12-10-2014, 23:44
3. Shrinking breasts can indicate changing hormones
Your breasts are essentially masses made up of glandular tissue and fat cells. As a result, they are very sensitive to any changes in your hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone. This is why your breasts will swell when pregnant, on the birth control pill and/or before your period.
As estrogen levels fall, with impending menopause, you may find the opposite happens. Another reason for a reduction in breast size is simply weight loss, since after all, fat cells don’t always shrink in the areas we want them to.
Bottom line: If menopause and weight loss aren’t culprits, you may want to get your testosterone and DHEA levels tested. I’ve found that high levels of these two hormones — often found in patients with PCOS — can lead to shrinking breasts alongside hair loss, acne, and hair growth on the face.
Your breasts are essentially masses made up of glandular tissue and fat cells. As a result, they are very sensitive to any changes in your hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone. This is why your breasts will swell when pregnant, on the birth control pill and/or before your period.
As estrogen levels fall, with impending menopause, you may find the opposite happens. Another reason for a reduction in breast size is simply weight loss, since after all, fat cells don’t always shrink in the areas we want them to.
Bottom line: If menopause and weight loss aren’t culprits, you may want to get your testosterone and DHEA levels tested. I’ve found that high levels of these two hormones — often found in patients with PCOS — can lead to shrinking breasts alongside hair loss, acne, and hair growth on the face.