Human body science: Why do girls’ breasts become soft and hard at times?

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Appendix: Breast health self-examination is a very important skill for women. Girls can self-examine the health of their breasts through the four steps of "looking, touching, lying down, and squeezing".

1. Look.

In a brightly lit place, face the mirror, put your hands on your hips, and carefully observe whether the two sides of your breasts are symmetrical in size, whether there are any abnormal protrusions, and whether the skin and nipples have sunken or eczema.

2. Touch.

Touch the right back of your head with your left hand, and use your right hand to check your left breast. Use the pulp of your fingers to gently press the breast to feel if there is any lump. Start checking from the nipple in a clockwise direction, gradually moving outward (about three or four circles), until the entire breast is checked. Use the same method to check the right breast.

3. Lie down.

Lie flat on the bed, place a pillow under your left shoulder, bend your right hand under your head, and repeat the "touch" method to check both breasts.

4. Squeeze.

In addition to the breasts, you should also check the armpits for enlarged lymph nodes or lumps. Finally, squeeze the nipples with your thumb and index finger to pay attention to any abnormal secretions.

The best time to do breast self-examination is between the 9th and 11th day after your period each month. At this time, the effect of estrogen on the breast is minimal, the breast is in a relatively static state, and lesions are easiest to detect.