Do Montgomery tubercles come out only in pregnancy? What are?
We always think we know our body and how it changes according to the physiological changes that can occur during puberty, menstruation or even pregnancy. Surely we women are used to hormonal fluctuations due to the entire menstrual cycle. But there are so many small changes that we do not always know the nature and the reason. Just think about how our body evolves when we are pregnant or how the baby changes. first months. Look here:
Did you know, for example, the Montgomery tubercles? Those little dots similar to goosebumps that appear a few days before your period or during pregnancy on your nipples? Yet it is likely that you have had and glimpsed them at least once in your life. They concern your breasts, they concern moments of important change, they concern the female body.Let's find out what they are and what they are for.
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Montgomery tubercles: what are they?
Montgomery's tubercles are small skin reliefs that appear on the areolas of the nipples of the female breast. They appear when the Montgomery's glands increase in volume and then these small sebaceous growths are formed on the breast that produce oily secretions, or lipoic fluid. In essence, they are the visible part of Montgomery's glands that swell and appear around the nipple for specific reasons and at different times.
In fact, there are various moments in life in which tubercles appear around the nipple of the breast: during puberty, a few days before or a few days after menstruation, during pregnancy and during breastfeeding. If you have been trying to have a baby for a few weeks and you have tubercles, maybe it's time to take a pregnancy test. But they can appear in response to severe stress, hormonal imbalances, weight gain, certain medications, bras that are too tight or very rarely breast cancer. they carry no pain, unless they become oversized and at which point you need to contact a doctor.
How Montgomery tubercles are made
We have seen what Montgomery tubercles are, but now let's see how they are made. To better understand, these tubercles appear as small pimples or as those bumps that form on the skin when we have chills or goose skin in response to the enlarged Montgomery glands. Do they seem more familiar to you? We are sure that at least once in your life you have seen them (maybe a few days before or after menstruation!). The number of tubercles present on the areola of the female breast varies from woman to woman and in relation to how many glands a woman has. In fact, the number of Montgomery's glands varies both in number (from 4 to 30) and in position. strange that in addition to the areola, a tubercle can also be present on the nipple itself. In short, the number of tubercles can vary from 4 to 28-30 and from areola to nipple. They may appear more at certain stages of the menstrual cycle, one week before or after menstruation. But they are common for about 3-5 in 10 women who are about to become moms. In short, not all women will have tubercles as the first symptoms of a pregnancy, especially if they have not had sexual intercourse since the last menstruation!
What are Montgomery's tubercles used for?
As we have seen, Montgomery's tubercles are the visible part of the glands bearing the same name. They are sebaceous glands, or glands that produce sebum, a greasy substance whose role is to protect the skin from external agents. And this is exactly what these tubercles do too, namely:
- they lubricate and moisturize the nipples, keeping the skin moist and soft;
- they protect the nipple and disinfect it, especially as a function of the baby's breastfeeding who will thus receive milk free from contamination.
In short, the female body never ceases to amaze us and make us understand how perfect we are. In fact, these pads of the skin around the nipples play a very important role especially for the expectant mother and her baby. If the tubercles become too large or if they cause you pain for a few days, contact your doctor right away to make sure everything is okay.
Montgomery's tubercles: early pregnancy symptoms
The appearance of Montgomery's tubercles can be one of the first symptoms of a pregnancy. If you are trying to have a baby, and you notice the presence of tubercles like you have never seen them before, try taking a pregnancy test to remove any doubts. About 30-50% of women who become pregnant have these symptoms, alongside the classic symptoms of pregnancy. As we have seen, these sebaceous growths, manifestation of the swelling of the underlying glands, are very important during pregnancy and especially during breastfeeding. In addition to keeping the skin and nipple hydrated, they protect breast milk by disinfecting it from the possible presence of harmful external agents. In short, they are a valuable helper for the mother and her baby and do not cause pain. Precisely because about 3-5 out of 10 women have this symptom from the first days of pregnancy, the appearance of tubercles and the swelling of the glands can be associated with classic symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, food cravings, edema of the feet and so on.
How to get rid of Montomery's tubercles (if they are blemishes)
Sometimes, these tubercles can be larger than expected, and if you are not pregnant and rule out any possibility of other problems, such as breast cancer, they can be a kind of blemish for some women. We are all perfect for who we are, but each has its fixes. In short, not all women like to have these small growths on their nipples, especially if they are not related to changes during the period or the pregnancy test told us that we are not pregnant. There are some natural remedies that can help us to reduce the size of the various tubercles, which generally do not cause pain, and to experience them less as aesthetic problems that, as we know, can create insecurities, relationship problems and even difficulties in approaching relationships. serene and free sexual relations.
Here are some natural remedies for Montgomery tubercles:
- drinking a lot, it is good for everyone to drink water at will but in this case the intake of water helps to get rid of excess sebum that can make the tubercle swell too much,
- eat a balanced diet with low salt and low fat,
- applying a cloth soaked in warm water helps deflate the glands, preferably in the evening for 20 minutes,
- apply aloe gel on the areola, because it is able to clean the excretory ducts of the Montgomery glands,
- apply a solution based on calamine, which absorbs the sebum present in the excretory ducts.
But first of all, learn to love your body as it is!
