Why Do Men Have Nipples?

Even though it has no benefits, the presence of nipples in men also does not cause danger and metabolic costs.

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Dozens of inmates took advantage of the sunny morning by doing gymnastics together in the Jambi Class IIA prison field, early March 2021.

Unlike women, men's milk nipples have almost no function. Therefore, men's nipples do not cause the same fascination and controversy as women's. Although they provide no benefit, male nipples are not harmful so there is no evolutionary benefit to removing them.

Fundamentally, during the first few weeks of human formation in the womb, all humans have the same developmental blueprint. The embryo possesses the same primitive structure.

However, it is the presence of certain genes that will determine whether the embryo will have male or female reproductive organs. Although male and female reproductive organs can develop together, this is very rare.

When the gestational age reaches 7 weeks, as written by senior lecturer in anatomy at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Australia, Michelle Moscova, in The Conversation, 19 September 2019, the master gene that determines sex on the Y chromosome begins to be activated . The master gene is named the SRY gene.

Also read: Sexual Dysfunction Should Not Be Considered Taboo

The activity of the SRY gene will lead to the development of male reproductive organs in the fetus and the disappearance of primitive female reproductive ducts. Conversely, because females do not have a Y chromosome, their primitive female reproductive ducts will continue to develop into female reproductive organs and their primitive male reproductive ducts will disappear.

The SRY gene, as quoted by Livescience, 17 June 2017, induces changes that lead to the formation of testes, the male reproductive organs that store sperm and produce testosterone. After the testicles are formed, the male fetus begins producing testosterone at around 9 weeks of gestation. The formation of testosterone changes the genetic activity of cells in the genitals and brain.

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A fetus from a patient with mental health problems is kept in the Museum of RSJ Wediodiningrat, Lawang, Malang Regency, East Java. It is not known who the fetus belongs to and when it was found. However, the fetus is regarded as a reminder of the greatness of God. The photo was taken on Wednesday (25/05/2022).

The problem is, breasts and nipples are formed when the fetus reaches 4-6 weeks or before the SRY gene is activated. The formation of breasts and nipples is characterized by the appearance of two protrusions called mammary crests (milk lines) which extend between the primitive armpits and the primitive groin.

In further development, male breast buds will disappear. However, the cells around the chest that form smooth muscle in the nipple and areola (the darker area surrounding the nipple) will still be present. These remaining cells will form the breast and nipple in males in the future.

So, the important cells that later form the breast and nipples in humans have already developed before the gender is determined. Therefore, both men and women have breasts and nipples even though their development and functions are different.

After birth

When born, the breasts and nipples of male and female infants appear the same. However, when puberty arrives, both breasts and nipples become different.

During puberty, male and female nipples both enlarge, but the enlargement in female nipples is more maximal. The breast ducts in males will shrink, while female breasts will actually grow and change shape. As adults, male nipples become smaller and less varied compared to female nipples.

In the lens of evolution, some experts believe that the existence of nipples on males is not due to providing many benefits to men, but because their presence does not pose a danger. Therefore, removing them will not be an evolutionary priority and will not bring any advantages to men.

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Residents sunbathing on the sidewalk of Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, July 2021.

"There is no significant metabolic cost associated with (men) having nipples," said Ian Tattersall, a paleoanthropologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, United States.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that male nipples do not provide any benefits at all. One of the benefits of nipples is related to sexual stimulation response, although this benefit is also present in female nipples.

H Schmidt's study in the European Journal of Pediatrics, October 1998, found that more than half of men admitted to experiencing increased sexual arousal when their nipples were stimulated. In fact, another study reported a heterosexual man who wanted breast enlargement to improve the sexual function of his nipples.

Male breasts can also enlarge, a condition called gynecomastia. However, this enlargement is generally the result of excess weight or obesity. The increasing prevalence of obesity in society also contributes to the enlargement of male breasts. Gynecomastia can also be triggered by a hormonal imbalance, which causes estrogen levels (female hormones) to be higher than androgen levels (male hormones).

Men's nipples deserve just as much attention as women's nipples.

According to Moscova, gynecomastia commonly occurs in teenage boys and usually can heal on its own. However, one out of ten men experience a persistent breast enlargement. This condition is generally associated with several mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body image concerns, or lowered self-esteem.

In addition, some men are actually able to breastfeed using their nipples, although this is very rare. However, this condition actually requires caution as it indicates the presence of abnormal conditions in the body.

Milk produced from male breasts and nipples can be triggered by certain health conditions, such as the use of drugs or certain supplements that trigger hormonal imbalances, tumors, and hypothyroidism. The milk produced by men has very similar conditions to breast milk.

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Covid-19 patients with the status of asymptomatic (OTG) sunbathe after exercising together at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Bekasi City, West Java, June 2021.

Not only do they provide little benefit, but male nipples can also develop in the wrong way, similar to other body structures. One out of 20 people can have extra nipples. The latest record shows that the highest number of nipples a man has had is seven. However, these extra nipples are often purely cosmetic, resembling small pigmented moles that do not function like regular nipples.

Although male breasts do not develop, men can also experience breast cancer. About 0.5-1 percent of diagnosed breast cancer cases are in men. However, awareness among men about this disease is still very low, so it is usually only diagnosed when the cancer is in advanced stages.

This situation also requires men to pay attention to the health of their breasts. When a lump or a change in shape appears on the nipple, such as discharge or cracked skin, it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor to avoid the possibility of cancer.

Also read: Adolescents, the Body and Reproductive Health

"Males' nipples deserve the same amount of attention as females'," says Mosocova. However, this condition is unlikely to shift the focus or selective obsession of some people towards female breasts and nipples.