Despite the fact we all have them, somehow we’re all a bit fascinated by the tiny pigmented areas of skin known as nipples. But with sex matters aside, nipples actually serve an essential evolutionary purpose of feeding babies. Here are six things you didn't know about nipples:
1. Why do men have them? With no biological purpose to men’s nipples, it makes you wonder why they still have them. It’s because all embryos actually begin to grow as females, and it’s not until after nipple development that foetuses with the male Y-chromosome differentiate into boys, while embryos with the X chromosome develop into girls.
2. Nipple piercings aren’t bad for you. From a medical perspective, so long as the piercing is performed hygienically, with sterile equipment, there’s little risk of problems. Be warned though; nipple piercings can take several months to fully heal. Piercings also shouldn’t have any effect on a woman’s ability to breastfeeding in the future, providing the piercing has sufficiently healed.
3. Erection issues. Nipples contain super sensitive nerves, which react to various stimulate such as cold temperatures and touch. This happens automatically, as the muscles around the breast tissue contract, causing the nipple to become erect. This can also occur as the result of emotive states such as fear or the obvious: sexual arousal.
4. There’s no ‘right color’. As with every other part of the human body, nipples come in a plethora of different shapes, sizes and colors. Nipples also change color during pregnancy, where they often become darker. Some nipple changes can be a concern, however, with regard to breast cancer. Signs to look out for include discharge, rashes, or a change in position such as inversion.
5. Sensitivity: the smaller the better. A recent study found that smaller breasts are often more sensitive than bigger ones, because the nerves are more concentrated. The same goes for nipples: smaller nipples, denser nerves, more sensitivity. Breast enhancement surgery will also usually cause loss of sensation around the nipple, although this is more potentially associated with nerve damage during surgery.
6. Nipples can get infected. When breastfeeding, a build-up of milk in the milk ducts can get infected with bacteria. This is known as infective mastitis, and symptoms include nipple discharge, pain when breastfeeding, and a burning pain in the breast. These symptoms can also be the result of damage to the nipple, such after nipple piercings.