The life of the breast

This is the 4276th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Women go through a natural process from youth to maturity to aging throughout their lives, along with the stages of breast development, shaping, and atrophy. Women's breast care has different focuses at different times.

1. Neonatal period

The mammary gland is constantly regulated and stimulated by estrogen and progesterone throughout its life. Estrogen promotes the proliferation of mammary gland ducts, while progesterone promotes the growth of mammary lobules and alveoli. The mammary glands of babies may be affected by the estrogen secreted by the placenta in the mother's body, and breast nuclei may grow in the neonatal period. There is a saying among the people that "sucking the nipples of newborns or squeezing the mammary glands can help with future breastfeeding." This traditional concept is wrong. The mammary glands should not be squeezed at will in the neonatal period to avoid damage. Similarly, excessive stimulation may cause breast dysplasia in adolescence.

2. Puberty

Girls start menstruating and develop secondary sexual characteristics around the age of 11. Due to the increase in hormone levels in food and the environment, some girls may develop breast development 1 to 2 years before their first menstruation, which manifests as being able to touch the breast nucleus, feeling stuffy, painful and other discomforts. In recent years, the age of sexual maturity of women in my country has tended to be younger, so there is no need to be overly nervous. It should be discovered as early as possible and the environment that causes development should be improved as much as possible (such as eating less food that may contain hormones).

Parents should guide their children to wear bras when their breasts begin to fully develop, and not to avoid wearing them due to shyness or hunching over, which may affect breast development. As the "starting point" of breast development, adolescent girls who want to take good care of their breasts can do some chest muscle exercises. The chest muscles are the basis for supporting the breasts. Doing more chest expansion exercises or push-ups can help improve the level of chest muscle support. You should wear a sports bra when exercising to avoid excessive breast swinging caused by exercise, which can cause sagging breasts.

As the breasts grow larger, nipple inversion may occur, which will affect later lactation and breastfeeding. You should seek medical attention and correction as soon as possible, and try to solve the problem through some non-surgical means.

3. Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the mammary glands begin to prepare for breastfeeding. The mammary gland ducts will secrete some sticky liquid. If not cleaned in time, a layer of scab may form on the surface of the nipple, blocking the nipple's exocrine secretion. You can use a clean cotton swab to wipe and clean it in time to ensure the patency of the milk ducts and prepare for future breastfeeding.

4. Lactation

Current academic research has proven that breastfeeding has a protective effect on the mammary glands and can reduce the risk of breast cancer. During breastfeeding, you should breastfeed correctly and guide your baby to suck the nipple to stimulate milk secretion. You should also regularly discharge milk to prevent mastitis caused by milk stasis. If you have nipple cracks, you can apply ointment between breastfeeding. Remember to disinfect and clean before breastfeeding to prevent your baby from swallowing them.

5. Non-pregnant women of childbearing age

The most common problem for women of childbearing age is premenstrual breast swelling and pain, which is usually the most severe 2-3 days before menstruation. This may be due to breast duct dilation, congestion, and breast interstitial edema. As estrogen and progesterone levels retreat after menstruation, most of the above symptoms will subside on their own.

Common diseases during this period include breast fibroids and intraductal papilloma. If you feel a lump in your breast or find nipple discharge or bleeding, you should see a breast specialist in time and undergo puncture or surgery if necessary. With the trend of younger breast cancer, being young is not a "talisman" to avoid breast cancer. If you have suspicious symptoms, such as continuous bleeding or a rough breast lump, you should also see a doctor in time to rule out the possibility of illness.

6. Perimenopause and postmenopause

In addition to menstrual disorders, perimenopause may also be accompanied by unbearable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and irritability. In the past few years, it was popular to take estrogen to improve perimenopausal symptoms, but it is not suitable for every female friend. Estrogen is a "mantra" that stimulates breast growth and only plays a positive role within the appropriate age range. Prolonging the duration of estrogen action may increase the risk of breast cancer and gynecological tumors, so you must consult a doctor before use. Of course, menopause is not the "terminator" of breast disease. The high incidence age of breast cancer in Chinese women is 45 to 55 years old. Postmenopausal women and elderly women are also at risk of breast cancer. They should also have regular physical examinations and pay attention to breast changes.

Breasts are a symbol of the beauty of female curves. It is the common mission of medical staff and female friends to take good care of breast health at different stages. On the occasion of the "March 8 International Women's Day", I wish all female friends a happy holiday and wish every female friend to have natural beauty and healthy beauty.

Author: Department of Breast Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University

Jia Hongyan Zhang Aoxue