# Why do men have nipples? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2004, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924 "2004-04-08T09:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/1 "2004-04-08T09:43:03Z")
Well, I can understand why women do, but men?? Were men breast feeders at one time, but gave it up because women were better? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/2 "2004-04-08T09:59:00Z")
As the body is developing in the womb, many of the processes that result in what we consider to be the gross gender characteristics of the body happen quite late on, by which time the nipples have already formed; they are a sort of ‘default’ feature that is only fully implemented in the female. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/3 "2004-04-08T10:25:06Z")
Yeah, it’s like the clitoris is a minature penis. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/4 "2004-04-08T11:00:25Z")
> [@The Big Cheese](#): > > Well, I can understand why women do, but men?? Were men breast feeders at one time, but gave it up because women were better? If you want to freak out and enlighten yourself a bit at the same time, do a Google search on “male lactation”. ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/5 "2004-04-08T11:50:32Z")
This question is asked a lot. 😃 Here ya go. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_093.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_093.html) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/6 "2004-04-08T12:12:47Z")
You know, this morning at 4am I did a search on MEN and NIPPLES and came up with over 20 pages, looked thru the first 3 and gave up. ‘Nipples’ seems to be a popular word around here. I shoulda looked at Cecil first, d’oh! Maybe I’ll check out the male lactation after breakfast, thanks anyway **Jovan**. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/7 "2004-04-08T12:59:06Z")
> [@The Big Cheese](#): > > You know, this morning at 4am I did a search on MEN and NIPPLES and came up with over 20 pages, looked thru the first 3 and gave up. ‘Nipples’ seems to be a popular word around here. > > I shoulda looked at Cecil first, d’oh! > Maybe I’ll check out the male lactation after breakfast, thanks anyway **Jovan**. Check out “gynecomastia” as well. Men can even get breast cancer. It’s rare, but it does happen. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/8 "2004-04-08T13:26:59Z")
> [@dmartin](#): > > Check out “gynecomastia” as well. > > Men can even get breast cancer. It’s rare, but it does happen. True. A Pastor at our church(male) died from breast cancer. Very sad. ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/9 "2004-04-08T13:40:12Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > As the body is developing in the womb, many of the processes that result in what we consider to be the gross gender characteristics of the body happen quite late on, by which time the nipples have already formed; they are a sort of ‘default’ feature that is only fully implemented in the female. So Adam, created in God’s image from dust, wouldn’t have had nipples. So the rest of us men, with our nipples, are not quite God’s image of perfection. I _knew_ there must be a reason why I never catch a break! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/10 "2004-04-08T14:38:55Z")
To get them pierced! What? MeanJoe ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/11 "2004-04-08T18:59:52Z")
Men have nipples because: 1. Precisely half of our ancestors were women. 2. It doesn’t hurt to have purely decorative body parts. 3. They’re fun. ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/12 "2004-04-08T19:05:00Z")
> [@dmartin](#): > > Check out “gynecomastia” as well. > > Men can even get breast cancer. It’s rare, but it does happen. :eek: I know TWO men who have had to had growths removed as well. I wonder how rare it actually is. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/13 "2004-04-08T21:02:03Z")
> [@legion](#): > > So Adam, created in God’s image from dust, wouldn’t have had nipples. So the rest of us men, with our nipples, are not quite God’s image of perfection. > > I _knew_ there must be a reason why I never catch a break! 🙂 I am not sure I agree with that, esp since I think God is both male and female. I think Adam did have nipples. Also, I would not consider male breast cancer to be rare, esp if you have traits to make it more likely. ---
**Author:** ![633squadron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/ee59a6/32.png) [@633squadron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/633squadron)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/14 "2004-04-10T01:34:15Z")
> [@The Big Cheese](#): > > Well, I can understand why women do, but men?? Were men breast feeders at one time, but gave it up because women were better? Stephen Jay Gould addresses this in _Bully For Brontosaurus_, **Norton** , 1991 pg. 125-128 (paperback ed.). The argument, in summary, is that the two sexes do not evolve separately. They are both based on one plan that expresses differently once gender factors take over. Males have nipples because females have nipples. Gould points out the work of Dr. Dwight Davis, which argues that evolution works on embryonic growth fields which depend on a common set of genetic factors. If natural selection acts on an area that has the potential to develop a nipple, that area will yield nipples regardless of sex. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/15 "2004-04-10T01:50:33Z")
The ovaries of a woman and the testicles of a man are originally the same in the fetus. As mentioned previously the clitoris is just a rudimentary penis. This question just shows that the OP didn’t take many biology courses. 😉 ---
**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:** [April 10, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/16 "2004-04-10T19:27:59Z")
> [@kniz](#): > > As mentioned previously the clitoris is just a rudimentary penis. As a man who is an ardent fan of the female form, I heartily declare that there is **nothing** rudimentary about the clitoris. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/17 "2004-04-10T20:32:47Z")
> [@The Griffin](#): > > Yeah, it’s like the clitoris is a minature penis. Isnt it more accurate to say the penis is an oversized clitoris? And does the scrotum correspond with the labia? ---
**Author:** ![psiclone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a6a055/32.png) [@psiclone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiclone)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/18 "2004-04-11T04:56:53Z")
Griffin, are you sure that that a penis isn’t an enlarged clitoris? ---
**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/19 "2004-04-11T05:07:19Z")
I checked out that gynecomastia, and just had to report on some of my findings: > [@Gynecomastia.org](#): > > What is Gynecomastia? > > The term comes from the Greek words gyne meaning “woman” and mastos meaning “breast.” In practical terms, this means abnormally large breasts on men. > > There are several potential causes: > [ul] > [li] Puberty[/li][li] Steroid Abuse ( **bitch tits** )[/li]etc etc etc… > [/ul] Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924/20 "2004-04-11T06:44:39Z")
> [@The Big Cheese](#): > > You know, this morning at 4am I did a search on MEN and NIPPLES and came up with over 20 pages, looked thru the first 3 and gave up. ‘Nipples’ seems to be a popular word around here. Considering [one of our more prolific posters](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) has “Nipples” as his location, I’m surprised you only got 20 pages! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/238924.md?page=2)