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Hormones orchestrate female breasts looks & functions! Humans must appreciate what they do!


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Abstract

The breasts of an adult woman are milk- producing, tear-shaped glands. Their development is a complex process extending from the earliest stages of embryogenesis to beyond menopause, driven by intrinsic genetic information, regulated by complex and tightly controlled hormonal mechanisms, and is affected by external events. 
Hormonal changes in the breasts are completely normal processes that women experience throughout their reproductive stage, due to constant transformations related to fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, progesterone and Prolactin, which regulate multiple functions of the female reproductive system. While Estrogens are responsible for the growth of the breast ducts and stimulating cell proliferation, during the first half of the cycle, Progesterone acts in the second phase of the cycle, favoring the development of the breast alveoli. Prolactin & growth hormone are also involved in this complex process, leading to changes in both the size and sensitivity of the glands. 
Preoccupation with body image is observed in adolescents and young women in India. Most of them peer review each other or report confidentially with a senior health professional. Most of such reports are apprehensions of negative attitudes towards self. Therefore, it is important for schools & colleges to provide guidance to students on issues like breast size, long hair, eye colors, facial contours etc., and self-belief as they have a significant impact on mental health. 
Materials and methods: This article is based on one-on-one discussions with about 50 MPH scholars over a period or 3 years (2018-2022) in a public sector University and clarifying many misunderstandings and interactions for facilitating not getting worried much. 
Outcomes: Despite the common cultural hesitation of young girls and women seeking a male doctor’s opinion, half of the MPH scholar (n-50) consulted this author. In all 3 batches about 10 girls and 2 women were advised hormonal intervention and responded well for breast tenderness, and rest counselled for fibrocystic breasts (4) and cyclic myalgia (9).

Keywords

breasts, hormonal control of breasts development, estrogen, progesterone, prolactin

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