Breast development is one of the first signs of puberty in girls, but you may not know what to expect. From breast buds to breasts, we’ve uncovered the different stages of development for you.
Every girl develops at different times. Some notice breasts starting to appear as early as 7 years old, while others might be in their late teens before they experience the first signs of breast development. Everyone is unique and growing breasts can look and feel different to each one of us. To help make sense of those budding boobs, we’ve put together this handy guide.
Growing breasts happens in five distinct stages.
Stage 1: The first sign of breast growth typically appears before the teenage years. In the first stage of breast development, only the nipple is raised.
Stage 2: Breast buds develop in the second stage of breast formation. In this stage, the breast bud and nipple are raised and the areola (circle of darker skin around the nipple) becomes larger and darker. This stage typically happens in 10-year-old girls.
Stage 3: In the third stage, the breasts become slightly larger as glandular tissue develops.
Stage 4: In the fourth stage of breast growth and development, the nipple and areola are raised again, forming a distinct mound on top of the rest of the breast.
Stage 5: In the fifth and final stage, the breast is mature and becomes round. Only the nipple is raised above the other breast tissue.
The average age for breast growth is around 10 or 11 years old, which is normally when puberty begins. They start out as small breast buds and may take 3 to 10 years to fully grow. Normal breast development generally stops around 18 years old, but it can continue until your early twenties.
Breasts are made of milk glands, tissue, fat, and muscle and it’s completely normal for one to grow before the other — it can take a few months before the second starts to develop. They can feel tender, especially if they’re accidentally knocked or bumped, but that’s a common occurrence as your breasts develop.
You will most likely only get your first period (known as menarche) about two years after your breasts start to grow. For most girls, the menstrual cycle is a sign that they are nearing the end of puberty. Menstruation usually only starts after other physical changes including pubic hair development.
Breast development and puberty go hand-in-hand. Any time from around 10 years old, you may start to notice some symptoms of growing breasts. Some common signs of breast development include:
If you have started your period you may notice your breasts become sore and tender in the week leading up to your period. This is due to cyclical changes in your hormones and isn’t necessarily a symptom of breast development.
If you haven’t got boobs yet, but you notice small breast lumps, don’t be alarmed. If you’re a young girl, it’s unlikely that you have breast cancer. Rather, you’re growing breasts!
Thelarche (the fancy term for the onset of breast development) begins with the development of breast buds. Breast buds are small raised lumps behind the nipple area. They can start developing anytime between 7 and 13 years old. The nipple and areola (the coloured ring surrounding the nipple) may start to protrude and even look a little swollen as the bud starts to grow.
Breast development at this early stage doesn’t require a bra for support, but your chest may feel tender, sore or even a little itchy as your breasts start to grow. A soft cup bra or training bra might make you more comfortable as they provide some extra padding for the area, but if you’re comfortable without it, your first bra could be a while away.
Breast buds are just the beginning of breast growth and they won’t disappear or be replaced by anything. They will continue to grow into the breast size and shape you’ll be more familiar with as a young woman.
Breast development is one of the first signs of puberty and it all starts with the development of breast buds. As your breasts develop, they will become less tender and sore. Until then, a training bra can help protect them with extra padding.
Ultimately, everybody develops at different times and in different ways. Don’t compare yourself to others and rather focus on getting acquainted with your own body and what’s normal for you.
