The Transgender Dictionary

Breasts

(also: boobs, chest, tits, knockers)

Table of Contents

Introduction

As one of the secondary sex characteristics of the human body, breasts often come up in discussions of gender (I mean, there are numerous pages throughout this website that have bits with hyperlinks to this page so I think that they're probably relevant). You've either got them or you don't (I don't... not anymore) and there is a lot of natural variation among them.

This page is not a subsitute for medical advice. I am not a doctor. This is just general anatomy information provided for educational purposes, as well as relevant discussions.

Clicking on underlined words/phrases will lead you to other parts of The Transgender Dictionary. Clicking on underlined links underneath the [External Links] section will lead you to other parts of the internet that are not afflilated with The Transgender Dictionary. To navigate your way to the main dictionary pages of this website, please see the alphabet button menus at the top and bottom of this page. For other anatomy-related pages, please see the dropdown menus at the top of this page.

Click to return to table of contents.

General Information

Breasts have two primary purposes; bringing sexual pleasure to the person attatched to them, and feeding infants. Breasts typically come as a pair; though some are born with one missing, or have to have one (or both) amputated due to breast cancer or gender dysphoria. It is not uncommon for breasts to be asymmetrical (aka. when one is slightly bigger than the other).

Breasts are present on the upper front torso of both men and women though they typically remain underdeveloped in males, unless that "male" happens to actually be a transgender woman who chooses to undergo hormone therapy, or perhaps undergo breast augmentation to to develop her chest into proper breasts).

Some transgender men prefer to simply refer to their "breasts" as their "chests" and/or use "chestfeeding" in place of "breastfeeding" when feeding their own infants (though some seahorse dads simply formula feed instead). As with all gender-related terminology, what someone uses to refer to themself is all highly personal.

Click to return to table of contents.

Breasts & Gender

Breasts are generally associated with women, being female, and femininity. When strangers try to determine the gender identity of a new person that they are interacting with, the presence or absence of breasts is often the primary factor regarding the final decision. The prevelance of this phenomenon (well, its often an accurate way to form a conclusion regarding one's gender identity) has led to the pre-transition phenomena of the dysphoria hoodie.

Transgender women typically seek to alter their bodies to have breasts or appear to have breasts. This is due to the experience of gender dysphoria regarding having a flat chest, and the pursuit of having breasts elicits gender euphoria. This can be done in various ways. Prosthetics known as breast forms exist to temporarily give the appearance of having breasts (these are sometimes worn with pocket bras). Breast augmentation is a surgery that exists to enhance the size of one's breasts, though transgender women are typically encouraged to start hormones prior to undergoing surgery.

Undergoing estrogenizing hormone therapy will result in the patient developing her own set of breasts. The development of breasts can be painful, and the breasts will be extremely sensitive as they start to grow.

Transgender men typically seek to alter their bodies to not have (or appear to not have) breasts. This can be done temporarily via the usage of trans tape or binders. Top surgery for transgender men comes in several forms, with the main distinctions being the resulting scarring and the size of the breasts prior to undergoing surgery. Some transgender men with particuarily small breasts (think "a" cup) are able to achieve the goal of having a flat chest through masculinizing hormone therapy and exercise alone.

Note that undergoing testosterone therapy typically results in hair growth on the breasts regardless of size. Larger breasts often become saggy. Some transgender men will find their cup size go down while on testosterone, though this is uncommon. Some transgender boys are lucky enough to have access to puberty blockers at a young age to avoid developing breasts.

There are some transgender women who do not mind and are comfortable with having flat chests. There are some transgender men who do not mind and are comfortable with having breasts. Some enbans want to have breasts and some don't. This will all vary from person to person. Everyone has their own gender expression and transition goals.

Click to return to table of contents.

Anatomy

The various physical aspects of breasts arranged in alphabetical order.

Adipose Tissue

Breasts contain no muscles (though the base of each breast lies on the pectoral fascia, the muscle which covers the ribs). The structures which make up the breast are nearly all contained within fatty tissue.

As breasts are entirely fat, the effect of "fat redistribution" caused by taking estrogen is what results in a transgender woman growing a pair.

Note that when a transgender man taking testosterone undergoes "fat redistribution," it can sometimes cause some shrinkage of the breasts, though it will rarely make them disappear (unless the man previously had extremely small breasts to start off with).

Click to return to table of contents.

