Why do Women Wear Bras?

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A brassiere  commonly referred to as a bra  is a woman's undergarment that supports her breasts. Bras are typically form-fitting and perform a variety of functions and have also evolved into a fashion item. The primary purpose of a bra is to support the woman's breasts. Women commonly wear bras to conform to social norms such as a dress code, or because they believe bras prevent breasts from sagging, an idea that even bra makers do not support.

When girls reach puberty stage, a lot of changes happen in their bodies, such as having monthly menstrual periods, growing hair and developing hips and breasts.

And when girls begin to have these two fleshy mounds, they become excited, because it’s the first visual sign of leaving their childhood. Having breasts means becoming a lady, and having a better-shaped body. When this happens, girls just can not wait to wear bras. Although some girls still can not completely get rid of their childish sides, choosing cutie pinkie little bras for a start, while others choose the sporty type beginners bra. Because, let’s face it, some girls are still too embarrassed about having breasts, especially if they are a little too big for their age.

Girls wear bras just to get the feeling of being covered, and of course, like many girls out there, they want to enhance the shape of their breasts. Yes, bras enhance the shape of breasts, and it gives a more defined look when wearing shirts. It gives girls confidence, because they feel pretty and attractive.

While it is not really a guarantee that bras really protect the breasts from sagging, a lot of girls still believe this. They also want to protect their budding breasts from being exposed to boys. You know, between the ages of 10 and 12 some boys are slightly mean, and are natural teasers. They do not realize the privacy of these issues, and they sometimes tease girls for having breasts poking from their shirts. To relieve themselves from the embarrassment, girls just simply wear bras.




Women just like having nice things around them, and the assorted bra colors and designs are just too attractive for them to ignore. Owning these lacy, hearty or polka-dotty designed bras to match their knickers just gives a girl utter joy, even though no one gets to see it anyway.

In western cultures, about 10–25% of women do not wear a bra, either as a matter of preference or sometimes for health or comfort reasons. Some garments, such as camisoles, tank tops and backless dresses, have built-in breast support, alleviating the need to wear a separate bra.

Types of Bras

 
When bras were first developed in the 1920s, they were simply undergarments that provided strong support for women's breasts, preventing problems like sagging breasts and backaches. Today, designers and manufacturers worldwide have added to the value of a bra by offering women close to 20 different styles to fit their needs:

1. Training bra. This type of bra is designed for preteen or teenage girls who are in the early stages of breast development. It is smaller than standard bra sizes, and its cups come without underwire support. Aside from providing some measure of breast support, it helps young girls to become accustomed to wearing a bra.

2. Full cup bra. This bra provides full support, as it comes with underwired cups and covers most of the breasts. It is recommended for all women, and especially for those with heavier breasts.

3. Demi cup bra. A demi cup bra covers only half the breasts, with its cups coming up above the nipples. This bra is suitable to wear with clothes that have plunging necklines. It is supportive, yet provides maximum exposure of the breasts.

4. Padded bra. This bra comes with padding inside the cup linings, adding volume to smaller breasts. Padded bras are popular with teenage girls, who may otherwise stuff their training bras with tissues to make their breasts look fuller.

5. Underwired bra. Bras can come with or without underwire in their cups. An underwired bra provides strong support to the breasts and also maintains the shape of the bra. Some women claim that underwired bras lift their breasts, while others find these bras uncomfortable or painful.

6. Strapless bra. Strapless bras come with no straps or straps that can be removed. This style is very useful for clothes that bare shoulders, such as tube dresses and halter tops.

7. Convertible bra. This bra comes with detachable straps that can be arranged according to one's needs. It is usually worn with clothes that reveal the back and shoulders, such as backless dresses with halter top necklines.

8. T-shirt bra. T-shirt bras are made without a raised seam in order to appear invisible when worn under a body-fitting t-shirt.

9. Minimizer bra. This bra is commonly sought after by large-breasted women who wish to reduce the appearance of their breasts by a cup size or two.

10. Maximizer/Push up bra. These bras lift the breasts and emphasize cleavage through their unique structure and extra padding. The padding may come in various forms, such as water sacks or silicone inserts. The goal is to give a fuller, more natural look to breasts of all sizes.

11. Sports bra. Sports bras are made for active women who engage in rigorous physical exercise. They are designed to be comfortable and supportive by holding the breasts in place during motion, therefore reducing damage to soft tissues of the chest. These bras are usually made of stretchable material to provide a snug fit.

12. Built-in bra. A built-in bra is one that comes with the clothing, eliminating the need for a separate bra. This style can be found attached to the insides of swimsuits and tube tops. Some built-in bras are just horizontal, elastic fabric, but others have padding and underwired cups as well.

