As you reach the age of 40 years and approach perimenopause, hormonal changes will cause changes to your breasts. Besides noting changes in your breasts' size, shape, and elasticity, you might also notice more bumps and lumps. Aging comes with an increased risk of breast cancer.
As females get older, their bodies start to produce less of the reproductive hormone estrogen than before. Estrogen stimulates the growth of breast tissue, while low levels of this hormone cause the mammary glands to shrink.
During perimenopause, the hormonal fluctuations are more dramatic. It is also common for breasts to get bigger or smaller or to change in shape during this period.
It's normal that hormone changes make your breast tissue less glandular and more fatty as you get older.
During perimenopause -- the years before your periods stop -- you'll start to notice changes in the size and shape of your breasts. You may also notice that they feel tender and achy at unexpected times. Or they may be lumpier than they used to be.
If you have a persistent change of seven days or more in the length of your menstrual cycle, you may be in early perimenopause. If you have a space of 60 days or more between periods, you're likely in late perimenopause. Hot flashes and sleep problems. Hot flashes are common during perimenopause.
Weight loss or weight gain
A woman's weight can have a big influence on the shape and size of their breasts. Weight affects the amount of fatty tissue within the breasts. Gaining weight increases the fatty tissue within the breast and results in breasts enlargement.
"During perimenopause and menopause, there are hormonal fluctuations and eventually a drop in hormones that may cause weight gain," said Dr. Wider. "As a result, some of the weight gain can occur in the breasts, resulting in enlarged breasts."
It has been previously suggested that female breast morphology arose as a result of sexual selection. This is supported by evidence showing that women with larger breasts tend to have higher estrogen levels; breast size may therefore serve as an indicator of potential fertility.
There's no specific age when your breasts will start to sag. It's common for some droop in your 40s and beyond, but many women experience saggy breasts earlier. If you're lucky enough to escape the droop in your 30s and 40s, you'll most likely notice changes in elasticity and fullness as menopause approaches.
As women age, their milk systems shrink and are replaced by fat. By menopause, most women's breasts are completely soft. This can make normal lumps more noticeable. Sometimes women find their breasts feel different when they lose or gain weight and sometimes breasts change for no obvious reason.
As in puberty, estrogen controls the growth of the ducts, and progesterone controls the growth of the glandular buds. Many other hormones also play vital roles in milk production. These include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, oxytocin, and human placental lactogen (HPL).
Early Stage. Perimenopause can begin in some women in their 30s, but most often it starts in women ages 40 to 44. It is marked by changes in menstrual flow and in the length of the cycle. There may be sudden surges in estrogen.
There are two stages of perimenopause. The early stage is marked by the changes in menstrual flow and the length of cycles. The late stage is the transition to menopause which will be when women begin to miss their periods until they finally stop.
Often your doctor can make the diagnosis of perimenopause based on your symptoms. A blood test to check hormone levels may also help, but your hormone levels are changing during perimenopause. It may be more helpful to have several blood tests done at different times for comparison.
Hormone Changes and Your Breasts
Menstrual cycles: Increased production of estrogen early in the menstrual cycle causes breast swelling and tenderness in many women as the breast ducts become larger. Having a high-fat diet and taking in a lot of caffeine can also contribute to breast swelling.
Next, a drop in oestrogen levels causes breasts to undergo a process known as "involution", where your milk glands shut down, and the tissue is replaced by fat. Weight distribution, with excess fat tissue moving from other parts of the body into the breasts, may also cause breast enlargement.