Where have my boobs gone?

QSince the menopause my breasts have started to shrink. How can I stop it – would HRT help?

Vanessa, south London

AIt’s normal for your breasts to change with age, particularly after your menopause when levels of oestrogen hormone fall. Your breasts lose milk-producing gland tissue and gain more fat, making them softer and more floppy. They

might shrink by more than a cup size and tend to fall sideways, increasing the space between them. Your areola, the ring of coloured skin around your nipple, may shrink or disappear.

Replacing oestrogen with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can slow some of these changes. This carries some risks, including a slightly higher risk of breast cancer, and your doctor probably wouldn’t recommend it simply for firmer breasts. If you’re thin, putting on weight will plump out your breasts and, of course, a good bra can work wonders!