Share

What exactly are ‘dense breasts’?

accreditation
Have you got dense breasts? Here's what it means.
Have you got dense breasts? Here's what it means.

“My doctor told me that I have dense breasts. What does that mean exactly? And should I be concerned?”

Answer: It’s not an immediate cause for concern, but here’s what you need to know:

What are dense breasts?

Our breasts are composed of three kinds of tissue: glandular (the milk glands and ducts), connective (the fibrous tissue that surrounds the ducts and glands) and fatty tissue.

Read more: 6 weird facts we bet you didn’t know about your breasts

They’re considered “dense” when they have a lot of glandular and connective tissue and not much of the fatty kind. Only a mammogram can determine whether you have dense breasts. Neither your doctor nor you (during a self-exam) can tell from their size, shape, firmness or other factors, such as your BMI or weight.

What causes dense breast tissue?

The younger we are, the denser our breasts are, and as we age, our breasts tend to become less dense and fattier. This gradual change is due to a decline in our oestrogen levels as part of the natural ageing process, particularly during menopause.

Read more: 8 nipple symptoms that are totally normal

However, having dense breasts well into adulthood is common and affects about half of all women. And some people have a genetic predisposition to them – so if your mom had dense breasts, it’s likely you do too.

What you should know

Having very dense breasts raises two concerns. First, higher density has been linked to an increased risk for breast cancer, although the exact reason for that is unknown. Second, if you do have breast cancer, it can be harder to diagnose it in dense breasts because both non-fatty tissues and cancer appear white on a mammogram.

Read more: The real reason men are obsessed with your breasts

Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a family history of breast cancer – she might suggest alternative or additional tests like an ultrasound or MRI. In general, no matter your breast density, you can reduce your cancer risk by exercising regularly, limiting your alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy weight.

Source: Dr Keri Peterson

This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com

Image credit: iStock 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE