Ah, the nipple, small but incredible! This body part has several functions, including delivering breastmilk to a baby and bringing pleasure during sexual activity. Not only that, but it also has tons of fascinating facts surrounding it, all of which would be discussed in this nipple facts guide.
Did you know that nipples can change in size and color? Have you heard about nipple clamps? Did you know that someone actually lifted weights using their nipples? Ever wonder if men can possibly lactate on their nips? You’ll get all of those answers and more in this article! But before we proceed with the list of facts, let’s briefly discuss what a nipple is.
What is a Nipple?
A nipple is a small, often raised, area on the surface of the breast. It’s surrounded by the areola, the darker area surrounding the nipple. This area tends to erect due to cold weather or arousal— this means the nipples get firmer and harder than usual.
As for its function, it serves as an erogenous zone for all sexes; stimulating this area during sex can amplify arousal or even make someone cum. As for female folks, the nipple delivers breastmilk, which is then given to an infant; the baby can suck it out of the mother’s nipples, or the mother can use a breast pump to suck and store her breast milk.
Awesome Nipple Facts
Now that you’ve learned what a nipple is, let’s proceed with different trivia about your tatas below. Buckle up, as you’re gonna learn a loooooot in this guide. Let’s get started!
1Nipples come in different types.
This is one of the nipple facts that you should note, especially for those who are feeling a bit conscious of the appearance of their nips. Nipples, contrary to popular belief, come in different shapes and sizes, specifically categorized into these eight common types:
Protruding
The nipples are sticking out a few millimeters above the surface of the areola. If you have this type of nipple, your nips tend to be more pronounced when it’s erect from cold weather or stimulation.
Hairy
This type of nipple has strands of short, dark hair growing out of the areola area. If your nips are under this category, you can just leave them be, or use tweezers to remove the hairs.
Flat
For this nipple type, the nipples and areola aren’t sticking out and simply blending from the surface of your breast. The nipples can still protrude when it’s erect.
Bumpy
Do you have whitehead-like bumps on your skin that surround the nipple? Unless it’s causing a discharge or is painful to touch, you don’t have to be nervous. Having a bumpy areola is normal. The whiteheads-ish bumps are called Montgomery glands and are a healthy part of your breast anatomy.
Puffy
If you have puffy nipples, the areola and nipples are sticking out from the surface of your breast. If we’re going to explain this visually, the areola is like a mountain, then on top of the mountain are the hills (nipples) protruding from the areola. Same with protruding nipples, puffy nips tend to be more pronounced when erect compared to the flat type.
Inverted
Instead of sticking out, the nipples are caving inward. Some peeps can use their fingers to pull out the nipples, but some nipples can’t be budged as the muscles are too tight. Inverted nipples may still stick out when erect, while others remain inverted.
Unilateral Inverted
This is an interesting type as it showcases two distinct features. If you have this type of nipple, the other nipple is protruding or flat, while the other nipple is inverted.
If you were born with this type of nipple, then no need to worry about it as you naturally have it. However, if one of your nipples changes, making your nipples unilateral inverted, then it’s best to seek a doctor as soon as possible. Major changes in the appearance of your nipples can be a sign of breast cancer.
Supernumerary
If your nipples are under this type, you are part of the Triple Nipple Club, along with Mark Wahlberg, Tilda Swinton, and Harry Styles. A person with Supernumerary nipples means that they have more than two nipples.
Based on the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, the third nipple usually appears on body regions that more likely develop breast tissues, also known as embryonic milk lines. This minor birth defect mostly doesn’t come with complications, and sometimes they’re so small that some people might not even notice their third nipple.
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2The nipples and areola aren’t the same.
This isn’t necessarily one of the surprising nipple facts, but it’s still something to be taken note of. One of the common misconceptions is that the nipple is the whole darkened spot in your breasts. That’s not the case, though, as the nipples and areola are two distinct parts.
The nipple is the nub at the center of your breast, which the breast milk comes out of. On the other hand, the areola is the darker colored area surrounding your nips.
3Some people were born without nipples.
If some people have an excess number of nipples (supernumerary), some people were born with one or no nips at all. Athelia is a rare condition wherein a person is born without one or both nipples. Depending on the person, there are cases wherein the person has an areola but has no nipples, while there are peeps with no areola and nipples.
4Sore or painful nipples are common to women.
Nipple pain is common to women, especially during their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Other factors such as poorly fitting clothes, skin conditions (such as dermatitis or eczema), and excessive stimulation (such as biting the area) may also cause nipple soreness.
If you’re pregnant, menstruating, or breastfeeding and feel soreness on your nipples, don’t worry as it’s normal to feel nipple pain when going through those situations. However, if you don’t have any of the conditions above and/or nipple pain is accompanied by discharge or major appearance changes on the nips, seek medical help immediately.
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5Nipple tattoos are actually a thing.
Yes, you read that right; nipple tattoos are a real thing. However, most people who undergo nipple or areola tattooing aren’t necessarily doing it for the aesthetic.
Most people undergoing this procedure are people with breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy. They do it as part of their breast reconstruction process; they do it to recreate their nipple and the areola.
Alongside people who’ve undergone a mastectomy, some thrillseekers do this process just to add a playful flair to their nipples. Now, should you consider tattooing your nips, make sure you’re 100% down with that. Remember, nipples are one of the most painful areas to get a tattoo due to their extreme sensitivity.
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6The nipple is considered an erogenous or pleasure zone for both sexes.
Here’s one of the nipple facts that you’ve probably heard before, but we’re here to share more deets about it. Nipples are one of the most popular erogenous zones in the body. It’s rich with nerve endings, which is why when this area is stimulated, it sends arousing and tingling sensations.
Women may also experience extra pleasure when getting nipple stimulation, as research reveals that the sensations from the nipples travel to the same part of the brain as the sensations from the clitoris, vagina, and cervix.
7Women can also be drawn to nipples the same way men do.
One of the biggest misconceptions about nipples is that only straight men are drawn to them. But according to a study at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, both men and women have similar eye patterns when looking at a woman. They gaze at the breasts and the “sexualized” body parts before looking into the other regions of a woman’s body.
8Some people can orgasm from nipple stimulation alone.
This is one of the nipple facts that’ll definitely surprise you and may even spice up your sex life. A nipple orgasm is a climax that can only be achieved through nipple stimulation.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, the nipples send pleasurable sensations to the same part of the brain that receives sensations from the clitoris, vagina, and cervix, also known as the genital sensory cortex. So with enough stimulation, such as licking, squeezing, sucking, massaging, or nibbling, you may end up reaching the orgasmic peak!
9Nipple stimulation can induce labor.
Aside from making you cum, nipple stimulation can also aid in giving birth. According to numerous studies, rubbing or rolling your nips helps the body release oxytocin, also known as the cuddle, love, or bonding hormone.
Releasing oxytocin through nipple stimulation helps the expecting mother give birth and evokes feelings of love and bond to their baby.
Another study shows that stimulating the breasts can make contractions stronger and longer, which will ease the delivery process. In fact, there’s a drug called Pitocin, a synthetic form of oxytocin that medical professionals use to help an expecting mothers with their contractions.
10Your nipples can change in color, size, and skin texture.
Areolas and nipples may change in appearance and texture from time to time. Certain factors such as menstrual cycle or hormonal changes, puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and breast surgery can transform the overall look of your nips. Your areolas and nipples may get bigger, smaller, turn pale pink to dark brown, and vice versa.
However, if your nipples have major color changes (from pale pink to red, purple, dark purple) and there’s an accompanying discharge along with the changes, consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible. It could lead to something serious, such as breast cancer.
11Most women’s nipple height is as big as a ladybug.
