Inverted nipples
Nipples that have always been inverted. If your nipples have been inverted for as long as you can remember, it is nothing to worry about. It is just the way you are, and a lot of women are the same. A survey of 3000 women attending an antenatal clinic found that 10% had inverted nipples.
A nipple that suddenly becomes inverted can be a sign of a cancer underneath it, so you should see your doctor straight away.
Breastfeeding should not be too much of a problem if your nipples become erect in the cold or when you are sexually aroused. It will be harder for the baby to draw the nipple into the back of its mouth, so breastfeeding will require some patience, but eventually the baby’s strong sucking will draw the nipple out. You will be able to help by applying an ice cube wrapped in a flannel to the nipple beforehand and by stroking the areola (the pink area round the nipple).
If stimulation does not make the nipple protrude, breastfeeding may be more difficult. During the last 6–8 weeks of pregnancy, you may be able to encourage the nipples to stick out by wearing breast shields under your bra. These are small devices that press gently on the breast around the nipple. They are quite comfortable. They are worn for 1 or 2 hours at first, and the time is gradually increased. Your midwife will be able to advise you.
Ways of making your nipples protrude. Even if you do not intend to breastfeed you may wish to have protruding nipples. Teenagers often have flat nipples and, in some women (especially if their periods did not start until late), they remain flat until the early 20s. So if you are young, there is a possibility that they may gradually start to protrude. Otherwise, you could try stroking the areola with warm hands for a few minutes each day to bring the nipple out. You could also try wearing breast shields. Do not wear them for too long at first, otherwise the breasts may become sore, and do not continue wearing them for more than 6 weeks.
If these measures do not work and your nipples are really distressing you, it is possible to have a small operation to make the nipples protrude. This involves a small incision on each side of the nipple, and the cutting of some ducts and tissue. The drawback is that some women cannot breastfeed after this operation, and the operation is very expensive (and not available on the National Health Service).
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Monday, January 16th 2012
GP and broadcaster Dr Phil Hammond shares his views on PIP breast implants and widens the debate on cosmetic surgery. What do you think? We welcome your comments below.
1163 people have
tackled this problem!
Tell us your thoughts
Did you find what you were looking for?
Add a comment
A problem shared is a problem halved: help others by sharing your frustrations or successes at tackling your health problem.
We have noticed that many of your queries are actually answered on the website, so please read carefully before submitting a comment. As all comments are moderated, there will be a delay before your comment appears. Please note that we cannot respond to individual requests for feedback.
Comments on this article
Posted by ddg on 02/05/2012 at 01:56
Hi I'm a guy and left nipple became inverted at the age of nine or ten due to weight gain after being bed riden for about two months I got older lost the weight my nipple petruded but it had split, and now I don't know to do about it I can't feel comfortable or confident until I can figure out how to resolve this problem
Posted by Optional on 29/04/2012 at 09:39
use to have inverted nipples but now they arnt and sore my boobs seem swallon to could i be pregnant
Posted by anonymous. on 19/04/2012 at 03:07
This article is incorrect. I had a cysts which I left for a while put of fear for getting it checked. It was only until my nipple started to invert I got worried. I've been for treatment and since the cyst has cleared, but my nipple remains inverted. The specialist I went to see, via my GP(on the NHS) on my last visit, his parting words were along the lines of "if the nipple doesn't revert to how it was prior to the cyst, we can do a little operation, in and out, same day stuff making a small incision either side of the breast and cut away some of the duct and that should fix it.) So, perhaps it's not widely offered for cosmetic reasons, I have had this offered to me through the National Health Service.
Posted by CONFUSED! on 19/04/2012 at 02:10
Alright, here's my story. I'm a c cup, which is pretty large for a 13 year old girl. However, when I wear a regular bra, my breasts are nice, lifted and perky.. When I take of the bra, I have a gap between my breats, making them stick out more to the sides and I have extra large nippes. I'm so self conscious ! I love wearing bikini's but they just hang to the sides and sag, and the only shape you can see is the large nipple. Any advice?
