What is Nipple?
In its most general form, a nipple is a structure from which a fluid emanates. More specifically, it is the
projection on the breasts or udder of a mammal by which breast milk is delivered to a mother's young. In this sense, it is often called a teat, especially when referring to non-humans, and the medical term used to refer to it is papilla. The rubber mouthpiece of a baby bottle or pacifier may also be referred to as a "nipple" or a "teat". In many cultures, female nipples are considered an erogenous zone and it is considered a public indecency to uncover them in public.
What is Nipple pain?
Nipple pain can describe any discomfort in the nipple area and can result from mild physical surface abrasion from such activities as breastfeeding, engaging in physical activity (for example, exercise or jogging) without a bra, wearing a poorly fitted bra, or participating in any activity that produces friction on the skin of the breast.
Nipple pain can also be caused by specific disorders, particularly inflammatory disorders. Both mastitis (an infection and inflammation of the ducts of the breast) and breast abscess (a collection of pus located in a specific area) can result in nipple pain. These conditions are common in women who are breastfeeding.
A rare type of cancer, known as Paget’s disease of the breast, can result in inflammation and pain that is particularly localized to the nipple area.
Ordinary soreness from surface abrasions should clear up within a few days. Inflammatory conditions will need more attention. Seek prompt medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms: excessive cracking or open wounds on the surface of the nipple or areola; heat or redness in the nipple, breast tissues, or on the breast surface; nipple or breast pain on one side only; fever or chills; new, unusual, or changing lumps in the breast; nipple abscess or nipple discharge not related to breastfeeding, especially a brown or bloody discharge; or bleeding from the nipple.
A rare type of cancer, known as Paget’s disease of the breast, can result in inflammation and pain that is particularly localized to the nipple area.
Ordinary soreness from surface abrasions should clear up within a few days. Inflammatory conditions will need more attention. Seek prompt medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms: excessive cracking or open wounds on the surface of the nipple or areola; heat or redness in the nipple, breast tissues, or on the breast surface; nipple or breast pain on one side only; fever or chills; new, unusual, or changing lumps in the breast; nipple abscess or nipple discharge not related to breastfeeding, especially a brown or bloody discharge; or bleeding from the nipple.
Breast or nipple symptoms that may occur along with nipple pain
Nipple pain may accompany other symptoms affecting the nipple including:
- Bleeding from the nipple
- Breast lump
- Breast tenderness
- Change in the look and feel of the skin of the breast, such as dimpling or puckering
- Change in the size, shape or appearance of the breast
- Hardened area within the breast
- Nipple discharge
- Rash or sore on the breast or nipple; cracking or itching
- Redness, warmth or swelling
- Retracted (“caved in”) nipple
- Skin discoloration such as bruising
Symptoms that might indicate a serious condition
In some cases, nipple pain may occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious condition. For example, breast abscess can be a complication of mastitis and, left untreated, can spread into the bloodstream causing sepsis (a life-threatening bacterial blood infection) and potentially leading to organ failure.
Nipple piercing
A nipple piercing is a body piercing, centered usually at the base of the nipple. It can be pierced at any angle but is usually done horizontally or, less often, vertically. It is also possible to place multiple piercings on top of one another. Some people have noted that they can take up to a year and a half to heal fully. It is recommended that if stretching a nipple piercing, the piercee waits at least the healing time of their piercings between stretches.
History
Nipple piercing
The perforation of the nipple to apply jewelry has been practiced by various people throughout history. Male nipple piercing was reported to be done by the Karankawa Native Americans, female nipple piercing is practiced by the Kabyle people in Algeria.
Nipple-piercing was a fashion statement dating back to the 14th century and having a short-lived revival among society women during the Victorian period around 1890. However, the historian Lesley Hall has commented that these claims might be traced back to a few letters published in the magazine Society during 1899, which can be judged as erotic fantasies rather than descriptions of actual activity.
Male nipple piercings have become more popular in recent years.