According to a 2009 study that examined the sizes of 300 women’s areolas and nipples, results show that the average height of all women’s nipples is the size of a ladybug (0.9cm). The study also revealed that the average size of an areola is 4cm and that the average diameter of a nipple is 1.3cm.
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12The heaviest weight lifted by nipples is 71.87 pounds!
Yes, you read the title right. This may not be one of those health-related nipple facts, but it sure does work as a weird (yet fun) ice breaker to your close friends.
There’s a Guinness world record for the heaviest weight lifted by nipples. The record was achieved by “The Baron” (Finland) at Bush Hall, London, the UK, on 19 July 2013. Curious what he looked like while attempting the world record? Click here to check that out.
13You can still breastfeed even if you have inverted nipples.
If your nipples fall into the inverted or unilateral inverted type, this is one of the nipple facts that you must check out. If you are planning to get pregnant or are currently expecting, one of your worries about having inverted nipples is that you might not be able to breastfeed your infant.
However, having inverted nips doesn’t mean your breasts can’t produce milk. It’ll still do its job, and you can still give that milk to your child. However, you may need more practice ensuring a good breastfeeding latch for your baby.
If you’ve just heard of the term breastfeeding latch, it’s basically the way your child’s mouth latches on your breasts during a breastfeeding session. Now, you can do several breast massaging and latching techniques to ensure that your baby is getting their needed milk. You can also opt for special devices such as nipple shields, or breast pumps to help you with the process.
14Breastmilk comes out of multiple holes in your nipples.
One of the myths surrounding nipples and breastfeeding is that milk is only released through a single hole. However, there are actually about four to twenty tiny holes in each of your nipples; these small holes are called milk duct orifices.
15It’s possible for a man to produce breastmilk and lactate.
Since we’ve been talking about lactation in this nipple facts guide, you’re probably wondering if a guy can lactate. Well, the surprising answer is yes! However, this occurrence, also known as galactorrhea, is extremely rare. Some experts claim that male lactation may happen due to major hormone surges. However, there’s a lack of research on this condition; the only published studies were written in the 1970s and 1980s.
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16Breast augmentation can affect nipple sensitivity.
Whether you’re planning to have breast surgery for cosmetic or health purposes, you may expect some sensitivity changes on your nipples. Depending on the surgery, you may experience hypersensitivity or loss of sensitivity on your nips for days or weeks.
Unless your doctor has said that it isn’t, sensitivity changes on the nips are normal and temporary. However, if the loss or increase in sensitivity is met with questionable changes in the appearance of nipples and discharge, consult your attending doctor immediately.
17Breastfeeding wasn’t considered ideal back then.
In recent times, mothers across the globe have been breastfeeding their children. Aside from breastmilk having lots of nutrients that a baby can’t fully get from a formula, it’s basically free. However, history shows that society had a different perception about breastfeeding back then.
In the Renaissance period, women from the upper class would hire proxy milk givers, also known as wet nurses, to feed their infants. They were actually incredibly popular by this time that there are books on how to find the right wet nurse and even gatherings of wet nurses promoting and celebrating their services. Eventually, the business of wet nurses slowly faded away from the spotlight due to the rise of milk formulas.
18There’s an aesthetically ideal nipple placement.
A study conducted in 2016 discusses the ideal placement of a nipple. The said paper polled 1,000 men and 1,000 women, and it was revealed that both genders prefer “in the middle of the breast gland vertically and slightly lateral to the midpoint horizontally.”
But before you get conscious of the positioning of your nipples, keep in mind that this study only worked with 2,000 participants. That’s a small number of people compared to our overall population. The study also mentioned that the ideal nipple positioning is influenced by media, in which men prefer youthful breasts. At the same time, women are more realistic regarding how they perceive breasts.
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19A woman’s nipple color has been used for health diagnosis before.
Aside from wet nurses, another questionable practice done a few decades ago was that nipple color is used to diagnose a woman’s health. As shared by Healthline, there’s a 1671 book called “The Midwives Book or the Whole Art of Midwifery,” which provides courses about the female body. This was written by the English midwife Jane Sharp.