Posted by helpless on 07/04/2012 at 05:23
i am 16 and a breast abcess at the age of 11 caused me o have iinverted nipples i want to know if anyone can help
Posted by anonymous on 06/04/2012 at 04:19
Im a 15 year old girl and here's my story. i was 13 years old and went out to the barn one day to do chores. That morning my left nipple felt on fire like acid was on it. I just ignored it thinking it was normal. But that morning in the shower i realized it had a hole in it. Out of nowhere it just appeared! I just brushed it off thinking it was normal and waited for my right nipple to follow suit. Its been 2 years now. Today it burnt again A LOT! So i asked my ma to take a look at it and she told me it was inverted! Now shes calling the doctor. Im terrified its cancer! I wouldnt be if it hadnt just popped out of nowhere. And now im sooo self-conscious about them :,(
Posted by Optional on 22/02/2012 at 12:43
My whole life I had inverted nipples. They also weren't very sensitive. The cold wouldn't even make them stick out. The only thing to make them actually look like the "typical" nipple is to have them pierced. I've had nipple piercings for about a month now and I love them. Now my nipples aren't inverted and I am not a self conscious about them anymore. They have also become more sensitive. It was much cheaper than the operation and it wasn't very painful at all! I would recommend this to anyone who would want their nipples to protrude more.
Posted by Optional on 15/02/2012 at 03:09
one of my nipples is inverted and it sticks out when my boyfriend sucks on it,the other nipple is normal.i have never been pregnant so i dont no if thats normal.but my mom is the same way to.one of her nipple is inverted and the other one is normal.can it be in the genes???
Posted by William on 10/01/2012 at 01:10
I would like personal feed back. When I push my nipples in, the left on is soft and don't really feel anything. However the one on my right feels like there is something there. In kinda hurts to touch. What do I can, because I can't tell my parents.
Posted by Optional on 08/01/2012 at 02:15
I am a 19 year old male, my nipples are inverted. please help!
Posted by Alkira on 13/12/2011 at 01:43
I'm twelve and one day my nipples got itchy so I itches them its been like half the year and there's these pink firm things on the center of my nipples sometimes they come out most on my rift nipple but it just started to become more frequent in my left I want to tell my parents and get a check up but I can't tell them it's too embarrassing ;'( please help
Posted by Optional on 11/12/2011 at 08:34
Hello. I'm 42, but when I was 20 I had a mammoplasty (breast reduction) which was done by a general surgeon (not a plastic surgeon). Suffice it to say it was not done aesthetically well, but did reduce the size (I'm petite, with a size E, 34/36 when I was younger. Now, I'm a 36 CC/D. One result of the surgery was it inverted my right nipple - and while I managed to breastfeed my 3 children it was for only a short time (about 1 month) and with a lot of pain. I lactated but the problem we suspected was not all the ducts reconnected back so I experienced mastitis so often with very full breasts but only very little milk would come out. It was very frustrating for both me and my babies. Anyway - I'm now done with getting pregnant (had a ligation), but i do notice that my inverted nipple has a smelly discharge which I have to clean with a cotton bud about 3x a week. doing it daily irritates the skin around it and makes it sore. What could this discharge be? Is this something I should worry about? Although I don;t feel any pain, lumps or what nots. Hope to hear from someone who can advice me - thanks!
Posted by naya on 25/11/2011 at 05:28
i am 13 years old and did not start my period and i have inverted nipples wen i was a kid my nipples where out whats happening???
Posted by HM on 06/11/2011 at 04:13
I'm 15 and have had inverted nipples for as long as I can remember. I'm a 34C and started my period when I was 12. My boyfriend always said something about them and asked what was wrong with them so I got self conscious about my nipples. Is this common and will they ever change?
