What Happens to Your Breasts as You Age?
Published on December 9, 2025
ON THIS PAGE
ON THIS PAGE
Breast changes are usually associated with puberty, but they occur throughout your life, from the time you’re born through midlife and beyond. While age-related changes are natural, there are certain steps you can take to keep your breasts healthy.
Knowing what to expect — plus, signs that could indicate something more serious — will help you know when to speak to a doctor if you’re concerned.
4 Ways Breasts Change With Age
You can anticipate alterations in your breasts’ structure, shape, and size with age. As you grow older, fluctuating hormones make breast tissue less elastic. Meanwhile, certain changes like inverted nipples or breast calcifications can occur over time — and lifestyle factors like sun exposure may also affect breast appearance.
1. Nipples May Invert or Retract
Up to 20 percent of people have inverted nipples; about 10 percent are born with them. Nipple inversion can occur when nipples retract because of age-related changes in breast structure and elasticity, or due to trauma, breastfeeding, infection, or rapid weight loss.
Inverted nipples may also be a sign of breast cancer, especially if it happens suddenly, affects only one breast, and is accompanied by other symptoms like a lump in the breast, discharge from the nipple, or breast skin dimpling. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away for a physical exam.
2. Breasts May Develop Calcifications
Breast calcifications are calcium deposits that screening mammograms (low-dose X-rays of the breast) can detect. They’re relatively common, especially in women older than 50.
Although they’re often benign, they can sometimes be an early sign of breast cancer.
For instance, if one breast has calcifications and the other doesn’t, your doctor may want to take a closer look. Breasts are typically symmetrical, and unevenness in calcifications could be a red flag.
Even when benign, calcifications are linked to an up to 50 percent higher risk of advanced breast cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, especially postmenopausal women who have two other risk factors: dense breasts and a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher.
Experts don’t know what causes calcifications, but they’re linked with aging and are especially common in women older than 50. Injury, infection, and other breast changes like cysts can also cause them.
3. Wrinkles May Form on the Chest
The production of collagen and elastin in your skin slows down with age, which can contribute to wrinkles on your chest around the breasts. If chest wrinkles run in your family, you’re more likely to get them as well, because genetics have a strong influence in your production of collagen and elastin and their breakdown rate. Exposure to sun can break down collagen and elastin more quickly, as can lifestyle habits like side sleeping or smoking, or experiencing significant weight changes. For example, losing 5 percent or more of your body weight within 6 to 12 months is considered a major fluctuation.
Extending your skin care to your chest may help prevent wrinkles: Reapply broad-spectrum sunscreen to the area often, exfoliate weekly, and moisturize. It’s best to reapply sunscreen every two hours. As for moisturizing, try doing so daily right after your bath or shower, since hot water can strip oils and moisture from your skin.
Common Age-Related Breast Conditions
There are certain age-related milestones in life that can affect your breasts. These can range from having a baby during childbearing years or developing cancer after menopause.
Breast Ptosis
Hormone levels change when a woman goes through menopause (usually in her late forties and early fifties) which is why some may experience breast sagging at this time. For example, estrogen dramatically decreases, causing the breast’s connective tissue to become dehydrated and less elastic. As a result, the tissue shrinks and loses its shape, which can lead to drooping.
This laxity extends to the breast ducts and supporting ligaments. The medical term for breast sagging is breast ptosis.
“During menopause, the decrease in estrogen causes fibrous tissue to decrease and the fat contribution increases, causing less dense and even softer tissue,” says Angela Wilson, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in New York City. In other words, the percentage of your breasts made of fat increases over time, decreasing their firmness.
Poor posture can also contribute to a loss of chest muscle flexibility, causing sagging. Meanwhile, wearing the wrong bra size may damage the breast ligaments, resulting in drooping and breast pain over time.
Pregnancy
There are several breast changes during pregnancy you can expect as your body prepares to produce milk for a baby. Pregnancy causes the breasts’ ductal system to expand in preparation for lactation, which causes the breasts to enlarge and become fuller, Dr. Wilson says.
Additionally, your breasts will likely grow by one or two cup sizes, and may get itchy as the skin stretches out.
“Because of the rapid growth during this time, it is not uncommon to develop stretch marks on the skin,” Wilson says. “The nipples may become larger, and the areola may darken as well during pregnancy.” After breastfeeding, the ducts decrease in size and the tissue may begin to sag, Wilson adds.
