Are they booby warts? Are they nip zits? Or are they something else entirely?
If you are wondering, “What are the bumps on my nipples?” then you certainly are not alone.
Once picturesque enough for a porno, your gorgeous nips may now be sporting a few new bumps in and around the nipple area.
Should you be worried?
Eh, not really.
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Who is Montgomery And Why Are My Bumps Named After Him?
So you have nip zits. (strange bumps on areola)
Though your girlfriends who have had kids before have very likely not mentioned them, these bumps are incredibly common and are technically referred to as Montgomery tubercles.
Their job?
Toproduce an oily substance that will keep the nipple and areola region protected and well lubricated.
This is not so much for a sexual reason than it is for a survival reason: lubricated nipples are easier for your baby feed from and are less prone to infection.
These pimple-esque Montgomery tubercles you are seeing will appear around your nipple and areola as tiny bumps.
image source: internet medical journal
The reason why some women may not really notice them is because the number of glands a woman has varies widely.
Some may have only 4.
Other women will have a grand total of 28.
As for where the name Montgomery came from, Wikipedia came to our rescue (like so many other times in our life).
They are named after Dr. William Fetherstone Montgomery, an Irish OB-GYN who was the first to describe them in 1837.
Yeah. The 19th century.
Let this serve as a reminder that bumpy nips have existed for nearly two centuries and, realistically, since the dawn of womankind.
See? Not weird.
Video of the Dr. Axe team talking about these nipple bumps:
When Might I Be Afflicted With Bumpy Nipples?
Okay, it’s not nipple acne but it may look like that for some.
Montgomery tubercles are often apparent only during certain times of a woman’s life, with one of the most exciting beings that it can be an early sign of pregnancy.
Often times an outcropping of these little dearies is one of if not the first sign that a woman knows that she has indeed been successfully inseminated.
They may even show up before a woman has obviously missed her first period.
image source: Countdown To Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not the only reason why you may get a case of the bumpy nipples.
Some other reasons why Montgomery tubercles may introduce themselves to your life include:
- Stress (rare, but it can happen)
- A hormonal imbalance
- Physical changes in your body
They will also become more apparent when the nipple is physically stimulated (warn your partner).
For a lot of women, these bumps start to show up the same time their areola begins to darken during pregnancy and, yes, the darker the areola, the more obvious the bumps are.
As horrified as you may be, keep in mind that this is just your body gearing up to be ready to take on the task of nourishing that baby you’re working so hard at creating.
These glands are a very normal part of your breast and they have been there undetected for years.
They may just decide to reveal themselves at certain times of your life for one of the reasons above or, in some instances, for no reason at all.
What If They Don’t Go Away?
In the vast majority of instances, these bumps say “sayonara” once you’ve given birth when your hormones have sorted themselves out, or after a week or two has passed since you first noticed them.
But in some instances, these glands may become irritating or uncomfortable.
So what can you do?
Surgery is the most likely option.
Some can be removed which may result in a small scar, or for areas where there are several glands apparently, then a plastic surgeon may make a doughnut-shaped excision around the areola.
But let’s be real here, ladies.
The only one who cares about these bumps is us.
Lovers are far too excited to see us in the buff to even make note of these minuscule and all-so-natural bumps, and they may even come to love them.
You should too.
They May Look Strange, But They’re Not A Big Deal
If anything, these bumps should be exciting for some.
It’s a high indicator of pregnancy if you have other pregnancy symptoms, and they do no harm.
- Leave the bumps and fear not. The only one noticing them is you.
- If they bother you, there are treatments available. But chances are the greatest bother is “aesthetic” which → refer to point 1
- Most bumps go away in time.
Not many women have heard about Montgomery Tubercles and all of us can stand to learn from other women.
Share your experience with us below!
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areolar_glands
http://gynaeonline.com/2nd_trimester.htm
http://www.alternet.org/sex-amp-relationships/breasts-nipples
http://www.realself.com/question/medical-options-for-unattractive-montgomery-glands
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