11 Fun Facts About Breasts

Lovelies:

This week, an interesting infographic, "Things You Should Know About Breasts (opens in new tab)" (created by an organization called Online Schools (opens in new tab) ) is making the rounds on the web. It's a groovy little illustration of fun facts about the all-important mammary organs.

I've picked out my favorite facts about breasts, in general--and have added a few scintillating details about my own breasts, in particular.

I'm wondering: Which one surprises YOU the most? Is there one that isn't on my list or in the graphic that you think should be known?

1) The average boobie weighs 1.1 lbs and contains 4-5% of the body's fat.

2) The breasts swell up and get erect when aroused--just like the penis!

3) When erect, the average nipple is slightly taller than 5 stacked quarters.

I decided to see how I measure up last night, with some help from my laundry coinage. My nipple seems to be closer to the height of *4* quarters when it's happy. I feel inadequate!

4) The average breast size in America is currently a 36C, although 15 years ago it was a 34B. (Does anyone know what the increase is ascribed to? I do ... )

Full disclosure, if not quite full pictorial exposure: I'm a size 32B-34B. I usually wear Victoria's Secret stuff--though I got such surprisingly obnoxious service the last time I was in there that it turned me off. The one Maidenform (opens in new tab) bra I have--white and strapless--is fantastic. My very favorite bra, however, is an unadorned black one made by Frederick's of Hollywood (opens in new tab)--the cup+strap combo is simple, sleek, elegant; it's the one that looks most attractive on me. I own one very porn-star red bra, purchased for me by my friend Sam, to encourage me to wear his fireman's outfit on Halloween with no shirt--just a bra and suspenders. I declined.

5) In 2008, there were more than 300,000 breast enhancement surgeries performed in the U.S.

6) During the same year, there were nearly 18,000 breast reductions performed ... ON MEN.

7) In the early days of surgical breast augmentation, surgeons used implants made from a number of peculiar ingredients--including ox cartilage, glass balls, polyester and ground rubber--with disastrous results.

8) Did you know that there is a size 38KKK bra? (It's worn by the woman with the world's largest implants.)

9) It's legal for women to walk around showing off their breasts in Hawaii, Texas, Ohio, New York and Maine--though they can still be picked up on public nuisance laws.

I went topless in public once, on a beach in Europe--where people go topless sea-side as casually as people here wear pants to work. I was by myself, and sitting in a chair with an umbrella over it. It felt really nice to pull down my wet, clammy suit and have the sun all over my body. But after maybe 10 minutes, I felt too self-conscious--even though no one was looking at me--so I put my t-shirt on.

10) Breast milk tastes sweeter than cow's milk. (And apparently some grown-up like to drink it: Salon.com recently ran an article about a lactating oman who let her boyfriend drink her breast milk (opens in new tab).)

11) Smokers will have saggier boobs than non-smokers, because the chemicals in cigarettes break down the body's elastin.

xxx