Posted by SONIYA on 24/10/2011 at 04:04
I M HAVING INVERTED NIPPLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO FEED MY 4 MONTHS DAUGHTER PLZ HELP ME
Posted by Ryan on 20/09/2011 at 02:02
I am a 13 year old boy and my nipples are going in, i had dis since i was 10, my brother always laughs at me ;( is this normal because i want them going out like normal nipples...
Posted by jessica on 07/08/2011 at 01:52
My age is14 . Iwant the simplest way to get round nipples. That i can try by myself. Please help me!!!!My friends make fun of me and when i change in my school, i feel really shamfull....
Posted by Steph on 02/08/2011 at 01:34
Hi there I have inverted nipples and i always had a creamy, whitish and smelly discharge inside the nipple, this appears every day, i cannot squeeze any if i want, is just forming during the day. Also my nipples are very itchy sometimes. Please help, the smell of the discharge is driving me crazy......
Posted by zehra on 28/07/2011 at 05:57
Ok so recently after my period I got saggy waterballon like boobs , they don't hurt or anything .. Also my left bbreast nipple became inverteed and wrinklly and larger then my right bbreast ? Is this normal?
Posted by Mary on 22/07/2011 at 08:58
I found my left nipple to be inverted sudenly. I have never had inverted nopple's before. the area around it is hard.
Posted by Optional on 17/07/2011 at 02:59
is it normal to have nipples the same colour as your skin kinda, and they never stick out unless im in the shower! what do i do im so embaressed i cant even get changed infront of my grilfriends! (friends im not a lezbo) and im so scared to have a boy suck on them because i think they are gion gto think its gross how flat my nipples are.. plz help me!
Posted by Jay-bird on 11/07/2011 at 09:57
I've had inverted nipples since I was a kid, but they partially stick out when I mess with them or get in the shower or whatever. I'm using Medela softshells, which are working, but how long do they take?
Posted by Optional on 11/06/2011 at 04:24
I'm so relieved after reading that. I'm thirteen, so I probably should've learned that in school, but I've been off sick a lot due to bowel problems I've had since birth. I've been worried about my breasts for a while now, and I'm still nervous about the separate small lumps on my left areola. And is it normal to have a small line of white where the nipple should be? If you could answer these questions, it'd be great.
Posted by Optional on 09/06/2011 at 09:47
I have the opposite - my nipples are always erect. Is there anything I can do to cure this?
Posted by Secret !?? on 24/05/2011 at 07:44
I have only Just hit puberty and both of my nipples were out but one has now gone in and I need, help!
Posted by Optional on 02/05/2011 at 10:06
One of my nipples was fully inverted from childhood. The other one 'kind of worked'. I never even considered myself abnormal - I just thought that's the way they were. I wasn't even embarrassed with boyfriends - I just made a joke that 'she's shy!' It's a pity that these days there is so much emphasis on appearance that teenagers and older women become so concerned with something which really is no big problem. There are certainly about a few million worse conditions to have. I recommend trying to think about it this way and thanking your body for the many things that work perfectly. By the way, by some strange miracle, on turning 40, my inverted nipple also turned.....inside out! So now I have 2 'normal' nipples!!!
Posted by Optional on 12/04/2011 at 08:43
My nipples are very inverted. I started my peroid over two years ago so i am most likely over puberty by now. One of my nipples is half out and the other is completly in. I know i am way to young to consider sugery now, but im not sure what ro do because i am very self consious about it. Any advice?
Posted by A 14 year old on 11/04/2011 at 03:46
What does it mean if a male has this problem?
Posted by flowerpwer on 02/04/2011 at 11:52
im 12 and i on my left nipple it has become slightly inverted and im worried and dont want to go to the doctors, my nipple looks slghtly slit across it but its not, do you know if its normal or not ?
Posted by Helpless on 27/03/2011 at 07:25
I'm 14 n hav unusually inverted nipples. I hate them and they spoil the share of my larger than normal breast . It looks odd in most clothes. Will they become normal after some years ? They come out when touched to cold. isnt der any way to make them like my moms other than surgery ?