13. Shelf bra. This bra covers only the lower part of the breasts, leaving the nipples and upper part of the breasts exposed. It is not supportive and is worn in sexual situations.

14. Peephole bra. A peephole bra features holes around the nipples. Its loose coverage of the entire breasts is insufficient to provide significant support. This type of bra is also worn in sexual situations.

15. Maternity bra. Women's breasts become more sensitive, heavier and larger throughout pregnancy. Maternity bras are adjustable and can expand to take these changes into account.

16. Nursing bra. These bras are worn to ease the breastfeeding process. They are made with flaps that can be unclasped or pushed to the side, keeping the breasts supported during breastfeeding.

17. Mastectomy bra. A mastectomy bra is intended for women who have undergone the removal of one or both breasts due to cancer treatments. Here, the cups are made with pockets to keep breast prostheses in place and simulate the existence of breasts.
Choosing a suitable bra is indeed a challenge these days. One bra does not fit all, and hence, it is best to invest in a good set of bras that cover one's usual range of activities. For instance, a regular jogger should purchase a good sports bra, while a more social woman should spend on convertible bras that fit her many formal evening outfits.
 

Are You Wearing the Right Bra Size?

 
No woman can deny that bra shopping can be quite difficult at times. Not only is it hard to find one which you actually like in appearance, but it is also hard finding one which is actually going to fit you the way that you want it to. The main reason that many of us do experience so many difficulties when bra shopping is because we may be wearing the wrong bra size. In fact, studies have shown that between 70% and 80% of all women are wearing the wrong bra size - and most of them do not even know it!  

Why Wearing the Right Bra Size is Important
If you know that you are wearing the wrong size bra, chances are that you probably thought that there was nothing wrong with it. However, if you have noticed that your bras feel quite uncomfortable, the reason is because you are wearing the wrong size. Not only may you notice discomfort when you are wearing these bras, but you also probably notice discomfort after you take them off.

When you wear the wrong bra size, chances are that it can have an affect on your overall appearance. Sometimes the best way to get rid of that back bulge or allowing your shirts to fit you a little bit better is to wear the right size bra. You will probably look a lot better wearing a bra that is right size than one that is the wrong size.

Wearing the wrong bra size has been known to cause a number of disadvantages to you in the future, aside from being uncomfortable. Some of the different effects that wearing the wrong size can have on your breasts include the appearance of aging and sagginess in the future. Like most women, this is probably not something that you will want to have to deal with. This is the main reason that wearing a bra which is the right size is so important.

How the Right Sized Bra Should Feel
Since so women out there are wearing bras that do not fit them, many do not know what the right bra should really feel like. There are a number of different characteristics that you should be able to experience when wearing the right bra size.

When you raise your arms above your head, your breasts should remain in the bra. If they do not, you may want to consider going up a band size. The band should remain fitted the same throughout your entire body, rather than sliding up or down in the back and doing the opposite in the front. If this happens, you may need to go down a band size. This goes for both when you raise your arms and when you do not.

The bra strap adjustment is one of the main keys to finding the right bra size. The adjustment level should not be any more than halfway, and even halfway is pushing it. If you need this amount of adjustment for the bra to fit, you may want to go up a band size. At the same time, if the bra strap adjustment level is up more than it should be too keep the bra so that it does not fit too loosely, it is best to go down a band size.

Your breasts should fit in the bra without there being any type of tightness or looseness. The bra should not show any type of wrinkles, and you should also not see any type of major "gaps" between your breasts and the bra. If you do, you will know that the bra is not fitted correctly, and you may need to go up or down band or cup sizes.

What Can You Do To Find Out For Sure?
Although you can go and try on a bunch of different bra sizes in hopes of finding the right one, chances are that this can take you all day. Even when you think that you have found the right size on your own, there is always the possibility that this bra size still might not be the one which you need. So, how do you really know what bra size is suitable for you? The best way is to go get fitted. Lingerie stores, as well as many department stores, offer bra fitting. Getting measured is the only way to know for sure what your proper bra size is - or should be, if the one which you are currently wearing is the wrong size.




more
Different sizes of women breasts

How to measure your bra size

Bra Changes Due to Menstrual Cycle, Menopause and Hormone Changes

 
You know how it is, ladies – those hormones are tricky! Not only do they mess with our emotional state and occasionally cause bloating and cramps, but they can also change your bra needs. Most women find that their breasts swell during the menstrual cycle; sometimes up to an entire cup size of difference! And menopause causes a host of changes to a woman’s body, and may inspire you to change your bra wardrobe. But there are other hormonal changes that your body goes through that can also impact your bra needs. Bottom line: be prepared for changes to your breasts and your bra needs as your body reacts to changing hormones!


