Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having extra long nipples (frankly, extra-long nipples can be really cute). Your landing on this page means you feel like you have extra long nipples or at least know someone who does. It also means you have questions about why your nipples may be so long.
Luckily, these questions are not so difficult to answer. In the next couple of paragraphs, we will be discussing reasons why you may have extra-long nipples.
1. It is In Your Genes
Genes are codes we inherit from our parents. They are described as codes because they are very specific and tell the body what to do and when to do it.
Unlike computer codes that have to be written in machine languages, which make use of 1’s and 0’s (binary), genetic codes are written in protein sequences.
They code for quite a number of our body functions, including the shape and appearance of your nipples and, essentially, the size of your breasts.
So, it is likely you have long nipples because someone in your family does.
2. Pregnancy
Pregnancy changes a lot about us, including the way our breasts appear.
During pregnancy, female hormones like estrogen and progesterone cause the breasts to increase in size.
This is a preparation for the baby. The increase in the size of the breast mass is usually due to an increase in milk production and an increase in the size of the breast ducts–small tubes that carry milk to the nipples.
They also cause the nipples to elongate.
A study conducted in 2013 showed that 56 percent of pregnant women showed growth in size and in the length of their nipples.
So, even though you do not know it yet, chances are, the increase in the length of your nipples is a sign of pregnancy. Do get a pregnancy done.
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3. Breast Feeding
There might be a link between breastfeeding and the length of a person’s nipples, even though the phenomenon is still not very understood.
A theory is that the levels of estrogen do not drop drastically after childbirth. There is still enough left to maintain the length and the size of the nipples.
Also, the suckling from the baby may pull the nipples out more or at least prevent them from becoming small.
4. You use a Breast Pump
Breast pumps are progressively becoming more common. I asked a couple of women if they had heard of a breast pump before. Of the twenty, fifteen not only agreed to have heard about it but agreed they had once in their lives thought to try it out.
If you have used a breast pump recently, chances are, it is the reason you may notice extra longer nipples. But the good news is: your nipple size is going to return to normal in no time.
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5. You are Aroused
Many women only notice the length of their nipples when they are aroused. This is because the nipples mostly increase in size when one is aroused. It may also feel a lot firmer and, of course, more sensitive to touch.
What to Do if I have Long Nipples
1. Don’t Freak Out
Your first impulse when you first find out your nipples may be a bit longer than what you consider normal is to freak out.
But don’t freak out. That’ll be putting yourself in the face of undue pressure. Many times, long nipples are normal. A lot of girls, at the onset of puberty, experience a spike in nipple length.
And as we have already discussed, many women also see a spike in the length of their nipples when they are pregnant.
2. Stop Using a Breast Pump
If a breast pump is what is causing an elongation of your nipples, staying away from the pump for a while may make your nipples return to normal faster.
Observe the breasts for as long as you want to. If you are still concerned about the length of your nipples, it may be time to conduct a breast exam or go see a doctor.
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3. Conduct a Breast Exam
The second thing to do if you notice that your nipples have grown extra longer is to conduct a breast exam.
During this breast exam, you are to be looking out for changes in the color, size, or density of your breasts.
There is evidence that some neoplasms (a term that means “new growth”) of the breasts can cause an increase in the length of the nipples.
Note that not all neoplasms of the breasts are malignant. That is to say, cancerous. Some of them are benign and will not pose any direct threat to you.
Anyways, we recommend that you may have to visit your doctor even if you do not find anything, especially if you are still concerned about the length of your nipples.
Note: Pay special attention to any discolorations in your breasts that give them the appearance of an orange peel. This is usually a telltale sign of a breast malignancy.
4. Book a Mammography
Mammography is a fancy medical name for a breast X-ray.
Breast X-rays are so important because they are able to spot neoplasms that you may have missed during your breast exam.
Sometimes, breast masses are so small that you cannot see them except with the help of machines.
Your doctor will often recommend mammography to help deal with your anxiety over the length of your nipples.
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5. Talk to Your Doctor
Talk to your doctor about the length of your breast. Sometimes, if your concerns are so severe they seem to be causing you a bit of anxiety, your doctor may be forced to recommend surgical means to make your nipples shorter.
I would, however, not recommend this. Your nipples are really beautiful the way they are–, and this is coming from someone who has seen a lot of nipples in his lifetime.
Summary
The shape and size of your nipples can be affected by a lot of factors. Many times, these are nothing to worry about. However, you must practice conducting a breast exam from time to time.
