5 bra myths BUSTED

We take them for granted, but maybe it’s time to uncover the facts behind a few common misconceptions about your lingerie.

YOUR BRA SIZE IS ALWAYS THE SAME

“A woman’s breast shape changes over her lifetime,” says Dr Fiona Jane, a GP with Jean Hailes for Women’s Health. “Breasts have the greatest volume of glandular and supporting tissue in a woman’s 30s. During perimenopause there are fluctuating levels of the hormone oestrogen which can cause breast welling. At menopause, as oestrogen levels become very low, there is further loss of glandular tissue until the post menopause when breast tissue structure becomes fairly constant.”

YOU HAVE A ‘NORMAL’ BRA SIZE

Just as dress sizes vary between brands, so too do bras, says Triumph bra fitting specialist Paula Svoboda. It’s important to always try on bras before you buy and preferably get fitted by an expert (Doing this, we discovered that a 10D in one brand and style is a 12C in another.)

BRAS NEED TO BE WASHED AFTER EVERY WEAR

Depending on how active you are, it’s okay to wash them after every few wears, says Svoboda. It’s a matter of personal preference whether you wish to handwash or machine wash bras on a gentle cycle.

IF A BRA CREATES A BACK BULGE, YOU SHOULD GO UP A SIZE

It could be just the opposite: back bulge tends to happen when a bra rides up your back – meaning it’s too big, not too small, says Svoboda. When trying on a new bra make sure you consider the fit of the band around your back, the shoulder straps and cup size. Remember, comfort is queen!

BREASTS SAG DUE TO GRAVITY AS WE GET OLDER

Well, only partly. “With age we lose the elastin in our skin, which makes our breasts drop and change shape. However, it’s [also] the shrinkage of the milk systems (or fibroglandular tissue) in the breast, which is replaced by fatty tissue, that causes the appearance of loss of volume, shape and sagging,” says Dr Jane. Breast size also changes with weight shifts and also with stress. The good news: getting a well-fitted bra can make any woman look her perky best.