# Can women spontaneously grow larger breasts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 22, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040 "2007-03-22T17:03:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roboto)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/1 "2007-03-22T17:03:36Z")
Pregnancy and significant weight gain aside, do women well beyond the age of puberty ever suddenly grow significantly larger breasts? The reason I ask is because my girlfriend has really small breasts (not complaining, I enjoy all sizes) but to me they look like they are getting bigger. I haven’t said anything to her, because I thought I would be implying wieght gain by association. Just curious if this ever happens. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/2 "2007-03-22T17:21:08Z")
Well, you could ask if she’s pregnant. The answer to your question is, basically, “Yes.” As the body matures, even if there is not (your vaguely defined) “significant” weight gain, most people put on some weight and in women that will manifest itself in the breasts. The usual cause of an increase in size is an increase in estrogen–an event most frequently associated with pregnancy or weight gain, but which is actually a normal part of maturation. Changes in exercise routines, eating habits, and some other situations will also result in changes of estrogen production/fat distribution, even when the scale claims that there is no actual change in overall weight. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/3 "2007-03-22T17:24:50Z")
[Yup.](http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/breast_swelling.htm) ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/4 "2007-03-22T17:29:49Z")
I’m fairly confident that oral contraceptive use will increase breast size, but I haven’t been able to find any really well performed studies on it. You would have thought that somewhere along the lines in all of the FDA safety studies, somebody would have thought to monitor breast size (they’ve done it for acne), but I can’t find a citation. Here’s some fairly strong correlational evidence: > **[Breast Size in Relation to Endogenous Hormone Levels, Body Constitution, and...](https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/145/7/571/94585)** > > Abstract. In 1993 and 1994, the relation between breast size and hormonal factors and body constitution was studied in 65 healthy nulligravid women aged 19–25 y [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&cluster=5831107092309144852](http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&cluster=5831107092309144852) Of course, if you want to be really romantic and sexy, you could say, “yowza, baby, it’s like you’ve got a giant pus-filled abscess in both of your breasts, let’s make out.” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/5 "2007-03-22T17:43:12Z")
Anecdotally speaking, going on the pill definitely makes some women grow larger breasts. Also weight gain. ---
**Author:** ![Strain\_of\_Thought](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Strain\_of\_Thought](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strain_of_Thought)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/6 "2007-03-22T18:46:02Z")
[QUOTE=Maastricht] [Yup.](http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/breast_swelling.htm) [/QUOTE] That medical database is hysterical: > [@](#): > > The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Breast swelling. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms. > > ``` > * Puberty - causes breast size increase. > > ``` > [@](#): > > Introduction: Puberty > > Sexual and physical maturation in adolescents > > More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Puberty is available below. > [@](#): > > Contents for Puberty: > > ``` > * Puberty > * Basic Summary for Puberty > * Videos related to Puberty > * Risk Factors for Puberty > * Symptoms of Puberty > * Diagnostic Tests for Puberty > * Signs of Puberty > * Complications of Puberty > * Wrong diagnosis of Puberty > * Associated Conditions of Puberty > * Treatments for Puberty > * Cure Research for Puberty > * Medical News Summaries About Puberty > * Articles about Puberty > * Glossary for Puberty > * External links relating to Puberty > > ``` > > User Surveys and Discussion Forums > > ``` > * Surveys relating to Puberty > * Ask Question about Puberty > > ``` I can only hope this content was generated automatically. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/7 "2007-03-22T18:53:51Z")
[QUOTE=Roboto] The reason I ask is because my girlfriend has really small breasts (not complaining, I enjoy all sizes) but to me they look like they are getting bigger. [/QUOTE] Letting some of the air out always works for me. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/8 "2007-03-22T19:09:30Z")
[QUOTE=Strain of Thought] I can only hope this content was generated automatically. [/QUOTE] I’ve often found that WrongDiagnosis is a pretty awful medical reference site for just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/9 "2007-03-22T21:45:10Z")
How long have you noticed the increase? Is it something that seems permanent? I am the type of “sensitive, always-in-the-friend-zone, why-can’t-guys-be-nice-like-you, but-I-won’t-date-you, always-had-plenty-of-friends-who-were-girls,” type of guy and I noticed that sometimes the breasts of my female friends would swell during their period. It was quite noticeable. But then it would go down for the rest of the month. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/10 "2007-03-22T22:02:57Z")
My gf’s breasts are perfect IMHO, however she would like them to be a little larger. I’ve convinced her that regular massage sessions will work, and she hasn’t asked for a cite yet. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/11 "2007-03-23T00:51:36Z")
[QUOTE=Shawn1767] I am the type of “sensitive, always-in-the-friend-zone, why-can’t-guys-be-nice-like-you, but-I-won’t-date-you, always-had-plenty-of-friends-who-were-girls,” type of guy and I noticed that sometimes the breasts of my female friends would swell … [/QUOTE] Well, as Pops used to say, better horny than dead, right? I mean, it could always be worse. You could have ended up the type of person that brings completely inappropriate non-sequitors about their inability to get laid into every conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/12 "2007-03-23T00:55:27Z")
[QUOTE=Shawn1767] How long have you noticed the increase? Is it something that seems permanent? I am the type of “sensitive, always-in-the-friend-zone, why-can’t-guys-be-nice-like-you, but-I-won’t-date-you, always-had-plenty-of-friends-who-were-girls,” type of guy and I noticed that sometimes the breasts of my female friends would swell during their period. It was quite noticeable. But then it would go down for the rest of the month. [/QUOTE] For sure they can do that . But they can also grow more. I had straight hair and a very small cup size as a teen. Now I have curls and a decent enough bosom - and I’ve not gained masses of weight. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/13 "2007-03-23T02:12:14Z")
Threemae, my point was that I have pretty much been around women all my life and have always had more female friends than male friends–female friends with whom I have discussed many female-related issues and who were quite comfortable talking to me about them. One issue we discussed was breast-enlargement during their periods. It was quite noticeable and since many of them lived together, their periods would usually sync up, so they would all usually have noticeably larger breasts for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/15 "2018-04-06T21:30:54Z")
Zombie boobys don’t grow at all. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/16 "2018-04-06T21:47:56Z")
That’s one patient spammer. Usually they wait only a few minutes between the linkless nonsense post and the spam. Bow legs waited 14 months. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-spontaneously-grow-larger-breasts/397040/17 "2018-04-06T22:28:34Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > That’s one patient spammer. Usually they wait only a few minutes between the linkless nonsense post and the spam. Bow legs waited 14 months. His spammy link in his profile is for fixing bowlegs. I guess he’s moving up in the world.