All human bodies are different. It should go without saying, but this includes the breasts, areolae, and nipples. There’s no right or wrong way for your nipples to look, but there are several patterns in shape and size across sexes.

How we feel about our bodies and all their features can be loaded, but perhaps no body part elicits quite as much mixed emotion as the breast.

Amid a perpetual onslaught of breast augmentation ads, boob-lifting bras, and nipple bans, it can be easy to dismiss that female breasts (and specifically nipples) serve more than an evolutionary purpose to feed offspring.

It’s also easy to forget that female nipples are often indistinguishable from male nipples. After all, you can’t determine a person’s sex, overall anatomy, or gender from a close-up inspection of their nipple and areola!

And yet, nipples are as individual as we are, with all kinds of surprising quirks to consider. So do yourself a favor and get to know your nips more — even the smallest detail could be a conversation starter about health and pleasure.

There are 8 types of nipples

Your nipples can be flat, protruding, inverted, or unclassified (multiple or divided).

It’s also possible to have one breast with a protruding nipple and the other with an inverted one, making the total combination of nipple types up to eight.

Inverted nipples are common

Some research suggests that as many as 10% to 20% of people assigned female at birth (AFAB) have at least one inverted nipple.

Inverted nipples, which tuck inward into the breast, function the same as protruding nipples.

There are bumps around your nipples

Areolar glands, also known as Montgomery glands, secrete lipoid fluid. This keeps the areola and nipple lubricated.

Nipple hair is natural

These hairs might be darker or more wiry than other hairs on your body. You can pluck, trim, wax, or shave them if they bother you.

Your nipples and areolae can change color

Nipple color varies from light pink to brownish black. The areola is often darker than the nipple itself.

You might notice lighter or darker shades at different times of the month. This usually stems from hormonal changes, including menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

The average nipple is as tall as a ladybug

In one 2009 study of 300 women’s nipples and areolas, results showed a mean:

  • areola diameter of 4 centimeters (cm), which is a little smaller than a golf ball
  • nipple diameter of 1.3 cm, which is similar to the width of an AA battery
  • nipple height of 0.9 cm, which is the size of a ladybug

Nipples can change in size

This happens frequently during pregnancy. One 2013 study of 56 pregnant participants found that their nipples grew in length and width. Their areola width also increased significantly.

Your nipple isn’t your areola

The nipple is at the center of your breast and is linked to the mammary glands, where milk is produced.

The areola is the darker-colored area surrounding the nipple.

There’s an “ideal” nipple placement

A 2016 study polled 1,000 men and 1,000 women between 16 and 74 years. 813 people completed the mail-in questionnaire.

Researchers found that the most liked nipple-areola placement is “in the middle of the breast gland vertically and slightly lateral to the midpoint horizontally.”

But that doesn’t mean your nipples aren’t ideal — the study also mentioned that nipple placement is influenced by media, where men “tend to have a more youthful breast in mind,” while women may have “more of a realistic one.”

It’s possible to have multiple nipples

Extra nipples are called supernumerary. It’s estimated that 1 in 18 people have supernumerary nipples, but it doesn’t stop there.

One man had seven nipples: Two typical ones and five additional supernumerary ones. A 22-year-old woman even had a nipple on her foot. It had fat tissue, hair follicles, glands, and all.

There’s even one reported case of a woman who had full breast tissue and a nipple on her thigh, and it produced milk after she had her baby.

You can have two nipples on one areola

This is called a double or bifurcated nipple. Depending on the ductal system, both nipples may be able to produce milk. However, nursing infants may find it difficult to fit both in their mouths.

Some people are born without nipples

Although athelia is rare overall, it’s more common in children who are born with Poland syndrome and ectodermal dysplasia.

Female health used to be diagnosed via nipples

Color was a major factor doctors and nurses considered when assessing female health and wellness. In 1671, the English midwife Jane Sharp published “The Midwives Book or the Whole Art of Midwifery.”

