Take the 2-minute tour ×

I am not a biology student, just a curious person. To be specific, I'm talking about humans and specifically about females. I know that it might apply to other mammals.

What controls the size of breasts?

I have heard about progesterone hormone.

  • Is it just progesterone?
  • Are there any other factors?
  • I have seen a movie in which couple talks about breast size increases after sex. Is it true?

Can somebody give more info on this?

share|improve this question
Prolactin may be a good candidate. –  nico Mar 23 '13 at 18:53

1 Answer 1

The known factors seem to be mainly oestrogen and genetic (although I haven't been able whatsoever to find detail on what genes):

Manning et al (1997): Breast asymmetry and phenotypic quality in women. Evolution and Human Behavior, 17 (2): 129–143. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162309597000020)

Our data support the thesis that mammotropic hormones, particularly estrogen, are harmful because they suppress the immune system. Heavy women with high levels of body fat produce more estrogen and, therefore, bigger breasts. However, more estrogen leads to an increase in breast asymmetry. Women with “good genes” are able to produce symmetric breasts despite the presence of large quantities of estrogen. Large and symmetric breasts are therefore honest signals of high phenotypic quality in women.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer


