Yes, rubbing or massaging your breasts is generally okay and can be beneficial for health, self-awareness, and comfort, helping with things like pain relief, lymphatic drainage, and early cancer detection, as long as it's gentle; however, if you have breast cancer or recent surgery, consult a doctor first, and always seek medical advice for new lumps or discharge.
Eases pectoral (chest muscle) soreness
“Massaging your breasts can also relieve pain and tension in the pectoral muscles,” Dr. Thompson says. She adds that tense back muscles can also strain your pectoral muscles, so if your upper back is also sore, breast massage may help.
For starters, some experts state that it can help with things like cancer detection, improve milk flow, give breastfeeding support, and improve lymphatic drainage.
The breast treatment is generally light in pressure as there are no muscles located in the breasts. The main goals of breast/chest massage are to increase circulation and decrease congestion to the breast tissues. More specific work can be used to treat conditions such as: Post-surgical scars.
Breast touching (massage) offers benefits like stress relief, improved circulation, lymphatic drainage, and pain reduction, releasing calming hormones like oxytocin, supporting breast health by detecting changes and easing congestion, and helping with breastfeeding by encouraging milk flow, but it's crucial to use gentle techniques and avoid if you have inflammation like mastitis, always consulting a doctor for concerns.
“I think with a lot of men, there's just a curiosity of what it tastes like, and what it would be like to nurse,” said Wendy Haldeman, who co-founded the Pump Station with Harvey. “Certainly men suck on nipples during sex, so they're gonna get milk.” But husband breastfeeding can be as much about utility as curiosity.
The "three-finger test" for breasts refers to the technique used in a breast self-exam (BSE) where you use the pads of your three middle fingers (index, middle, ring) to feel for lumps or changes, applying light, medium, and firm pressure to cover all breast tissue and the armpit, moving in circular or vertical patterns to detect new lumps or thickening. This method, often done while lying down or showering, helps you become familiar with your normal breast texture, but it's a supplement to, not a replacement for, regular clinical exams and mammograms for early detection.
Small breasts are usually due to genetics, hormones, and body fat, but can also be affected by weight loss, age (menopause), or pregnancy, with factors like clothing fit influencing appearance; if you have sudden changes or concerns, a doctor can rule out conditions like micromastia or hypothyroidism.
During sexual arousal, there is an increase in blood flow to the genital and breast areas. This heightened blood flow can cause the nipple to become erect, and it's a common response in many individuals." Good to know...
Normal breast tissue often feels nodular (lumpy) and varies in consistency from woman to woman. Even within each individual woman, the texture of breast tissue varies at different times in her menstrual cycle, and from time to time during her life.
When massaging, avoid vulnerable areas like the front/sides of the neck, armpits (axilla), behind the knees (popliteal fossa), abdomen (especially if pregnant), groin (inguinal triangle), and the spine's bony prominences, due to major nerves, arteries, and organs. Also avoid injured spots, open wounds, rashes, bruises, varicose veins, recent surgical sites, sunburns, and any unknown lumps or skin conditions to prevent injury, infection, or worsening symptoms.
If your baby isn't feeding well yet, or you're working on boosting your supply, try expressing 8–12 times in 24 hours. This may feel a lot, particularly when you are tired and/or in pain, but stimulating frequently every day in the first couple of weeks is crucial in setting up your milk supply.
Using moisturizers such as coconut oil or almond oil on your areolas and around your breasts promotes improved circulation and soft, healthy skin. You'll be amazed how simply using a moisturizer can enhance your breast tissues.
Touching your nipples or massaging them releases the hormone oxytocin, which is often given to start or speed up contractions. Light nipple play should be safe, but having your partner suck on your nipples could cause contractions.
“When stimulated, the hormone oxytocin is released causing the nipple to become erect,” he says. “In addition, the muscles behind the breast contract causing the areola to tighten and create a goose bump-like effect on the skin.”
Breast massage can help you destress, improve circulation, release pain and breast tenderness, and might support lymphatic drainage. Find somewhere cozy, put on some relaxing music, and begin by gently massaging each breast in a circular motion, moving from the center toward the outside of the breasts.
The most sensitive and primary erogenous zone for most females is the clitoris, a pleasure center with over 10,000 nerve endings, crucial for orgasm, though other areas like nipples, inner thighs, ears, and lower back are also highly responsive and important for building arousal.
Your girlfriend's breasts are likely getting bigger due to normal hormonal shifts from her menstrual cycle, starting or changing birth control, weight gain (as breasts have fatty tissue), pregnancy/breastfeeding, or even perimenopause, all of which cause breast tissue to grow or swell, but a doctor should check any persistent changes to rule out less common issues like fibrocystic changes or, rarely, something more serious.
Nipple stimulation releases surges of oxytocin
Research has shown that nipple stimulation causes the release of endogenous [within the body] oxytocin, but in a pulsatile fashion. “It creates this rapid surge of oxytocin, and then it drops immediately,” explains McAdow.
Why are my breasts suddenly getting bigger in my early 20s? Hormonal fluctuations related to pregnancy, medication, or health conditions can cause late-stage breast growth or swelling in early adulthood.
Body size and shape can frame how large or small the breasts might appear, so breasts that appear small on a person with a taller, stockier or broader frame will look considerably bigger on a woman who is more petite.
Known as nipple hardening, nipple erections can occur for various reasons from a change in temperature to elevated levels of oestrogen and progesterone when pregnant or breastfeeding. Other causes of nipple hardening include arousal, a result of your menstrual cycle or sensitivity caused by piercings.
The outer left breast is at 3 o'clock and the outer right breast is at 9 o'clock. In the left breast the upper outer quadrant is between 12 and 3 o'clock.
One is called the seven P's of BSE, after seven steps that are named to have the same first initial: Positions, Perimeter, Palpation, Pressure, Pattern, Practice, and Planning what to do if a change is found in the breast tissue.