Dear Jean:

I am 16 and I have very small breasts. I want to know is there a chance that they will grow. I want to do something, because in my family all the women have normal breasts and I suppose that the problem isn't genetic. Please help me resolve this problem if you can.

Jean responds:

I'm not a physician, so I can't advise you about whether your breasts will grow larger or whether there's a genetic influence that will keep your breasts small. You could certainly ask your doctor about that. What I do know is that, regardless of how small a woman's breasts may be, they still "work"--in the sense that the nipples are sensitive and respond to touch and that breast size is no reason why you won't be perfectly able to breastfeed your children if you ever have children. Your small breasts can give you and a partner pleasure, and they can work to make breastmilk for babies. That's what breasts are for. Don't get suckered in to the cultural ideal that breasts have to be a certain size--that would be like a guy worrying that his penis has to be a certain size to give himself and a woman pleasure. It's just not true.

I have several women in my practice who have children and are happily married who have breasts so small it looks like they're not there at all. I am not kidding. And take a look at some of the female movie stars these days--some of them are extremely flat chested. I hear how it's painful not to feel you fit in in your family, but try not to take your breast size as a fault. Small breasts are just small! It's just a characteristic, not a flaw! Flaunt your small breasts! Write to some of the movie stars that have very small breasts and ask how they managed their image and how they show off their small breasts.

Jean.

Disclaimer: Ms. Walbridge's response to your question is intended to be educational and informative. It is not a substitute for face to face consultation or psychotherapy with a mental health professional.

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