SIZE
& SHAPE
Breast
come in all shapes and sizes depending on the amount of
fatty tissue contained within. One's breast size and
shape are generally described based on the classifications
of the Bra & lingerie industry. Use our standardized
technique to determine your correct bra and cup size.
Prior
to World War I, women breasts were stuffed into corsets
and other single-fabric contraptions. The precursor
of the two cup bra was designed by a woman named Caresse
Crosby. She sold the patent for her concept -two handkerchiefs
sewn together with attached ribbon straps- in 1913, and
the beginning of the 11.3 billion lingerie business was
born. Caresse's flimsy bras slowly evolved to more
constrictive undergarments. Bra manufacturer's (run
by men) began to sew the bras to girdles, thus tightly binding
the woman wearer. These slowly evolved into pointy
bras in the 1950s. (Is it any wonder why the woman's
liberation movement began with folk burning their bras?)
Today's
bras are more functional and comfortable. They provide
support while "helping" a woman's figure to conform to current
societal norms. Brassiere manufacturers have come
up with nomenclature to allow standardization of their products.
The chest size is actually determined by measuring the diameter
of the rib cage below the breasts and adding 5. The
cup Size is a measure of the volume of the breast, and is
denoted by the first letters of the alphabet. Click
here to calculate your correct breast and bra size.
The
photographs below show examples of varying breast and cup
sizes. (Please note, sizes labeled below are estimated and
may not be correct.)
Breasts
are usually asymmetrical, meaning that one woman's
breast may be a different size or shape than her other breast.
Interestingly, a woman's left breast is usually a little
larger then her right breast, though this is only a generalization.
(It is also quite common for men to have one testicle that
is a different size or shape than the other - see our Male
Genitalia Kit for more details.) The woman shown
has a left breast that is larger than her right breast,
in fact, many of the photos above show breast asymmetry.
Inverted
nipples are also quite common and are not a problem
unless they cause difficulty during nursing. Special
nipple cups can be used to help during lactation.
A nipple that previously was not inverted but then became
inverted is a warning sign of breast
cancer and needs to be brought to the attention of a
doctor (see the Breast Disease section).
Nipple
hair is also quite common for some woman, and is usually
not abnormal. In these women, a number of straight
strands of dark hair grow from the outer border of the areola.
Occasionally, the amount of nipple hair is excessive (and
usually associated with an increase in total body hair).
When there is excessive hair on a woman, it is called hirsuitism
(see photo). Hirsuitism is usually due to hormonal
influences, though in rare circumstances it can be caused
by a hormone-producing tumor. Excessive hair growth
should therefor be discussed with your family physician.
Breast
and bra classification is as follows (from smallest to largest):
A, B, C, D, and DD (also known as Double D or sometimes
called E). Though less common, the larger cup sizes
of F, G, H (and larger) also exist. These
biggest bra sizes are often needed by very large-breasted
women, or women whose size increases with pregnancy and
nursing. A training bra for developing girls (usually
Tanner
stage 2, 3, or 4) is also available and is smaller than
the A cup. This is sometimes called AA (double
A).
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Cup
Size: DD (E) or larger
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