According to this book, “The Nipples are red after Copulation, red as a Strawberry, and that is their Natural colour: But Nurses Nipples, when they give Suck, are blue, and they grow black when they are old.” Obviously, this is an outdated concept, so it was eventually debunked.
20There are love toys designed for nipple stimulation.
This is one of the nipple facts you’re probably aware of, but we want to emphasize this as it can help you have better sexual experiences. If you love stimulating your nipples, a nipple love toy is a must in your collection.
Pleasure toys such as nipple clamps, nipple suckers, multifunctional vibrators, and nipple tweezers can definitely bring a unique experience to your erotic activities. They can help you reach that nipple O if that’s your goal. We also recommend using nipple stimulants, oils, or gels that can send cold, hot, or tingly sensations to your nips.
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21Nursing mothers may start lactating when they think of their child or hear a baby crying.
This is one of the nipple facts that nursing mothers should remember. There’s a special reflex that a breastfeeding mother experiences called the “Let-Down.” This happens after your baby has been sucking your breast for a few minutes. The reflex will then turn on, which signals the nerves in your breast to release the milk onto your nipples.
Normally, nursing mothers don’t have issues with letting down their milk. However, women with sensitive reflexes may release their milk before or just at the start of the feeding session. There are also cases wherein moms turn on their Let-Down reflex because they heard a baby crying or remember their child.
22Nipple discharge is only normal when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you’re wondering whether it’s normal for your nips to release random secretions, take note that nipple discharge is only normal when you’re either pregnant or breastfeeding. Always, and we couldn’t emphasize this enough, always consult your doctor if there are questionable fluids out of your nipples.
Must-Have Nipple Play Essentials
As you reach the end of the list, we hope you’ve learned in this nipple facts guide. But before you close this article, check out our recommended nipple toys and stimulants that’ll surely pleasure your tatas!
1Satisfyer Endless Joy
The Satisfyer Endless Joy is designed with two soft tweezer-like arms, perfect for nipple stimulation. Made from body-safe silicone, this gender-neutral vibrator also features a wide vibrating surface at the base for broad vibrations. It also has 3 powerful vibrating motors that’ll surely send pulsating pleasure in your hottest spots.
2Poppy Adjustable Nipple Clamps with Fur
The Poppy Adjustable Nipple Clamps with Fur is a beginner-friendly nipple clamp with a pom design. The clamp tip is covered with soft rubber to ensure gentler plays. It’s also fully adjustable, bringing optimal comfort in your sensual plays.
3Satisfyer Power Flower
Imagine… Soft tips flutter against your erect nipples, sending gentle flicks on your pleasure nub. Experience pure nipple pleasure with the Satisfyer Power Flower. It has a special flower design that sends deep vibrations and thrilling flicks in your erogenous zones, particularly in your clitoris and nipples. It comes with 12 high-powered and low-noise vibration frequencies and is built with silicone flex technology, making it ultra-flexible and ultra-soft.
4Sensuva Nip Zip Nipple Balm – Strawberry
The Sensuva Nip Zip Nipple Balm – Strawberry is a stimulant designed for your nipples! It’s meant to send cold and tingly sensations to your body and is made with body-safe formula. Get ready to experience ohhh-amazing sensations with this premium balm.
5Sensuva Nip Zip Nipple Balm – Chocolate
Something sweet to spice up your nipple plays. The Sensuva Nip Zip Nipple Balm – Chocolate is formulated to send cool and tingly sensations to your nipples and other hot spots. A few swipes of this bad boy, and you’ll find your nips more sensitive and perky!
Takeaway
And that concludes our nipple facts guide! Have you been surprised with some of the trivia on the list? Which among the facts would you take note of from this article? Share this post, and let us know your thoughts! For more fun facts, check out our health page for more articles.