The development of female breasts during adolescence is usually characterized by gradual growth, becoming hemispherical in shape, with the nipples enlarging into cylindrical shapes, and both breasts being symmetrical. During this growth period, there may be occasional breast tenderness, which generally does not affect learning or daily life. This discomfort naturally subsides once the growth and development phase is complete, and can be considered a physiological phenomenon.
If the female nipples darken within a short period of time, it may indicate early pregnancy. If the nipples become very dark, it could suggest excessive sexual desire or a history of multiple induced abortions. Female nipples should not be narrow, pale, twisted, small, or have a black-yellowish color, as this may indicate gynecological conditions such as infertility or the inability to breastfeed after childbirth.
If the female breasts enlarge, the area around the nipples becomes dark red, the range widens, and the changes are symmetrical, it may be a sign of pregnancy. If a woman is entering or approaching menopause and experiences breast discharge, pus, or bleeding, special attention should be paid to the possibility of breast cancer or other malignant tumors.
Breast palpation can also help detect diseases. Breast palpation focuses mainly on detecting breast lumps, masses, protrusions, tenderness, shape, firmness, smoothness of the skin, and nipple shape. Any abnormality indicates a potential underlying condition.
Normal breasts do not have lumps or masses. If present, they usually indicate pathology. If a specific area of the breast becomes red, hot, swollen, and noticeably tender, along with enlarged and painful lymph nodes in the same armpit, it may indicate acute mastitis. If there are small round nodules on the nipple that excrete purulent or bloody secretions upon compression, it may suggest the presence of abscesses or breast cancer.
Mastitis is a term used in traditional Chinese medicine to refer to an acute suppurative disease. If irregular, varying-sized granular nodules appear inside the breast, accompanied by pain before and after the menstrual period, it may indicate breast diseases such as mastitis.
If oval-shaped nodules appear inside the breast, with clear margins, high mobility, and slow growth, usually located above the outer part of the breast, it is likely to be caused by fibroadenomas.
It is important to note that if there are breast lumps, deformations, retractions, skin resembling orange peel, enlarged armpit lymph nodes without obvious pain, it is highly likely to be breast cancer.