Posted by Optional on 22/03/2011 at 11:19
hahha im 30 and without nipples) too sad!)and noone wants to marry me
Posted by Angela on 08/03/2011 at 11:23
After years of embarrassment about my nipples, I found "pippetop" on the internet (do a google search). After 2 months of use, I have perfect nipples. I just wish I found out about this years ago. It was an easy cheap solution.
Posted by Anonymous on 06/02/2011 at 08:29
I'm 14 and i have nipples that are inverted quite a lot, they don't even come out when it's cold. How likely is it that they will stay inverted and won't ever come protude in time? Also if I have inverted nipples will I ever be able to breastfeed?
Posted by Optional on 05/02/2011 at 05:15
I have i verted nipples and i dont want theem ! I am ashamed of then ! Heellpp
Posted by Meee x on 26/01/2011 at 11:05
Hi i'm a 15 year old girl and i'm really hate my nipples because i think i have inverted nipple but when its cold or they touched the nipples come out. I really hate them will they always be like this? Thanks x
Posted by proova on 12/12/2010 at 12:02
i am a 52 years old married lady & having 2 son age of 22 & 30 yeras old.From last 2 years i found that my nipple become inverted slowly...and ist now completely inward .Is it normal
Posted by Optional on 30/11/2010 at 04:03
I am a teenager and i have inverted nipples, is that normal??
Posted by Optional on 20/10/2010 at 03:43
hi, uhmm,Im not done developing,and like my nipples arent out... Are they ever gonna come out..? Or are they gonna stay like that?
Posted by Optional on 20/10/2010 at 01:21
I have had inverted nipples for as long as I can remember and it would almost always be embarrassing when I would be with a lover, not knowing how he would react to my abnormal anatomy and I would feel greatly concerned or inhibited. But I did find that sexual arousal and sucking helped bring the nipples out. However, they would always return to the usual state. My paternal grandmother had one inverted nipple. I have both of them that way.
Posted by Optional on 18/10/2010 at 11:26
I have inverted nipples on both breasts and have now come to the decision that surgery is going to be the way forward, although im really embarrased about going for my consultation i know its not just me who suffers from this problem. Its been a weight off my shoulders but i wish people would understand.
Posted by Optional on 09/10/2010 at 08:59
i have no nipples so ple;tell me how i make my nipples sexy and up
Posted by Anon on 09/10/2010 at 12:57
As a kid I thought when I got boobs I'd also get outie nipples-- unfortunately that was not the case. It didn't bother me much until I started, ahem, "dating" and had a few awkward experiences. I tried some suction devices for women who are breast feeding, but they didn't do much. I got surgery to correct this problem about 3 years ago, and I'm so glad I did! It was fairly inexpensive as plastic surgery goes (about $900), painless, and recovery was quick. If this is something that really bothers you, I recommend looking into corrective surgery.
Posted by Optional on 07/10/2010 at 10:12
iam 20 and i dont have a nipple yet is this normal?
Posted by Optional on 03/10/2010 at 09:02
I'm 17 years old and i dont have nipple yet is this normal?
Posted by Optional on 16/09/2010 at 05:43
well i have inverted nipples they discharge and i have no children i jus wanna know why ?
Posted by Optional on 18/08/2010 at 01:58
what if even aroused or in the cold my nipples still dont protrude? should I be concerned?
Posted by Optional on 17/07/2010 at 11:55
im 13 and i dont have nipple yet is this normal ?
Posted by Optional on 16/05/2010 at 10:43
What If i am A male?
Advertisements
Latest updates
Dr Phil's latest video
17th May 2012
Choosing a cosmetic surgeon;
4th May 2012
Ears that stick out;
4th May 2012
Faecal incontinence;
4th April 2012
Anal pain;
4th April 2012
Anal itching (itchy bottom);
4th April 2012
