Nipples are sensitive, and they can hurt for lots of reasons. Tight clothes, rashes, and infections can all irritate the tender skin. For women, sore nipples are common during periods, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Any pain in your nipples can make you wonder if you have breast cancer.
As one of the most sensitive locations on the body, there are numerous reasons that your nipples may become tender or sore. From clothes that don't fit right to hormonal changes and medical concerns, soreness can tell you a great deal.
The least sensitive part to light touch is the areola (the area right outside the nipple). The clitoris and nipple are most sensitive to pressure along while the side of the breasts and abdomen are least sensitive to them.
Nipple tenderness in women of all ages can be caused by dry skin, injury, or friction. Breast tenderness can also be an early symptom of pregnancy.
Men can develop nipples that hurt due to cysts, as well as an underlying infection of breast tissue, if nipples are dry or chafed either due to cold weather or a history of eczema, says Glatter. This leads to cracks and small openings in exposed skin on the nipples and allows skin bacteria to enter.
Before puberty there were no differences between the sexes, but after puberty the tactile sensitivity of all areas of the women's breast was significantly greater than the men's.
For many women, nipples are erogenous zones. A new study may explain why: The sensation from the nipples travels to the same part of the brain as sensations from the vagina, clitoris and cervix.
General Practitioner Dr Giuseppe Aragone states that “one possibility for why this happens could be that those with very sensitive nipples find the sudden release of endorphins from having their nipples touched may in turn cause dysphoria.” It is this dysphoria that can cause uneasy emotions.
There are hundreds of nerve endings in each nipple and while men and women have roughly the same number, women's are more spread out and are generally more sensitive to stimuli thanks to our hormones.
We found that the skin of the superior quadrant was the most sensitive part of the breast, the areola was less sensitive, and the nipple was the least sensitive part.
For light touch, the neck, forearm, and vaginal margin are the most sensitive areas, and the areola is the least sensitive. When it comes to pressure, the clitoris and nipple are the most sensitive, and the side boob and abdomen are the least.
Male nipple play is becoming increasingly popular, and it makes sense: male nipples have hundreds of nerve endings, which make them extremely sensitive and therefore sexually stimulating, explains Dr. Laitman. Men have the same glands, nerves, and surrounding tissues that women do.
Conclusion: Manipulation of the nipples/breasts causes or enhances sexual arousal in approximately 82% of young women and 52% of young men with only 7-8% reporting that it decreased their arousal.
Stimulating, caressing or simply holding breasts sends nerve signals to the brain, which trigger the release of the 'cuddle hormone' called oxytocin, a neurochemical secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland in the brain.
Your nipples are very sensitive little organs! When they are stimulated either by touch, cold temperatures or sexual arousal, they harden (actually become erect) and part of that response is for the brown part (the areola) to shrink and wrinkle. It is kind of like a muscle contraction.
Nipple retraction and inversion
This is completely normal and does not require assessment by a doctor. Nipple retraction or inversion that is new, occurring only in one breast, or where the nipple does not come out on stimulation can be a concerning sign of breast cancer.
Any sort of nipple friction (from pulling, sucking, or biting) can irritate the sensitive nipple skin, causing pain afterward, says Dr. Fine. (Ask your partner to be gentler in the future to avoid the burn afterward!)
Women: Guys will check out your chest and waist-to-hip ratio regardless of whether they see you as friend or partner. But they will look longer and more often at your face when they have romance on their mind. Men: If a woman seems focused on your face and chest, she sees romantic potential.
Nipple pain can be caused by hormonal changes from pregnancy or menstruation, trauma to the nipple from breastfeeding or sexual activity, allergy, infection, and more. While the cause of nipple pain usually isn't serious, in rare cases, it can be a sign of breast cancer.
The seven most erogenous zones on a woman are the ears, fingertips and palms, nipples, inner thighs, clitoris, A-spot, and the bottom of the feet.
Your breasts should feel warm (but not hot) to the touch, like the rest of your torso. Take Note: Have a doctor check out any areas of your breasts that are extra warm or reddened.
Hormones are making your breasts sore.
Hormonal fluctuations are the number one reason women have breast pain. Breasts become sore three to five days prior to the beginning of a menstrual period and stop hurting after it starts. This is due to a rise in estrogen and progesterone right before your period.
Once the hormone changes for puberty begin, breasts get bigger, and the mammary glands get ready to produce milk in the event of pregnancy. Pregnancy and breastfeeding bring more changes to your breasts. Breasts grow larger, and your nipples increase in size and may get darker in color.