Males have nipples because these develop in the womb before embryos develop a sex. By the time a Y chromosome distinguishes a fetus as male, the nipples have already developed.

Almost everyone has nipples, regardless of whether they’re a male or a female, a person with large breasts or a flat chest.

But nipples seem to make a lot more sense on people with the ability to breastfeed or chestfeed, right?

It’s obvious the nipples we think of as “female nipples” — like the nipples females have — are meant to serve a purpose.

But what about male nipples? Those are the ones that males usually have. Read to learn more.

[the terms “male” and “female”]

In this article, we use “male and female” to refer to someone’s sex as determined by their chromosomes and “men and women” when referring to their gender (unless quoting from sources using nonspecific language).

Sex is determined by chromosomes, and gender is a social construct that can vary between time periods and cultures. Both of these aspects are acknowledged to exist on a spectrum both historically and by modern scientific consensus.

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Some people think of it this way: Everyone starts out as female in their early development in utero.

From this understanding, a man’s nipples would seem to be left over from when he was initially female.

Here’s another way to think of it: Everyone starts out as gender neutral.

A few weeks in, the Y chromosome starts creating changes that lead to the development of testes in males. Female fetuses go through changes that will eventually lead to the development of breasts.

Our development is different at this point and also during puberty, when secondary sex characteristics like pubic hair form.

If a trait isn’t necessary to our survival, evolution eventually eliminates it. And if males aren’t designed to breastfeed babies, then does that mean their nipples aren’t necessary?

Well, this isn’t entirely accurate.

The truth is, we have plenty of nonessential traits, like wisdom teeth, that are just left over from our development as a species.

Such traits are called vestigial, meaning we still have them because they’re not a priority for evolution to select against.

It’s not like male nipples are hurting anyone, so it’s no big deal for evolution to simply leave them be.

But there’s another layer to this, too: Even though they’re not used for breastfeeding, male nipples are actually more useful than you might think.

Describing male nipples as left over from fetal development makes them sound pretty useless, doesn’t it? Are male nipples kind of just… there?

Actually, male nipples still serve a purpose as an erogenous zone.

Just like female nipples, they’re sensitive to touch and can come in handy for erotic stimulation. Hello, nipple orgasms!

One study found that nipple stimulation enhanced sexual arousal in 52 percent of men.

While it’s true that male nipples aren’t ordinarily used for breastfeeding, lactation is possible.

For transgender men, possible steps for physical transition can include surgery, taking hormones, or nothing at all.

So, depending on the physical and hormonal changes that have taken place, lactation can happen just like it does for females.

But even males can lactate if a particular hormone, called prolactin, takes effect.

It’s a condition known as male galactorrhea. It’s usually the result of:

Males can develop breast cancer, though it’s rare. It accounts for less than 1 percent of all breast cancer cases.

This can happen at any age, but just like females, males are more likely to develop breast cancer as they get older.

However, most males aren’t getting regular mammograms or reminders to check for lumps in the shower, like females often do.

This means they’re also more likely to miss the signs of breast cancer.

If you’re a man, look out for symptoms like:

  • a lump in one breast
  • discharge or redness around the nipple
  • discharge from the nipple
  • swollen lymph nodes under your arm

If you begin experiencing these or other unusual symptoms, see a doctor or other healthcare provider.

We tend to think of breasts as a female trait, so you may be surprised to know boobs are actually gender neutral.

The only difference between the breasts we think of as “male” and “female” is the amount of breast tissue.

Typically, the hormones that kick in during puberty cause girls’ breasts to grow, while boys’ breasts stay flat.

Not every male will end up with flat breasts.

For some, a condition called gynecomastia can lead to the development of larger male breasts.

It’s usually the result of a hormone imbalance, such as low testosterone levels.

Other conditions to watch out for include:

These are all more common in female breasts, but they’re not unheard of among males.

Talk to a doctor about any unusual inflammation, pain, or lumps.

At the end of the day, there are a whole lot of parallels between the nipples we think of as “male” and “female.”

They start out the same in the womb and remain similar until puberty.

Even after puberty creates a difference in breast sizing, breast tissue still exists in everyone, boys and girls included.

Sure, if you asked Tumblr or Instagram, they’d tell you that “female” nipples are more explicit than “male” ones.

But somebody should tell them to check out what science has to say, because when you get down to the details, that distinction makes little sense.

As it turns out, male nipples are more than just “there.”

They serve a function, they can develop health conditions, and, apparently, they’re the only option for representing nipples on the internet without being censored.

So, take care of those nipples, guys and other folks assigned male at birth. They’re not as pointless as they may seem.


Maisha Z. Johnson is a writer and advocate for survivors of violence, people of color, and LGBTQ+ communities. She lives with chronic illness and believes in honoring each person’s unique path to healing. Find Maisha on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.