I'm 14 and I have really small breasts and have not started my periods but my family are not late bloomers

Question

I find this really gets my confidence down and I'm not underweight or unhealthy so I just want to know what my problem is.

Answer 1

You don't necessarily have a problem. Just because other members in your family were not late bloomers doesn't mean you won't be. Why don't you ask your mom to schedule you an appointment with a gynecologist, or take you to the bookstore to pick up some books on this issue, just to ease your anxiety?

Answer 2

In the initial stages of breast development, it is the hormone estrogen that drives the development, causing fat to be deposited in the breast, and the milk ducts to grow. This is the time for the biggest growth in size.

After the girl gets her period, the ovaries start producing progesterone, and that changes things. Progesterone causes the milk glands to develop at the ends of the milk ducts. This development causes less visible growth sizewise, but is very important for the 'job'.

During breast growth, you may experience some pain and hurt or tenderness in your breasts. That is normal. Also the skin may be itching, which is a sign of skin stretching.

Got from research...

"The whole process from the breast bud stage till the pubertal development is over usually takes about 3-5 years, but for some girls it may take close to 10 years.

Note also that after breast development during puberty, the breast is still NOT considered mature or fully developed. Only pregnancy brings about the fullness of breast growth and development.

The breast development can start as early as 8 years or as late as 13 years. If a girl does not have breast buds nor pubic hair, which are the first signs of puberty, by age 14, it is recommended that she see a doctor. The same is true if a girl does not get her period by age 15 - this is called delayed puberty, and there are several possible reasons for it. It is advisable to visit a doctor.

Though most of this development is over in a few years after getting your period, many girls can get a little rounder and fuller breasts in their early twenties, when they naturally get even more feminine and mature appearance with 'feminine curves' (meaning girls gain a little weight leaving the skinny teenage look behind).

Occasionally, a girl's breasts keep growing and keep growing way past those about 5 years of typical development timeframe, and become very large. This condition where the breasts don't stop growing is called virginal (or juvenile) hypertrophy of the breasts(see a picture).
What about those "Tanner stages"?

In medical circles, breast development is sometimes divided into five stages according to Tanner. These stages of Tanner describe the physical appearance of the breast and do NOT describe "what is going on inside", or the development of milk ducts and glands.

They are just some general notions of how growing breasts often look like - something that a doctor can easily observe from the outside.

HOWEVER, since the Tanner stages only describe the outside appearance and have little do with the inside development, you should not worry about these. Women's breasts vary SO MUCH in appearance that you simply cannot apply Tanner stages to every girl's breasts."

Answer 3

Just takes a while for puberty to kick in for some girls. if your family has a history of being late bloomers that'd be it! Don't worry about it!

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong. My 13 year old has not started her period and have very small breasts. Her pediatrician said just wait for puberty to visit.

Answer 5

darling im 21 and my breast are still small. i know they wont grow now. urs will probably grow since ur still 14 but if they dont learnt to live with it and b happy

Answer 6

it will start when it starts....dont worry