Today's Topic
Could symptoms get worse just by wearing the wrong size bra? The answer is yes. I read this fantastic article about bras and menopause last week and I thought I had to look into this further and share it with you all.
So, what I'm going to do today is look at the ways that just wearing the wrong size bra can impact or worsen your perimenopause and menopause symptoms, why these happen, and what you can do to help yourself.
Menopause and your bra size
A well-fitted bra can improve the way you look and give you confidence; whereas, wearing the wrong size bra is not only uncomfortable, but it also does not provide the support your breasts need at this time.
One of the main problems is that in perimenopause and menopause, your breast size, shape, and tissue density can change quite dramatically and quite quickly. A lot of it can be due to changing oestrogen levels, but there can also be some other issues as well.
I read in this article that 80% of women are going around in the wrong size bra. It's a huge number of women, and these old bra sizes that we've probably been wearing since we've been in our 20s just don't suit our breasts as we're going through perimenopause and menopause.
So, I'm going to have a look at the seven symptoms that can be made worse, and explain why:
1. Breast pain and tenderness
Now, breast pain is a common symptom on its own. It's one of the main symptoms, especially in perimenopause - you find that your breasts get a lot more uncomfortable just before a period.
A lot of this is to do with fluctuating oestrogen levels. It can also be due to water retention, so your bra size and your breasts can go up a size literally overnight. And again, if you're wearing the wrong size bra, that can cause you more pain.
It can be that your breasts are a lot heavier. And, on those days when your breasts get bigger, if you're wearing underwired bras, they can really dig in. This can often affect the lymph drainage of the breasts and that can contribute to more pain and discomfort.
We know too that weight gain is a big issue for a lot of women in perimenopause and menopause. So, if you put on weight, and you're still wearing the wrong size bra, that's going to be a problem as well.
2. Sagging breasts
Sagging is just a normal part of the ageing process, but perimenopause and menopause can also contribute to this sagging. Your breasts can lose their pertness. This can be due to falling oestrogen levels affecting the breast tissue and causing them to lose strength, so they start to fall instead of being kept upright.
If your breasts are starting to sag, that can make you look a bit dumpier and a bit rounder. Wearing the wrong size bra will add to the way this can affect the look of your figure. And I know, for a lot of women, losing your figure in menopause can really affect your confidence as well.
3. Neck and shoulder pain
If your breasts are getting heavier or bigger and your bra is not supporting you properly, that's going to pull on the muscles in the chest. These muscles are then going to pull at the shoulder muscles and the neck muscles, so you're going to end up with perhaps, constant neck pain, shoulder pain, and just general discomfort around this whole area.
4. Poor posture
Falling hormones can affect your muscles and joints, which can affect and weaken your posture. Wearing the wrong size bra can contribute to this.
Furthermore, leading on from the neck and shoulder pain I mentioned above, which can be caused by poor bra support, if this happens all the time your posture is going to be affected further.
One of the interesting things I read in the article is that when this happens, you lose height. So, you can lose between half an inch to an inch of height just by wearing the wrong size bra, because your shoulders and your chest are being pulled downward. So, if you think that you're shrinking height-wise, it may be more to do with your bra.
5. Skin irritation
Your skin can become much more sensitive and more easily irritated in perimenopause and menopause, and wearing the wrong bra can affect your skin too.
If your breasts are sagging and not being properly supported, especially if you're getting hot flushes or night sweats, then there's going to be a lot of sweat getting into the skin just in the crease of the breasts and underneath them. This can cause rashes and irritation. Some women tell me they end up getting fungal infections in that area, which can be really difficult to treat because the skin doesn't dry out properly.
6. Headaches
If the muscles in your neck and shoulders are being pulled down, that can cause constriction in the blood vessels, which can lead to tension headaches. Headaches are a really common symptom of menopause. It's amazing how many people tell me that they're getting headaches on a daily basis.
So, if this is you and you've tried a lot of the other remedies that haven't helped, then maybe it's time to look at your bra. Please note that if you are getting severe or constant headaches, you need to go to your doctor as a matter of urgency, just to rule out more serious issues.
7. Breathing problems
Shortness of breath can be a symptom of menopause, and you can also tend to shallow breathe when you're more stressed and feeling anxious during menopause. But your bra can also cause breathing problems.
Again, if your shoulders and chest are pulled down, especially if you're wearing the wrong size bra, it's going to constrict your ribcage, and that's going to affect your breathing.
If you've been wearing the same size exercise bra for many years, it may be that's what's causing problems when you're doing exercise. So don't forget, it's not just your day-to-day bras that could be wrong, it could be your exercise bras too that maybe need to be changed.
Signs you’re wearing the wrong size bra
So, let's take a look at a few of the telltale signs that your bra is not the right size for you.
About 80% of the support for your breasts should be coming from the band in the bottom of the bra, so that should be tight enough to hold everything up. If you are wearing the wrong band size, then all that's happening is your breasts are going to fall, they're going to pull on your straps, and you're going to end up getting marks and digging lines right across your shoulders.
Very often, it's not the width of the bra strap that's the problem if it's digging in, it's the fact you haven't got the right support underneath your breasts, from the band at the bottom of the bra.
The other thing that shows that you're wearing the wrong size bra is if you're bulging out the sides, if you're bulging out the front, if the back is riding up, if you're having a lot of trouble fastening your bra, or if it's digging into your back and there's a skin fold coming over the top of your bra.
Another thing that it could be, especially if your breasts have decreased in size, is that the bra cups are not going to be the right size to support your breasts properly.
What I recommend:
So, what can you do about this?
The first thing is to get yourself measured properly. Go to one of the big department stores. They usually do it for free and you can find out what size you are.
I did it a few years ago and honestly, I was just so embarrassed. I thought I had been a 36B all my life. It turns out that I'm a 32DD. So, I have been wearing the wrong size bra for about 30 to 40 years. And I just thought, this is absolutely terrible.
The great thing is when you get the bra fitted properly, it lifts everything. It shows your waist. It makes you look slimmer. It makes you look taller. And that can really give your confidence a big boost.
Just remember though that different makes of bras maybe have slightly different sizes, so always try your bra on in the shop. Don't just pick it up and take it home. The problem is a lot of supermarkets do great-looking, well-priced bras. But if you don't try them on, you could be buying the wrong size. I could pick up a 32DD, take it home, and find I just can't get into it because it's not really my size.
So, always try your bras on first; and also, just remember that especially as you're in perimenopause and going through menopause and beyond, you really need to get yourself measured every year, just to make sure that you're still wearing the right size bra.
The other thing is to remember to do exercises to help your chest muscles. The firmer and stronger they are, the more they're going to hold your breasts up. Easy exercises like push-ups, wall push-ups, just using weights or doing a few exercises using a little dumbbell can be really helpful here.
Just a final word of advice: if you are concerned about any aspect of your breast health, or any changes to your breasts, please do contact your doctor as a matter of immediate concern. It may be nothing to worry about, but it really is best to know that first.
So, hope you found this one helpful and interesting. I know I did. And if any of you have any wonderful bra stories, then please share them with us. And until then, I will see you next week for another edition of A.Vogel Talks Menopause.
