# Male vs. female nipples **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 1, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584 "2009-04-01T15:33:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Donna\_Lange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Donna\_Lange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donna_Lange)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584/41 "2013-03-19T15:36:42Z")
I have heard that men can produce milk as well. Perhaps they are there in case their mate dies and needs to feed the baby? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584/42 "2013-03-19T16:01:19Z")
They’re there because the same template is used for male and female infants with the X or Y chromosome determining whether the template is subjected to masculinizing or feminizing hormones. There’s no real sexual preference for nipples so they just hang around. If women as a group began to find smaller and smaller nipples attractive perhaps they’d disappear on men. I’d hope not, though as they add something. A Ken chest is not nearly as fun to look at. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584/43 "2013-03-19T16:23:12Z")
> [@dotchan](#): > > This is second hand info, so take it with a grain of salt, but I have vague memories of my mother, while nursing my little brother, not producing milk in sync with his feeding times, so I would help her pump. Removing the milk, for her, was a great relief, but I never got around to asking it it also turned her on. 4 year old post. I call b.s. with a dash of utterly inappropriate thrown in for good measure. re: last sentence. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584/44 "2013-03-19T20:49:27Z")
Yes, there are cases on record of desperate men successfully lactating based only on need, and without high-tech assistance. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584/45 "2013-03-19T20:58:15Z")
There are even cases of not particularly desperate men lactating based on desire and I assume ‘lucky’ genetics. [It was in the pop sci news for a while a few years ago.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXp_See_Bs) NSFWish (Lady in the tub, what’s your deal, huh?) ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584/46 "2013-03-19T21:22:39Z")
In Russia, Milk Goes Into Breast !! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584/47 "2013-03-19T21:34:33Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > 4 year old post. I call b.s. with a dash of utterly inappropriate thrown in for good measure. re: last sentence. Yes. I ignored it d/t the username and probable bridge dwelling. One doesn’t help someone pump, generally. The pumps just aren’t set up for it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584/48 "2013-03-19T21:45:35Z")
Dotchan’s not a troll. Her memories may be faulty but she posts/posted in just as much good faith as any other member here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-vs-female-nipples/491584.md?page=2)