Why do men have nipples?

Answer 1

Because we all start out life as females. If the chromosomal change occurs to make us male then our genitals change shape, the ovaries drop down to become testicles, the labia fuses to become scrotum and the clitoris becomes a penis.

These are reproductive organs, they're necessary for both sexes but the nipples needn't change because they have no corresponding role in the opposite gender. So, like the appendix and the little toe they hang around, though unwanted, because they aren't hurting anyone and so nature has not selected them for removal.

Answer 2

Male nipples aren't exactly a genetic glitch: they are evidence of our developmental clock. In the early stages of life from conception until about 14 weeks, all human fetuses look the same, regardless of gender. At the tender age of 14 weeks post-fertilization , genetically-male fetuses begin to produce male hormones including testosterone. These hormones turn the androgynous fetus into a bouncing baby boy.

Here's where the developmental clock comes in. By 14 weeks, when the hormones turn on, the nipples have already formed. So, while our male fetus goes on to become a baby boy, he keeps his nipples, reminding all of us that people, male and female, started off the same way.

In most men, the nipples really don't change after this point, but some men can develop a condition called gynecomastia. In gynecomastia, the fatty tissue around the nipple develops and eventually appears similar to a female breast. This can occur whenever the testosterone level is lowered by medications, such as those that treat prostate cancer, and by natural hormonal changes due to obesity, adolescence or aging.

Luckily, most of us don't worry too much about male nipples, so men never have to worry about finding swimtrunks and a bikini top that fit. lol

Answer 3

You could read the books by Stephen Jay Gould.

He had a book about male nipples
( and also comparing female clitories to male's dick)

Stephen Jay Gould, "Male Nipples and Clitoral Ripples", in Adam's Navel and Other Essays, London: Penguin, 1995

Answer 4

All human fetuses begin as a "female" prototype. Fetuses destined to become male then producing certain hormones and diverge from the female fetuses. Nipples on men are just left over from the prototype phase of embryonic development.

Answer 5

Ah, puberty. It can be a very interesting time in a guy's life, what with all the changes going on. In fact, it seems like every day something on your body grows bigger or hair begins sprouting somewhere. Each day brings a new change or two, and it can sometimes feel like it's hard to keep up.

It doesn't happen to every guy, but one of these changes can be the development of breast tissue. It's called gynecomastia (pronounced: guy-nuh-ko-mas-tee-uh) and it's completely normal - and almost always temporary. So how exactly does a guy happen to develop breast tissue?

Answer 6

Cos when we are at shcool we have to give "nipple gripples" to our friends (for about 10 seconds) and our enemies (for about 10minutes). without nipples this ritual would be a waste of time.
Do i win £5?

Answer 7

Because we all start out as women. We all have an "X" chromosome and we don't become male until later during the initial formation of your body.

Answer 8

It gives us women something to grab onto when they piss us off....its either their nipples or their dick......the nipples is less painful.

Answer 9

we all start as females and then during x inactivation we carry on developping as males, this is an evolutionary left over like feet fingers and body hair in general

Answer 10

Why do women have nipples?