Breast Cysts
Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs that are usually noncancerous. Although they can appear at any age, they’re particularly common in women ages 35 to 50. Experts don’t know yet exactly what causes breast cysts, but potential causes may include natural hormonal fluctuations or the shrinking of milk-producing tissue (which can trap fluid).
Your cysts may become more noticeable or tender before your period and decrease or go away after menopause. Cysts usually don’t hurt, but your doctor may treat a painful cyst by using a needle to drain the fluid. They may send the tissue for analysis, or recommend other treatments such as hormonal therapy or surgery.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer risk increases with age: At 30, the chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the next 10 years is one in 204. By 50, that increases to one in 42 — and by 70, one in 24.
The median age of breast cancer diagnosis for women in the United States is 63.
Other breast cancer risk factors include genetics, race, having dense breasts, drinking alcohol, being overweight or obese after menopause, taking hormonal medications, and not staying physically active. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, consuming alcohol in moderation, and breastfeeding your children may help decrease your risk. Research suggests breast cancer risk decreases by 4.3 percent for every 12 months of breastfeeding.
Women ages 40 and older at average risk for breast cancer have the option to start mammogram screening every year. Various medical bodies have different recommendations. Those ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms annually, according to the American Cancer Society. But some organizations, like the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), recommend annual or biennial mammograms beginning at age 40. It’s important to talk to your doctor for personalized recommendations based on your specific risk factors.
Mammograms generally aren’t recommended for women under age 40 with average breast cancer risk, though people with above-average risk should speak with their doctor about starting screening earlier.
If you’re concerned, it's always an option to ask your primary care provider for a breast exam at any age or appointment. “I do breast exams for most of my patients at their yearly visits, and it provides an opportunity to discuss any changes patients may have noticed,” Wilson says.
5 Tips to Maintain Healthy Breasts With Age
While it’s natural for breasts to change with age, there are steps you can take to keep them healthy. Here’s how to care for aging breasts.
1. Choose the Right Bra
Women often wear the wrong-size bra. Better-fitting bras and bras with more supportive designs (like a wire-free design and diagonally positioned underband) can move breast tissue into a healthier position, help reduce back pain, and improve posture, according to industry-supported research. “Supportive bras, especially for those with larger breasts and during exercise, may help alleviate breast and back discomfort or injury to the breasts,” Wilson says. A well-fitted bra should feel comfortable, have a level band at the front and back, contain your breasts with no bulging, and stay put when you lift your arms above your head, according to Breast Cancer Now. A professional fitting (free at many department stores) can help you find the right size.
2. Look Out for Asymmetry
“Normal age-related changes typically involve breast density, firmness, and size — and will also typically be seen on both sides,” Wilson says. “Red flags would be changes that occur in the breast that are seen only on one side or in one area.”
3. Get Regular Breast Exams
Routine mammograms can prevent breast cancer deaths. While most women should start mammography in their forties, it’s best to speak to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. Your doctor may also perform a physical exam during this appointment to check for lumps or other changes. “With yearly breast exams, we can confirm if what you are experiencing is normal and begin an evaluation if it is unclear,” Wilson says.
4. Practice Skin Care on Your Chest
“Protect your skin from sun exposure and keep your skin hydrated,” says Patricia Chau, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at RWJBarnabas Health in Jersey City, New Jersey. Most dermatologists recommend mineral sunscreen as the most important product to prevent wrinkles, considering it just as essential as retinoids. Mineral sunscreens offer the best protection because they create a physical barrier between your skin and the sun (chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, just change the chemical structure of UV rays to lower sun damage).
5. Maintain Healthy Habits
Generally, when you’re healthy, your breasts will be, too. “The best thing women can do to maintain healthy breasts are following a healthy diet and exercise routine, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol use, and wearing supportive bras and focusing on good posture,” Chau says. For instance, eating 3.5 to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables daily, moving your body for at least 20 minutes daily, and avoiding alcohol and smoking can help lower your risk of breast cancer.
When to See a Doctor
Women ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year, while women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year.
Talk to your doctor right away if you notice changes like a breast lump or thickness that feels different from the tissue around it, a shift in the size or shape of the breast, pain in the breast (especially if it doesn’t go away after your next period), irregularities in the breast or nipple area like itchiness or puckering, a sudden inverted nipple, or discharge.
The Takeaway
- Your breasts naturally change throughout life, but age-related conditions and lifestyle habits can accelerate shifts like sagging breasts, chest wrinkles, or breast cancer risk.
- Certain age-related conditions like pregnancy in childbearing years or breast cancer (more common after menopause) can affect your breast health.
- Maintaining healthy habits — from choosing the right bra to exercising — and getting regular breast exams can help you keep your breasts healthy.
- Speak to your doctor if you notice irregularities like a new breast lump or changes in the size or shape of your breasts.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Normal Breast Development and Changes. John Hopkins Medicine.
- Jones V. Are Inverted Nipples a Sign of Breast Cancer? The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. September 8, 2023.
- Breast Calcifications. City of Hope. February 7, 2022.
- Adams M. 4 Questions About Breast Calcifications, Answered. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. November 18, 2021.
- Kerlikowske K et al. Mammographic Calcifications Association With Risk of Advanced Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. June 17, 2025.
- Breast Calcifications. Cleveland Clinic. April 27, 2022.
- Chest wrinkles: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment. Westlake Dermatology. August 10, 2021.
- Approach to Weight Loss in Adults. Singapore Medical Journal. May 10, 2024.
- Sunscreen and Your Morning Routine. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- The Importance of Moisturizing. The University of Tennessee Medical Center. January 1, 2022.
- Martinez AA et al. Breast Ptosis. StatPearls. November 12, 2023.
- Time For a Proactive Breast Health Plan. The Breast Center of Maple Grove.
- Breast Changes During Pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association.
- What to Know About Sagging Breasts After Pregnancy. UPMC HealthBeat. October 4, 2023.
- Breast Cysts. Washington University Medicine.
- Breast Cysts. Cleveland Clinic. May 19, 2023.
- Breast Cancer Risk in American Women. National Cancer Institute. December 16, 2020.
- Breast Median Age at Diagnosis 2018-2022. National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result Program. July 2, 2025.
- Breast Cancer Risk Factors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 22, 2025.
- Stordal B. Breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Call for Action in High‐Income Countries With Low Rates of Breastfeeding. Cancer Medicine. September 26, 2022.
- American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. December 19, 2023.
- Breast Cancer: Screening. United States Preventive Services Task Force. April 30, 2024.
- Breast Cancer Screening (PDQ®)–Patient Version. National Cancer Institute. February 14, 2025.
- Haworth L et al. Does an Alternative Breast Support Garment Provide Symptomatic Relief for Larger Breasted Women With Chronic Non-Specific Back Pain? Prosthetics and Orthotics International. October 16, 2023.
- Your Guide to a Well-Fitting Bra. Breast Cancer Now.
- Breast Asymmetry. Cleveland Clinic. August 10, 2025.
- Clinical Breast Exam. Cleveland Clinic. July 28, 2025.
- Alvarez GV et al. Skincare Ingredients Recommended by Cosmetic Dermatologists: A Delphi Consensus Study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. April 13, 2025.
- Adams M. Mineral or Chemical Sunscreen: Which Should You Choose? The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. June 30, 2022.
- Healthy Habits . National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. August 25, 2025.
- Breast Lump or Breast Changes: Early Evaluation Is Essential. Mayo Clinic. April 3, 2025.
Meet Our Experts
Kara Smythe, MD
Medical Reviewer
Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and her interests include improving maternal health, ensuring access to contraception, and promoting sexual health.
She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in biology and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She worked in Maine for six years, where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved population.
Smythe is also passionate about the ways that public health policies shape individual health outcomes. She has a master’s degree in population health from University College London and recently completed a social science research methods master's degree at Cardiff University. She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology. Her research examines people's experiences of accessing, using, and discontinuing long-acting reversible contraception.
When she’s not working, Smythe enjoys dancing, photography, and spending time with her family and her cat, Finnegan.
Kelsey Kloss
Author
Kelsey Kloss is a health and wellness journalist with over a decade of experience. She started her career as an in-house editor for brands including Reader’s Digest, Elle Decor, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, Woman's Day, and Redbook, and her work has been featured in over 50 publications.