The beginnning of breast development is one of the earliest signs of puberty in girls, the appearance of pubic hair being the other. In other words, pubic hair and breast buds appear close together.
Breast development normally begins about 1 year before the mestrual period b21egins. The development takes several years.
When a girl first enters into puberty the first major noticeable change in her appearance is the development of breasts. Breast growth starts at different ages in different girls. Someone may see changes in her breasts at the age of 10 years while another girl may not have any sign until 15 or 16 years of age. The onset of breast growth depends on when your body starts to produce the female hormones specially estrogen and progesterone. .There are various stages of breast growth until 18-20 years when the breasts are fully developed in normal women.
What breast changes happen at puberty?
As a girl approaches adolescence, the first outward signs of breast development begin to appear. When the ovaries start to secrete estrogen, fat in the connective tissue begins to accumulate causing the breasts to enlarge. The duct system also begins to grow. Usually the onset of these breast changes is also accompanied by the appearance of pubic hair and hair under the arms.
Once ovulation and menstruation begin, the maturing of the breasts begins with the formation of secretory glands at the end of the milk ducts. The breasts and duct system continue to grow and mature, with the development of many glands and lobules. The rate at which breasts grow varies greatly and is different for each young woman.
Female breast developmental stages
Stage 1 (Preadolescent) only the tip of the nipple is raised
Stage 2 Buds appear, breast and nipple raised, and the areola (dark area of skin that surrounds the nipple) enlarges
Stage 3 Breasts are slightly larger with glandular breast tissue present
Stage 4 The areola and nipple become raised and form a second mound above the rest of the breast
Stage 5 Mature adult breast; the breast becomes rounded and only the nipple is raised
What cyclical changes occur to the breasts during the menstrual cycle?
Each month, women experience fluctuations in hormones that make up the normal menstrual cycle. Estrogen, which is produced by the ovaries in the first half of the menstrual cycle, stimulates the growth of milk ducts in the breasts. The increasing level of estrogen leads to ovulation halfway through the cycle, and then the hormone progesterone takes over in the second half of the cycle, stimulating the formation of the milk glands. These hormones are believed to be responsible for the cyclical changes such as the swelling, pain, and tenderness that many women experience in their breasts just before menstruation.
During menstruation, many women also experience changes in breast texture, with breasts feeling particularly lumpy. These are the glands in the breast enlarging to prepare for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the breasts return to normal size. Once menstruation begins, the cycle begins again.
Some women have fully developed breasts but still they are not confident and satisfied with their size. Herbal breast enlargement products have worked for such women also! There are many types of herbal products available in the market. Some are developed for use by adult women while some are meant to be used in early puberty only.