Last updated on October 24, 2020
Question:
Can a certain part of your body be underdeveloped while the rest is finished growing? I’m almost 16 years old and I have pubic hair and underarm hair. Also, I’m 5’7 and I have been for years. However, my breasts are unusually small. They look to be about Stage 2, almost 3 by the Tanner test. I don’t have big nipples or even raised nipples, either. All of my body seems to be finished developing, except my breasts. Is this normal? And will my breasts ever finish growing? Also, all girls in my family have large breasts, even before they have children.
Answer:
It isn’t uncommon for some women to continue breast development into their mid-twenties. Such tend to run in the family, but there can be exceptions to the rule. Sometimes pregnancy or even weight gain will cause the breasts to develop further, which would indicate that some parts of breast development are hormonally based. If you have been eating very little to keep your weight down, that can have an impact on your breast development. Generally, don’t worry about it, knowing that when it is time for you to have children, things will catch up.