When you look down at your bra do you notice space between your breasts and the cup? If so, it's too big. If you aren't able to see any gaps while standing up, try leaning over while looking into a mirror. If there is extra space in your cups it's time for a new size.
In order to determine if your cup size is too big or small, look to see if you have an extra bump of breast tissue at the top or at the sides of the cups or if you have a wrinkle in the cups or extra space in the cup.
An obvious sign that the cups are too small is if the underwire presses in at the sides of the breasts or if you have red marks on your breasts when you take your bra off in the evening. The underwire should enclose and cradle the breasts; it shouldn't pinch anywhere. If it does, you need to go up a cup size.
As a guideline, you should be able to comfortably run two fingers under both sides of the bra at the same time. If the bra pulls away from your body easily, it is too loose. If you have trouble getting your fingers under the band and it feels uncomfortable, it is too tight. The band should be level front and back.
There are many ways in which the wrong size bra can contribute to breast pain. If your bra is too small, it can dig into your breasts — if it is too big, your breasts may have too much room and can become prone to bouncing around, contributing to tenderness.
Gapping at the top of the cup is an issue that will be more noticeable in more structured bras and padded bras. If you can see the inside of your cup while you are wearing the bra, consider sizing down a cup size as you want to ensure that you fill the volume but without spilling over.
For every band size you go down, you have to go up a cup size to compensate the difference. Let's say you wear a 34B, the cup fits but the band is too big. You measure a 30 band size. A 30 band is two band sizes smaller than the 34 band.
No matter the type of bra, the band should fit comfortably around your body, snug but not tight. Remember to always start a new bra on the loosest hook and hook tighter as the band stretches over time.
If your bra's center panel is not resting on your sternum, this could be a sign that your cup size is too small. If the underwires are pointing outward and away from your body, this too is a sign that your cup size could be too small. The band of the bra should be parallel to the floor.
The center of the bra doesn't sit flat.
The band might be too big — try going down a band size and up a cup size. On the other hand, the cup might be too small — try going up a cup size, or even just half a cup size. The other possible reason is that your breast type is messing with the center gore.
Ill-fitting bras have also been associated with neck, back and shoulder pain, bad posture, and rubbing and chafing leading to skin abrasions. We also see ill-fitting bras causing permanent changes to the body, such as deep grooves in the shoulders caused by pressure from the bra shoulder straps.
If your band and underwire are the right size, then the center gore should lay flat against your sternum. You should not be able to move it easily, but it also shouldn't press too hard on your chest. If the center gore of your underwire bra does not lay correctly, then the cups are too small or the band is too loose.
Anatomically, the adult breast sits atop the pectoralis muscle (the "pec" chest muscle), which is atop the ribcage. The breast tissue extends horizontally (side-to-side) from the edge of the sternum (the firm flat bone in the middle of the chest) out to the midaxillary line (the center of the axilla, or underarm).
Bras can stretch up to 3 inches during their lifetime, hence the rows of hook and eye closures, made to offset this necessary adjustment. The band can also start riding up your back, which causes gaping in the front between your body and the bra cups.
Stand upright without a bra on, and using a measuring tape, measure around your back and under your bust, where the band of a bra would usually sit. Make sure the tape is going around in a steady, even line. It should feel snug, but not tight. Measure in inches: if you land at an even number, that is your band size.
Bra overflow happens when the top of the breast tissue doesn't fit into the cup of the bra. This can happen for a variety of reasons or a combination of them: Cup size. If you're wearing a cup that's too small the cups won't properly cover the correct amount of breast tissue.
Find your Cup Size
Wrap the measuring tape around your back at band level and measure across the fullest part of your chest. If the tape falls on a half-inch, round it up as you did for band size. Every inch equals one cup size. For example: 1 inch is an A cup, 2 inches is a B cup, etc.
Measure your body size by placing the tape firmly under your bust. This measurement should be similar to the blouse size that you wear. 2. Measure your cup size by placing the tape firmly (without squashing) around your chest at the fullest part of your bust.
Gaps in your bra cups can be caused by one or more of the following reasons: You've recently lost weight and you've lost volume in your breasts. Your bra's cup size is too big. You're wearing the wrong style cup for your breast type.
Typically, if you have gaping bra cups, your breasts are resting at the bottom of the cups. To fix this, start by tightening the bra straps, ensuring your band stays straight across your back. If your cups fit well but there is still a gap at the top, consider going down a cup size or choosing a different style of bra.
If your band size is too small, both the underwire and the band will dig into your skin, which is painful and uncomfortable. The solution is simple: Go up a band size. How do you know you've found the right size? Make sure the center gore between the two cups is flat against your sternum.
Ditching your bra once or twice will not cause long-term sagging, however, however years and years of going braless—especially if you are a C-cup or larger—can eventually catch up with you, according to Elisa Lawson, owner of the Women's Health Boutique at Mercy's Weinberg Center, a full-service center providing breast ...