Why Is My Areola So Big? Female Nipple Size & Meaning - Refinery29

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from BodyADVERTISEMENTEveryone's Areola Size Is Unique — Just The Way It Was IntendedCory StiegLast Updated November 30, 2018, 5:30 PM photographed by Ashley Armitage.Quarters. Dinner plates. Pancakes. Coasters. Pepperoni. These are some of the creative items people have used to describe the size of the pigmented skin surrounding the nipple, aka the areola. Everyone with nipples has them — it just comes with the territory. But "the areolae are as variable as the breast that they're on," says Katharine O'Connell White, MD, MPH, director, Fellowship in Family Planning, department of Ob/Gyn at Boston University, Boston Medical Center. That means, in terms of size and shape, there's a very wide range of what is considered "normal" for areolae. Hence the very large variety of household items they could resemble.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENTSo, what determines the size of someone's areolae? "Genetics has the biggest role in both the size, appearance, and even color of the areola," Dr. White says. Areola size is something that you inherit from your parents, just like your breast and foot size, or your freckle pattern.That said, there are a few factors that can change the size, color, and shape of your areola over time, such as puberty, periods, and of course, pregnancy. "When you think about what [areolae] are used for, it makes sense that they might get larger and darker," Dr. White says. Areolae aren't just accessories for your nipples; they actually serve a function.“

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your areola, whether you've been pregnant or not — it's just a part of who you are, and it's what makes all of us different.

Katharine O'Connell White, MD, MPH, director, Fellowship in Family Planning, department of Ob/Gyn at Boston University, Boston Medical Center”Areolae have tissue and fiber that contracts so that nipples can get erect when you're chilly, aroused, or breastfeeding, Dr. White says. If you're breastfeeding, then your areolae grow as they get ready to help with lactation, and change color because they're needed more than ever, she says. The areolae act as a "bullseye" for a baby to find your breast and get milk. "Babies have horrible eyesight, so the stark contrast between the areola and the color of the breast helps focus the baby's eyes on where to look," she says.After pregnancy, areolae do tend to get smaller, although they may not revert back to their pre-pregnancy size, Dr. White says. "The color also gets lighter but doesn’t tend to become as light as it was before getting pregnant," she says. This is just one of the extremely common ways in which your body changes after pregnancy, and there's really nothing to be concerned about if you notice your areolae are larger.Some people do feel strongly about their changed nipples, though, and nipple augmentation has become increasingly popular, particularly with people who just gave birth. T.Y. Steven Ip, MD, a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast augmentation. He told Refinery29 that about 50% of postpartum patients who come to seek a breast lift or augmentation also request that he change their nipple or areola. Some patients who haven't had kids also ask for nipple augmentation, although it's less common.At the end of the day, you may do whatever you damn well please with your nipples, but Dr. White says these procedures are unnecessary from a medical perspective. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with your areola, whether you've been pregnant or not — it's just a part of who you are, and it's what makes all of us different," she says. "Beauty is the variety of what human bodies can look like."AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT Health TrendsIf You’re Itchy & Uncomfortable It Might Be Bacterial Vagin...If you’ve ever experienced bacterial vaginosis, otherwise referred to as BV, you’ll know how uncomfortable it is. But you’ll also know, iby Tanyel MustafaWellnessSkinnyTok Isn’t A Trend — It’s The Latest Iteration o...Trigger warning: This article discusses disordered eating in a way that some readers may find distressing. At 30, I’d hoped diet culture and fatphobia weby Chloe LawsUnbotheredMy Abortion Was My Lifeline—Getting It Felt Like A Battle For Sur...As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted an abortion. The immediate decision didn’t come from fear or confusion; it came from clarity. by Taren HollimanAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTReproductive HealthHow The Real Housewives Helped Me Through My Own Black Mat...Content warning: the following story contains details of pregnancy loss, surgery, the Black maternal health crisis, and fertility struggles At her Los Angeby L'Oréal BlackettUnbothered“It Took Years To Be Heard”: 4 Black Women On Their S...Sophia Umoh, 31, was diagnosed with endometriosis in her mid-twenties after first presenting with symptoms in her early teens. “It started with painful pby Carly Lewis-OduntanTaking CareEndometriosis Could Be Linked To Trauma, ActuallyTrigger warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault and trauma. I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2011, after years of investigationsby Lucia Osborne-Cro...BodyIf Your Period Seems Watery, This Might Be WhyLet’s face it: Periods can be weird. At various times they might be clumpy, brown, and, yes, smelly — and usually this is all totally standard. Buby Erika W. SmithMost WantedAthena Club Is Your One-Stop Shop For All Things WellnessAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Whether it was pads, multivby Karina HoshikawaBodyHow To Tell If You Have A Yeast Infection & Get Rid Of ItYeast infections are the most common type of vaginal infection and up to three out of four people with vaginas will get a yeast infection at some point in by Cory StiegMy PeriodHelp R29 & Period Law End The Tampon TaxWe’re getting personal about our periods. The path to menstrual equity starts with talking about it. There’s a lot of feelings around getby Refinery29 StaffMy PeriodIt’s 2024 — Why Isn’t Every Workplace A Period-Positive One?We’re getting personal about our periods. The path to menstrual equity starts with talking about it. Debbie Herrera has been working on the influenceby Elizabeth GulinoMy Period5 Women On The Effect Of Having A Good First Periodby Elizabeth GulinoAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT