Hard nipples are usually normal during menstruation, breastfeeding, or when getting physical or sexual stimulation. However, hardening of the nipples sometimes also needs to be watched out because it can be a sign of certain diseases.
Men and women both have breasts. However, the structure of the breasts of men and women is different. Male breasts do not produce milk, while female breasts have many ducts and glands that can produce breast milk (ASI). Breast milk that is produced naturally after a woman gives birth will be flowed out through the nipple.
Nipples are normally soft or tender in texture, but can sometimes harden to the touch. Some people are even more sexually aroused when their nipples are touched.
Some Causes of Hard Nipples
The nipple is the part of the breast that functions to release milk when stimulated, for example during breastfeeding. In the nipple, there are muscles that can contract when the part is stimulated or touched.
Apart from touch, there are several other things that can cause nipples to harden, including:
1. Allergies
Allergies to products used in the breast area can sometimes cause nipples to harden. These products can be in the form of soap or clothing materials worn.
Usually, nipple allergy symptoms can cause the nipple to harden along with the skin around the nipple that looks red, itchy, and cracked.
2. Temperature change
Cold weather can stimulate nipple nerve cells and cause the blood vessels in the nipple to constrict. This is what makes the nipples harden when exposed to cold temperatures. This phenomenon is similar to the condition of the body that gets goosebumps when exposed to cold weather.
3. Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes in a woman's monthly menstrual cycle can cause the nipples to become more sensitive and hard. Sometimes, this condition can also cause the nipple to feel a bit sore.
This condition occurs because the hormones estrogen and progesterone increase before the menstrual period. When menstruation or menstruation arrives, the complaints on the nipples will usually subside on their own.
4. Sexual stimulation
Nipples are one of the most sensitive areas for women. Sexual stimulation given by a partner can make you reach orgasm. Not only women, some men can also feel more sensitive in the nipples.
5. Ovulation
Ovulation or the process of releasing eggs from the ovaries is a sign that a woman is in her fertile period. At the time of ovulation, estrogen levels in a woman's body can increase and make her nipples harden.
In addition to hardened nipples, ovulation is also usually marked by changes in the texture of cervical mucus, normal vaginal discharge, cramps and pelvic pain, and increased sexual arousal.
6. Pregnancy
When pregnant, the levels of pregnancy hormones in a woman's body will increase. These hormonal changes can make the nipples look more prominent and bigger, and make the areola or the brownish area around the nipples appear darker.
Apart from the above, nipples can also harden when a woman enters perimenopause, which is the period when a woman is approaching or nearly reaching menopause.
Diseases that Can Make Nipples Hard
Hard nipples that can return to normal on their own and are not accompanied by other complaints are common. However, you need to be careful if your nipples are hardened and accompanied by several complaints, such as bleeding from the breast or a lump in the breast.
The following are some of the diseases that can cause hardened nipples:
Breast cancer
Hard nipples can be a symptom of breast cancer. In addition to causing symptoms of hardened nipples, breast cancer can also usually cause other symptoms, such as:
- The appearance of a lump in the breast
- The skin on the areola and around the nipple looks scaly
- Discharge from the nipple
- The nipple is pulled into the breast
- There are spots on the skin of the breast that resemble orange peel
If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor for an examination.
After the doctor confirms that the symptoms are caused by breast cancer, the doctor will provide treatment in the form of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, according to the severity or stage of the cancer.
Breast infection
A breast infection or mastitis can make the nipples hard and swollen, and painful. Infections in the breast can also usually make the nipple blisters and bleed or pus.
Breast infections usually occur during breastfeeding or the first 1-3 months after giving birth. However, not only during breastfeeding, hardened nipples can also occur in women who have not given birth or in women who have gone through menopause.
Breast abscess
In addition to mastitis, the condition of the accumulation of pus in the breast tissue due to infection can also cause hardened nipples. This condition usually causes the breasts and nipples to appear swollen, red, painful, and feel warm to the touch.
Breast abscesses need to be treated with antibiotics or even surgery, if they are severe.
Mammary duct ectasia
Mammary duct ectasia is a condition when the milk ducts under the nipple widen and become blocked by fluid in the breast. This condition often causes no symptoms, but some women who experience it may experience symptoms of nipple hardening, swelling, or discharge from the nipple.
Mammary duct ectasia is more common in women aged 45–55 years or in women who are approaching menopause. This condition can be treated with antibiotics if it causes an infection or with surgery.
Hard nipples that can return to normal or occur only occasionally are usually not dangerous. However, you need to be careful if your nipples are hardened with the appearance of some of the signs and symptoms mentioned above.
The condition of hardened nipples like that should be immediately examined by a doctor so that the cause can be identified and given the appropriate treatment.
