BREAST PAIN: THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-FITTING BRA
If you develop breast pain for which there is no obvious cause, and you cannot detect any swelling in the breast, it may first be worth checking that you are wearing a correctly fitting bra. Specialists see many women whose bras are too small or too large and are causing them considerable discomfort or failing to provide support for their breasts. Good lingerie departments in large department stores and specialist shops have trained staff who will measure you for the right size of bra, and many of whom have experience in assisting women to find well-fitting bras following breast surgery. Bras of sizes outside the normal manufactured range which cannot be ordered by shops can be specially made. A breast care nurse, consultant, or someone in the appliance department at your local hospital should be able to give you advice and information about where to obtain these. After gaining or losing weight, you will need a larger or smaller bra, but many women continue to wear the same size for many years, even though their dress size may have altered.
How to measure yourself for a bra
It is quite simple to measure yourself for a bra if you prefer not to be measured by someone else, or if you want to check that the bra you are wearing is right for you.
1 First, with your bra removed, measure around your back and across your ribs, with the tape measure passing under your bust. If the measurement (in inches) is an even number, add 4 to obtain your bra size. If the measurement is uneven, add 5.
For example:
actual measurement = 31 inches
add 5 (as this is an uneven number) = 36. (1)
Therefore, your correct bra size is 36 inches.
2 Next, measure from the centre of your spine, under your arm and across the fullest part of one breast to the bone between your breasts. This gives a more accurate figure than measuring around your back and across both breasts. (You may need to ask someone to do this for you.) Double the number of inches obtained to give the full measurement. Then take away your bra size (measurement (1) above), and use the chart below to find your cup size.
For example:
measurement of half body = 20 inches
double this (20 x 2) = 40 inches
subtract bra size (1) = 40-36 = 4 inches (2).
Measurement (2) above Cup size
1 inch A
2 inches Â
3 inches Ñ
4 inches D
Therefore, in the example given above, the correct bra size is 36D.
This method is useful as a guide when buying a bra. However, sizes vary slightly amongst the different manufacturers, and the only way to be sure you get a well-fitting bra is to try some on.
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