We all know our bodies change when we age, but we may not consider that our breasts change as we get older, not just how they look but how they feel too. So to avoid any surprises, it’s good to know what’s going on!
If you’re in your 20s and have found that your breasts have grown larger – and you can’t seem to pinpoint the reason – our article will provide you with answers!
What Causes Your Breasts To Grow In Your 20s?
Most women have fully developed breasts by the age of 23. Still, there may be a few reasons that your breasts are getting bigger in your 20s. These changes can be temporary and only last for a couple of days or weeks, or they can be permanent.
People believe that women’s breasts are fully developed by 23 because at this time, the changes associated with puberty are complete, and the breasts have been filled with the required fat fibrous tissue.
The amount of connective tissue as well as the intact strength of the suspensory ligament at 23 leads to the breasts becoming and feeling dense.
Because the breasts are mostly made of fatty tissue, an increase in weight in your 20s will result in your breasts growing bigger. When you lose weight, then the opposite occurs.
Women also tend to get pregnant during their 20s, which also leads to their breasts growing bigger. The hormones released during pregnancy also lead to weight gain.
Breasts also grow larger during pregnancy to prepare for lactation. Your milk glands grow and fat builds up during pregnancy. These changes happen quickly, and it’s common for your breasts to grow a whole cup size during the first 6 weeks of your pregnancy.
Pregnancy can also cause your nipples to grow and for your areolas to get darker, but these are often temporary changes, and once you’ve delivered your baby, your nipples return to their pre-pregnancy appearance.
Some women also experience larger, swollen breasts during their menstrual cycle, but once menstruation starts their breasts tend to return to their regular size.
Breasts can grow during your menstrual cycle due to higher oestrogen levels which cause the milk ducts in the breasts to grow larger, and so cause your breasts to increase and expand.
Regularly taking oral contraceptives may also cause your breasts to get bigger in your 20s. The increase in breast size due to oral contraceptives can also be explained by hormonal changes that contraceptives can trigger.
Fibrocystic changes can also be responsible for breast growth in your 20s. These are harmless changes and may make your breasts feel lumpy and can sometimes be painful(see also: How To Relieve Back Pain From Large Breasts?).
Thickening breast tissue and the fluid-filled cysts in the breasts are responsible for fibrocystic changes. Signs of fibrocystic changes in your breasts include the enlargement of your breasts, lumps, tender breasts, and painful breasts.
Why Do Breasts Grow Suddenly?
Your breasts can go through dramatic changes throughout your life, and it is totally normal for your breasts to fluctuate in size. Still, sometimes you may find that your breast size increases suddenly. But why does this happen? Let’s look at some common causes:
Sudden weight gain due to thyroid diseases and hormonal changes.
Some women experience breast enlargement during intercourse due to the boost in blood pressure and heart rate. The veins get bigger and cause the breasts to swell, which makes them look larger.
A spike in progesterone and oestrogen levels the day after ovulation causes your breasts to feel fuller and tender. Plus, water retention ahead of your period can also give the impression that your breasts have grown larger.
But these are only temporary changes, and once your period starts your breasts will return to normal size.
Inflammatory breast cancer is another important reason that your breasts may grow suddenly. Breast cancer can cause your breast to become inflamed and lead to abnormal breast growth.
Breast cancer symptoms include redness of the breast, swelling, and being tender to touch. This affects both sexes, and is just as dangerous for men as well as women.
When Should You See A Doctor About Lumps In Your Breasts?
Lumps in your breasts are a big concern, even if you’re a woman in your 20s. This lumpiness is often due to hormonal changes that lead to fibrocystic changes in your breasts.
However, it is good to know that fibrocystic changes are totally normal, even though they might be uncomfortable. Still, these are benign lumps and do not make you more susceptible to developing breast cancer.
Women can sometimes develop one, smooth, firm lump that moves when they press on it. This is known as a Fibroadenoma, and it is a benign breast tumour made of glandular and fibrous tissue.
This is a painless tumour and grows slowly. You can remove it via surgery if it causes discomfort and becomes painful. Luckily, a benign tumour is easy to distinguish between a cancerous one, as a cancerous tumour tends to be painless.
Women in their 20s and 30s often do not have to worry about breast cancer, as it is more common in women over 40.
Still, it is very important for young women to start regular clinical breast exams in their 20s, as catching breast cancer early can improve your chances of survival. These exams should be conducted once in 3 years for women under the age of 40.
Plus, it’s recommended for women in their 20s to start performing self-exams on their breasts once a month, as the more you check your breasts, the more likely you are to notice any abnormalities in your breasts, and the sooner you can seek medical advice.
Final Thoughts
I hope my article has cleared up why women’s breasts suddenly get bigger in their 20s.
The reasons why women may experience enlarged breasts in their 20s are vast, from weight gain to menstruation, to pregnancy and use of oral contraceptives.
I'm Clare, the owner and operator of Off The Couch, where I serve as a qualified Nutrition & Health Coach.
Based in Dublin, Ireland, I offer coaching services both locally and globally, providing personalized strategies in nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and fitness.
My journey into this field began as I navigated my own chronic illnesses, including early menopause, Interstitial Cystitis, Lyme Disease, and hydrocephalus.
