Bigger Breasts in the News

Scientists tell us that human evolution is still continuing. What is surely true is that we do not have much awareness of exactly how the biological and genetic makeup of human beings is changing. But one change is getting attention because there are solid data about it. Women's breasts are definitely bigger than ever. Busts are booming. And probably more men than women like this.

It is significant that the very buxom Christina Hendricks, Mad Men TV series star, was recently named Esquire's "sexiest woman alive."

In the past 15 years, the average bust size for North American women has gone from 34B to 36C. The most common bra cup size in the US used to be B, but has now become C. In Australia, average bra size grew from 32B in 1960 to 36C today. Of course, size is not constant over time but varies with pregnancy, breastfeeding, the menstrual cycle, health, weight changes, and age. Most men probably have a tough time understanding the dramatic breast changes in size and shape that occur over a woman's life. And averages may not tell the whole story. What seems quite visible is a large number of women with exceptionally large breasts. It seems like we have entered a double-D world.

There are many postulated causes of a generally larger breast size, remembering of course that this is all about statistical averages, meaning that many women still have relatively small breasts and are experiencing more difficult times. They are, however, becoming more atypical.

An easy explanation might be extensive bigger weights with nearly two thirds of American women overweight and half of them obese. True, fat women can have large breasts, but getting fatter just to get larger breasts is rarely a desired strategy. But there are other causes of what is happening. Besides, it is readily apparent that a great many women with historically large breasts have slim figures, something that rarely existed not so many years ago. Is this the best of two worlds?

Of biological importance is that puberty is starting earlier in girls, at around 10 years-nearly a year earlier than a 1991 study indicated. This factor, along with women having children later or not at all, and lifelong exposure to contraceptive pills, could account for increased estrogen levels in women's bodies. Additionally, there is more estrogen in the environment, which some scientists say comes from pollutants, pesticides and herbicides taken in through food, often because of what is fed to animals.

If that shakes you up, another explanation is more frightening. There's the chemical bisphenol A or BPA, which is notorious for its potential to wreak hormonal havoc and may contribute to increased estrogen levels and breast size. Its most often found in certain plastics, sales receipts, and the lining of food and beverage cans and has become increasingly controversial.

One thing for sure, all the larger breasts are not a result of surgical implants, even though millions of women have gone that route. True, the number of women seeking breast enlargements is probably still increasing, despite so many naturally larger breasts becoming so common. In the new busting out world women with small breasts may be turning to surgery to join the trend. What is also true, however, is an increasing number of women now seeking surgical breast reductions. Big reasons are these medical issues: back, shoulders and neck pain, headaches and discomfort under the breast from the heat. Physically active women face special problems. Some physicians have reported a doubling of breast-reduction procedures in the past 10 to 15 years. And the amount of reduction has also been increasing. The cost for reduction is about the same as enlargement. Even after reduction, however, breast size for many women is likely to be relatively large.

But perhaps the most fascinating sign of the times is that the women seeking enlargements now are asking for bigger implants, with the size requested doubling over the past 30 years. Apparently all those women with large natural breasts are provoking interest among others escaping the evolutionary trend to get surgical help.

But too much of a good thing can be newsworthy. Sheyla Hershey, of Houston, currently holds the world record for her breast-size - a mind-blowing 38MMM. The 29-year-old Hershey has had 32 breast augmentations in her quest for "perfection."

There are also a seemingly infinite number of companies and websites offering a huge array of products to increase breast size. None of these are likely to work, according to medical experts and also pose health risks. Women in the US have spent millions of dollars on creams, lotions, pills, gums, devices, and techniques for breast enlargement in the last few decades. Alternatively, millions have purchased push-up and other kinds of engineered bras. One type has silicone-filled cups meant to mimic the shape and feel of breast tissue.

Like so many other men, of course, this whole busting out all over trend seems just fine, though superficial. Whether all women find it satisfying is another question. Many of them are experiencing significant physical, mental and financial costs related to the buxom boom.