Areola

The areolae are the circular areas of darker-colored skin surrounding the nipples. They possess glands (known as Montgomery's glands) which secrete a lubricating oil that protects the nipple and skin from chafing during breastfeeding/chestfeeding.

Click to return to table of contents.

Connective Tissue Stroma

The supporting structure which surrounds the mammary glands.

Click to return to table of contents.

Mammary Glands/Milk Ducts

Mammary glands are modified sweat ducts that can produce milk. Every breast has 15-20 lobes made up of smaller structures called lobules which end in dozens of tiny bulbs (these are what can produce milk). All of these lobes, lobules, and bulbs are linked by thin tubes known as ducts (each duct individually referred to as a lactiferous duct). These ducts lead to the center of the nipple.

Click to return to table of contents.

Nipple

Located at the center of the breast and surrounded by the areola, the nipple is a cylindrical projection through which milk is delivered during breastfeeding. Nipples contain multiple openings known as "lactiferous duct" openings. Nipples are more pigmented (aka. darker in color) than the surrounding breast tissue.

The nipple is comprised of smooth muscle fibers which allow it to become erect in response to stimulation such as cold, pain, touch, or during breastfeeding/chestfeeding. Nipples are highly sensitive due to their rich supply of nerve endings. The high sensitivity of a nipple is designed to respond to an infant suckling. Nipples grow in size from increased blood flow in response to pregnancy.

The exact size and location of the nipple varies from person to person. In those who are born with a testosterone dominated body, the nipple is present but underdeveloped due to a lack of hormonal stimulation. Taking estrogen will develop a pair of nipples, causing them to increase in size and prosper.

Click here to return to [D] section [Double Incision] page [About The Nipples] subheading.

Click to jump to external resources regarding nipple anatomy.

Click to return to table of contents.

Polythelia

This is when someone has more than two nipples.

Click to jump to external resources regarding polythelia.

Click to return to table of contents.

Athelia

This is when someone has one nipple or no nipples.

Click to jump to external resources regarding athelia.

Click to return to table of contents.

Retromammary Space

This is the layer of loose connective tissue between the pectoral fascia and the breast. This "potential space" is what is utilized for inserting breast implants.

Click to return to table of contents.

Bras

A bra is an undergarment that is worn for the purpose of securing, enhancing, and embracing a set of breasts. Bras come in various shapes and sizes.

A bra size is primarily determined using two measurements. The first measurement is band size, a tight measurement taken directly below the breasts. The second measurement is cup size, a relaxed measurement taken around the bulk of the breasts themselves. In the example breast size 32B - the "32" indicates that the band size is 32 inches, while the "B" indicates a medium sized breast. Some people take additional measurements in an effort to obtain a better fitting bra, but these are the standard measurements.

Click to jump to external resources regarding bra calculators.

Click to return to table of contents.

Types of Bras

Note that bras can have aspects of more than one style of bra as listed above.

Click to jump to external resources regarding different types of bras.

Click to return to table of contents.

Amastia

This is when someone is missing all or most breast tissue on one or both sides.

Click here to jump to external resources regarding amastia.

Click to return to table of contents.

Breast Hypertrophy

Excessively large breasts.

Click to jump to external resources regarding breast hypertrophy.

Click to return to table of contents.

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is when a wolffipathian develops breasts. This can happen either naturally due to an intersex variation, or from taking certain medications. Intersex variations that are associated with gynecomastia include aromatase excess syndrome, androgen insensitivity syndrome, XXYY Syndrome, and klinefelter syndrome.

Click to return to table of contents.

Polymastia

Also known as "accessory breasts," This is when an individual has more than two breasts.

Click here to jump to external resources regarding polymastia.

Click to return to table of contents.

Clicking on the links below will lead you to other parts of the internet that are not associated with, affiliated with, or endorsed by The Transgender Dictionary. These articles, videos, studies, etc have been provided for educational purposes. Clicking on these links may result in you viewing anatomical images of breasts.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

Click to return to table of contents.

See also the pages for; penis, pregnancy, and vulva.

Learn something you didn't know before? Support The Transgender Dictionary on Patreon.

Not sure what you feel like researching now? Click here for a list of every page of this website (even the ones that may not be linked on the main alphabet pages).

DIRECTORY DONATE # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z RESOURCES BY COUNTRY MISCELLANEOUS