Are my boobs normal?

Too small! Too big! Too hairy. Too… nippley? Worried you don’t have ‘normal boobs’? What even are normal boobs?! We asked a doctor about your most common boob concerns to reassure you about your rack.

I have no boobs, they’re tiny!

One day…you tell yourself….they must ‘come in’. Maybe tomorrow you’ll wake up and FINALLY HAVE BOOBS. And yet, your breasts are still AWOL. Maybe forever. And you’re worried you’ll never fill a B-cup, let alone ever have cleavage.

“A lot of young women come to me because they’re concerned their breasts are too small,” says GP Dr Sanjay Pawar. “Although, physically, it’s usually nothing to worry about, psychologically it can be upsetting as breasts are so commonly related to your identity as a woman.” 

What can I do about them?

Firstly, wait a while. How old are you? Sometimes it can sometimes take until you’re 20 for your body to fully develop. So if you’re still at school or college, and you got your periods a tad late, hold on tight – your boobs may still be on their way.

Secondly, go and have a look at your mum’s boobs. And your sister’s if you have them. Breast size is genetic, so they can give you a good indicator of what to expect.

If you think it will help you to feel more confident then you can always embrace the power of a very good bra. Padded, uplifted, air-filled – there are all sorts of great undies out there to give you the shape you want. But remember, women’s breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and you don’t need a massive cleavage to feel sexy and empowered. If you’re still hung up on it though, it’s worth going to your GP to chat things through.

My boobs are too big

You don’t know why, but they won’t stop growing. In fact, you’re convinced someone is sprinkling fertiliser onto your cleavage as you sleep. Everyone always goes on about ‘how great it must be to have big boobs’, but actually, you’re really not a fan.

“It’s normal for some women to have very large breasts,” says Dr Sanjay. “But just because it’s normal, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some health implications. Mostly bad backs and trouble exercising – and it can impact self-esteem too.”

What can I do about them?

Getting the right bra may seem like a basic solution, but it can have big results. “If you have big breasts, you may need a collection of bras to ensure you get the right support,” says Dr Sanjay. “Some for everyday, some for when you’re exercising, and even a ‘period’ bra for when you’re on.”

If your boobs are causing you serious health problems, as well as self-esteem issues, you may also be able to get breast reduction surgery on the NHS. If you’re worried, it’s worth chatting to your GP.

One of my boobs is bigger than the other

Cleavage a little unequal? One boob a little more enthusiastic about growing than your other? No need to worry – this is completely and utterly normal.

“It’s really normal to have one bigger boob,” says Dr Sanjay. “Especially when you’re still developing. No pair of breasts is identical, so there can be a size and shape difference between each breast.”

What can I do about them?

Give it time and see if things even out. There may always be a slight size difference, and it’s likely you’ll notice it more than anyone else. You can try buying a padded bra, and removing the padding on one side.

It’s worth noting it’s quite unlikely that your prospective sexual partner is going to notice, or care, that your boobs aren’t identical. That said, if the difference is a cup-size or more and it’s really getting you down – you may also be able to get readjustment surgery on the NHS.

I’ve got massive/tiny nipples with out-of-control areola

As a general rule, nipples get up to all kinds of weird stuff. This is entirely normal. Whether they stick out, are barely there, have large areola (the coloured bit around your nipple), or barely any – your nips will usually do whatever the hell they like.

“It doesn’t matter what size your breasts are,” says Dr Sanjay. “You can have small breasts and large nipples and vice-versa. It’s nothing to worry about medically; it’s just one of those things.”

What can I do about them?

Not very much, so your nips are something you’ll need to get used to. If you want to double-check with your doctor that they’re ‘normal’, you can do so to get reassurance.

However, there are some instances where you do need to march your nipples straight to the doctor, including if they’re:

• Irritated or you’re experiencing breast pain
• Leaking discharge
• Bleeding

I have hair on my nipples!

You’re just drying yourself off after a shower, you look down and spot some ominous looking hairs sprouting out of your nipple – WTF? Nobody else has ever mentioned this happening to them – therefore you must be the only one. What do you do with it? Are you just a hairy-nippled freak?

Nope. Hairy nipples are totally normal. Just everyone keeps it to themselves.

“Hair on your nipples is really common,” says Dr Sanjay. “It seems ‘taboo’ and people can get freaked out about it but, anywhere you have skin, you can potentially have hair.”

What can I do about it?

Gently tweezing the odd stray hair works OK, and you don’t have to tell anyone. However, if you get more than the odd stray hair and, in fact, have noticed a lot of extra body hair in other parts of your body – it’s worth going to your GP.

Concerned about your body? Take a look at the rest of our women’s health articles for help and support.