are part of the anatomy of both females and males. On the inside, a woman's breast is made up of
about 15-25 milk-producing sacs called milk glands, which are connected to milk ducts that converge inside
the nipple. The remainder of the internal breast is composed of fatty tissue and fibrous connective tissues
that bind the breast together and give it shape. On the outside of the breast there are nipples. Nipples, like
all other anatomical structures, vary in appearance from woman to woman. They may stick out
prominently, they may have a flattened appearance, they may be set a bit deeper in the breast, or they can
be inverted. Each nipple is supplied with many nerve endings, which make it particularly sensitive to touch.
There are thin muscle fibers in nipples that enable them to become erect. The darker pigmented area
around each nipple is called the areola (plural: areolae). The size and color of the areolae vary from woman
to woman. This area can be seen as an extension of the skin of the nipple onto the breast. It contains many
nerve fibers and muscle fibers that help the nipple to stiffen and become erect. It is quite normal to have
small bumps in the areola. These bumps are oil-producing glands that secrete a lubricant to make breast
feeding easier. During pregnancy, the areolae darken and remain at least somewhat darker after
pregnancy.
Women's breasts have three levels of significance: they can feed a baby; they can give erotic pleasure; and
they play a large part in shaping a woman's self-image.
In response to sexual stimulation, a woman's breasts may undergo changes. Her nipples typically become
erect during sexual excitement. As excitement proceeds, the areolae begin to swell, continuing to the point
where the earlier nipple erection may look less pronounced. The veins in the breast often become more
visible as a result of the increased blood flowing into them, and, in women who have not breast-fed, there
may also be a small increase in breast size.
Breasts are a part of sexual anatomy that is unrelated to reproduction, but, in American society, have a
great deal of erotic allure and sexual symbolism. It is not at all unusual to see a large-breasted woman
used in advertisements to sell everything from beer to cars to cologne (notably, these are primarily male
markets). As a result of the almost universal association of a woman's breasts with femininity, sexuality,
and attractiveness, women and men have developed burdensome misconceptions about the meaning of breast
size. We are bombarded on an almost daily basis with the not so subtle suggestion that a woman with large
breasts has a definite sexual advantage; thus, conversely, a woman with small breasts must be less
sexually interested and skilled.
The fact is that there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that breast size is related to a woman's level of
sexual desire, or to her sexual response. Actually, many women experience very little sexual pleasure
from having their breasts fondled or caressed, and this is true for women with large and small breasts.
Often it is the woman's male partner who derives more pleasure out of fondling her breasts, and she may
participate mainly because she knows her lover enjoys it. Furthermore, the women who do become
sexually aroused when their breasts are touched do so regardless of their breast size.
Because of the enormous importance that American culture attaches to breasts, their size and shape, many
women worry that their breasts are too small, too large, or just the wrong shape. Not only may this
negatively affect their self-image and self-acceptance, it leads some women to try ineffective and even
dangerous methods of breast augmentation or reduction.
Men's breasts can give erotic pleasure (in some males), but they have little influence on self-image, and
they do not produce milk. Men's breasts do not increase in size under stimulation but some men will have
noticeable nipple erection.
