven.

When should you worry?

Generally, having slightly different boobs isn’t a cause for worry if they’ve always been different. But if your breasts suddenly increase or decrease in size, you should see your doctor immediately. Some of these symptoms can also point to a more serious problem, so see your doctor immediately:

thickening of the skin
dimpling of the skin
changes in the colour of your breast
a lump in or around the breast.
a lump under the arm.
thick or firm tissue near the breast or under the arm.
changes to the nipple like it pointing inwards.
fluid or discharge from the nipples.
red, itchy, or scaly skin around the breasts.

Good to know

Remember, if there are any unusual changes in your breasts, see your doctor immediately. Do breast self-examinations regularly to check them. If your doctor suspects anything, he may suggest a mammogram, breast ultrasound or biopsy to check them for any underlying problems.