According to a Stanford course about the female body, Sharp once wrote, “The Nipples are red after Copulation, red as a Strawberry, and that is their Natural color: But Nurses Nipples, when they give Suck, are blue, and they grow black when they are old.”

Thankfully, this practice has been discontinued.

Breastfeeding wasn’t always the standard

Though breastfeeding is now common among educated, upper-middle-class women, the same group used to oppose nursing their babies and would demand wet nurses to feed their offspring.

A wet nurse is a “woman who breastfeeds another’s child,” and often, wet nurses were enslaved women.

After the Renaissance, when wet nurses nursed the offspring of aristocratic women, the development of infant formula changed the use of wet nurses from a perceived necessity to a choice.

In the early 20th century, infant formula was considered ideal because its price tag signified wealth.

Nipple pain is common

It’s not unusual for people who are nursing to experience pain in their nipples for a variety of reasons, including positioning problems during feeding.

Nipple pain or soreness can also result from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and other hormonal changes.

Nipples can chafe and crack

In one Brazilian study, 32% of people reported cracked nipples in the first month after giving birth. Oftentimes, this resulted from “poor breastfeeding technique.”

If you’re not nursing, your workout might be the culprit to red, itchy, or flaky nips. Wearing a supportive sports bra can help. You can also apply petroleum jelly to your nipples to help minimize chafing.

Consult a doctor if you experience unexpected discharge

Nipple discharge may be a sign of an underlying condition that requires treatment. Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if you experience new or unusual nipple discharge.

Yellow or green discharge could be related to mastitis (infection), especially if pain or other symptoms are present. Pink or red discharge may indicate bleeding.

Postpartum breasts can spontaneously leak milk

Researchers in a 2023 animal study found that hearing a newborn’s wail can trigger the release of oxytocin. This hormone is responsible for the production of breast milk in mammals.

Anything that makes you think about babies could provoke this postpartum response. This could be the sound of your baby crying, the sound of someone else’s baby crying, or simply looking at a baby’s picture.

Male nipples can lactate

Galactorrhea is the clinical term for lactation unrelated to pregnancy or nursing. It can happen to anyone, but it’s considered rare among people assigned male at birth (AMAB).

Some experts say it’s often due to hormone surges. Older studies in the 1970s and 80s show records of male nipples expressing milk, but there haven’t been more recent studies since.

Nerves to the breast and nipple differ between sexes

Researchers in 1996 dissected cadavers to study the nerve supply to the nipple and areola.

They found that the nerves spread more widely in female breast tissue — especially around the nipples and areolae — than in male breast tissue. This could be a factor in overall sensitivity.

Nipple stimulation may enhance sexual arousal

Researchers in a 2016 study administered a survey about nipple and breast stimulation during sexual activity to 301 undergraduate students.

Around 81% of the women and 51% of the men reported that nipple and breast stimulation caused or enhanced feelings of arousal. Approximately 7% of each group said it decreased their arousal.

Breast surgery can affect nipple sensitivity

Any cosmetic or medical surgery involving breast tissue carries the risk of nerve damage. Decreased or loss of sensation is often temporary, and many people regain sensation after recovery.

The exact risk and recovery timeline depends on your individual anatomy and the type of procedure you have. Researchers are currently studying new methods for reinnervation to improve breast sensation.

Nipple tattoos are an alternative to surgical reconstruction

Nipple-areolar-complex (NAC) reconstruction and tattooing are considered the final step in breast reconstruction.

These tattoos are growing in popularity among people who get the surgery because it’s a relatively quick and straightforward procedure with visually realistic results.

Nipple piercings can be a source of joy

In a 2008 study of 362 people with pierced nipples, survey respondents had “overwhelmingly positive” feelings about their piercings.

In fact, 94% of the men and 87% of the women surveyed said they would do it again.

She has them, he has them, they have them, and some have more than one pair of them — the nipple is a wondrous thing. Remember, there’s no one version of “normal” when it comes to your unique anatomy.

But as with any other part of your body, if you’re ever concerned about something your nipples are doing (or not doing), your best bet is to consult with a healthcare professional.