Your bust size can change during menstruation


Bra Considerations for Your Menstrual Cycle
It’s a scientific fact that your breasts can swell up to an entire cup size during your menstrual cycle. Some women prefer to have a more full-coverage style bra on hand to deal with changing needs during menstruation, while other women simply have a few extra bras in a bigger cup size to help with that time of the month. Additionally, some women like to have soft-cup bras or bras with a soft lining on hand to avoid irritating sensitive nipples that come along with menstruation. However you choose to deal with it, be aware of the changes to your body with this monthly hormone fluctuation.



Push-Up Bras and Full-Coverage Bras can Help You Deal with Breast Changes During Menopause

Bra Changes Through Menopause
We all know about it, ladies; menopause wreaks havoc on your body. Hot flashes, decreased sex drive, emotional upheaval; but menopause doesn’t stop there! You’ll also experience changes to your breasts. During menopause, your hormone levels drop and your breast tissue changes, becoming more fatty. This can lead to sagging, or a change in the shape of your breasts, which may mean it’s time to change your bra style. You may want to switch to a more full-coverage bra, or a push-up style bra can help you deal with a loss of volume. Additionally, breathable fabrics can really help with it comes to those hot flashes and sweating that accompany menopause.

Birth Control, Hormone Replacement Therapy and Other Medications
Birth control that contains hormones, hormone replacement therapy and even some medications affect your body’s hormone levels and can change your breasts. Estrogen-based birth control is common, for example, and it can cause the breasts to swell just like pregnancy! In fact, medical professionals are attributing the increase in breast size over the past two decades at least partially to the pill. Hormone replacement therapy causes similar effects, and even medications can change your body’s hormone levels or increase water retention and cause a change in your breast size.

Bottom line: your body undergoes changes due to hormones all your life. This is one major reason it’s important to get fitted regularly, and not just when you notice a physical change; because your body’s hormones can cause changes that you may not notice immediately, and we all know the discomfort and potential damage that an ill-fitting bra can cause. Make sure you understand the changes that your body undergoes on a regular basis, such as the menstrual cycle, and have the right bras on hand to help you cope during these changes.

Bras and Health Problems




Bras are a tremendous part of a woman's life. The importance of wearing one is stressed during the training bra period. It doesn't matter whether you need one of these two-cupped monsters or not. They lift, support, and hide the upper portion of the female anatomy. Maybe to keep the male counterpart in check.

Bras mean well, but an ill fitting one causes symptomatic disorders of the human body. The same can be said of a perfectly fitting one. Bras aren't always easy when it comes to finding a good match. The cup size may be too large for 32B to fill out, but 32Bs the only size that will fit around the body. Stores might not carry bras huge enough to fit some breasts so instead of going to a specialty store some people will buy what's on hand.

Women get used to wearing bras and become mostly unaware of the health problems involved with bra use
 
Women who have a tendency to get headaches find them a more frequent nuisance. Migraine sufferers have pain longer. Pressure of the head won't stop because an aspirin is taken. Pressure is relieved when the bra is removed.

Bras pull on the neck and shoulders. This might explain headache occurrence. They strain the back affecting it with problematic backache. The back aligns the shoulders and neck. Interconnection is a vital role stemming from one ruthless undergarment.

No wonder puns have been made about using bras as sling shots they're flexible, snappy, and localized in one position. This position digs into the skin and has the ability to cut down on the flow of circulation. Those marks left behind after taking off a bra show the circulation crisis. Bras are sweaty heat builders and do lead to heat rashes and chafing.

Sports bras are really bad about being restrictive and tight. They flatten the breast so they won't move and keep the breast area extremely heated. They are usually made of cotton, but spandex is also used.

Bras aren't always made out of soft comfortable material. They are often made out of the scratchy kind. It makes chafing worse. The bra rubs the skin while the material makes it scratch worthy.
 
Bras could lead to another problem that puts fear in any woman upon first discovering it. Lumps in the breast. Anytime pulling, straining or mashing is involved it could cause damage to the tissue of the breast. The damage could lead to scarring. The scarring could form into lumps.

The lumps are usually benign, non-cancerous, in nature. They make the breast sore and painful to touch. If you have the lumps removed wearing a bra might cause them to return.

Bras aren't just for women anymore. Men are wearing them to and they are exposed to the same conditions that lead to ongoing problems. Stop wearing bras to eradicate many symptoms of pain would be freeing to those who suffer in silence. The bra is a tradition that would unnerve masses if removed from use so it will be around until the mind itself comes to a realization that health is more important.





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