Medical expert debunks common myth about your breasts that will change everything

We’re all partial to believing common myths about our bodies, but a specific one about breasts has been put to bed once and for all.

From sugar making kids hyper, to being cold giving you an actual cold, we’re all guilty of perpetuating a few old wives’ tales every now and then. But for women, there is something we’ve all been told and have even believed to be true when it comes to breasts.

There have been many myths we have been led to believe over the years, such as wearing a bra can increase your risk of breast cancer.

This too is not true.

There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that bras, particularly underwire bras, cause breasts to develop cancer. This whole thing likely originated from the idea that underwire bras restrict the lymphatic flow in the area.

However, there’s no current research that shows a correlation between wearing underwire bras and an increased risk of breast cancer.

There is a myth that wearing a bra causes breast cancer, which is absolutely not true (Getty Stock Images)

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, it’s purely a myth, but wearing bras that are ill-fitting could cause discomfort and swelling in the user.

While this myth has scared many, including myself, there’s another that has long been held as fact… when it’s totally fictional.

Experts spoke to Teen Vogue regarding the claim that going without a bra can cause them to sag later in life.

While breast sagging is a completely normal thing to happen (thank you, gravity and elasticity), some people might actively want to minimise their chances of it happening.

Thankfully, they won’t need to because it’s just not a thing.

"Contrary to popular belief, there is no scientific evidence whatsoever that wearing a bra keeps breasts from sagging, [a condition known as] breast ptosis,” Laura Tempesta, a bra expert with a master’s degree in lingerie design and the founder of Bravolution, told Teen Vogue.

Tempesta said: “Ptosis over time is caused by age and gravity and occurs whether one wears a bra or not.”

Experts have commented on the truth of the myth that suggests not wearing a bra can lead to sagging (Getty Stock Images)

Dr Andrea Madrigrano, M.D., a breast surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Rush University Medical Center, also explained that breast sagging is usually due to breast density rather than choosing not to wear bras.

She said that those who typically have more fibre in their breasts are less likely to sag, while those with more fat are at higher risk of sagging. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t days when support is needed, as exercise could prove to be a time when you need to wear something.

“When you’re doing vigorous exercise, and the breast is moving up and down and side to side, there can be stretching of... the ligaments [connective tissue] as well as the overlying skin, if you're not supported,” Dr Madrigrano said.

Tempesta revealed that there are no studies that have officially linked wearing sports bras with preventing sagging, both experts say that wearing them are important to avoid pain or even injury when exercising.

Tempesta said ‘it could be argued that although everyday bras might restrict women, sports bras have liberated women by allowing them to participate in athletic activities’.

So, while there are no medical reasons to wear a bra, wearing a sports bra is probably a good thing if you’re planning on being active.