In the late 1970s, the practice was revived again by Jim Ward and gained foothold in gay BDSM and leather subcultures. The mainstream popularity of the practice is partly due to celebrities who publicly displayed their piercings or confessed to have one in the 1990s, such as Tommy Lee, Corey Taylor and Lenny Kravitz. Nipple piercing has gained much popularity in recent years with many celebrities and fashion models having this type of piercing.
Stimulation of nipples
Stimulation of nipples is a common human sexual practice, either for itself or as part of other sexual activities. The practice may be performed upon, or by, people of any gender or sexual orientation. Breast and nipple stimulation of women are a near-universal aspect of human sexual activity, but stimulation of nipples of males is not as common.
The male or female breast, nipple and areola develop similarly in the foetus and during infancy. At puberty the male's breasts remain rudimentary but the female's develop further, mainly due to the presence of oestrogen and progesterone, and become more sensitive. All breasts have the same number of nerve endings no matter how large they are. Accordingly, smaller breasts are more sensitive while larger breasts may require more forceful stimulation.
The touching by one person of the breasts and nipples of another is normally an indicator of intimacy, and allowing breasts to be touched is an indication of either an emotional bond and trust between the individuals or, if unwelcome, of submission. Breasts, and especially the nipples, are highly erogenous zones, for both men and women, and have a heightened sensitivity, the stimulation of which may result in the production of erotic sensations or sexual excitement. The touching of the nipples can be a form of foreplay giving rise to the sexual arousal of the female and an erection of her nipples.
Erect nipples are the most prominent indicators of a female's sexual arousal, and the female's sexual partner may find their partner's arousal and erect nipples as their own erotic stimuli. Some people achieve their own sexual arousal by sucking on a female's nipple or by the sight of an erect nipple, including through clothing. The practice of an adult suckling on a female's breast is sometimes referred as erotic lactation, while a person who is sexually aroused by the sight of a female's breast may be a breast fetishist. A person may experience a spontaneous erection of the nipples, with all the associated physiological changes, as a result of exposure to erotic stimuli or as a reaction to cold.
Technique Stimulation of nipples
Nipples can be stimulated orally, digitally, manually or by the use of an object. Oral nipple stimulation involves a sex partner stimulating a person's nipples by licking, sucking, biting or blowing on the partner's nipples.Other ways of stimulating nipples include fondling or rubbing them with the hands or by using a soft object. Some people self-stimulate their nipples.
Physiological response
Stimulation of nipples may result in nipple erection due to the contraction of smooth muscle under the control of the autonomic nervous system and are a product of the pilomotor reflex which causes goose bumps. Nipple erection can also be caused by a mild tactile stimulation or as a response to cold temperature in both males and females.Nipple erection may also result during sexual arousal in females and males, or during breastfeeding. Both are caused by the release of oxytocin.
The stimulation of a woman's nipples promotes the production and release of oxytocin and prolactin.During the stimulation of the nipples, large amounts of oxytocin are released, which would normally prepare the breast for breastfeeding. Besides creating maternal feelings in a woman, it also decreases her anxiety, increases human bonding and trust.
The release of oxytocin can also result in a female's sexual arousal, with the resulting physiological effects including the erection of the nipples. An erection of the nipples makes them even more sensitive to touch. An orgasm by nipple stimulation can be achieved in some women. A 2011 study using magnetic resonance imaging has shown that the area of the sensory cortex in a woman's brain associated with the genitals, is aroused by stimulating her nipples.
Prolactin produces sexual gratification after sexual activity. Prolactin represses the effect of dopamine, which is responsible for sexual arousal,and is thought to cause the sexual refractory period following orgasm during which the individual (typically a male) does not desire any further sexual stimulation. During this period, the nipples can become extremely sensitive to touch and further stimulation can be painful. The amount of prolactin can be an indicator for the amount of sexual satisfaction and relaxation. Unusually high amounts are suspected to be responsible for impotence and loss of libido (see hyperprolactinemia symptoms).
Nipple-piercing was a fashion statement dating back to the 14th century and having a short-lived revival among society women during the Victorian period around 1890. However, the historian Lesley Hall has commented that these claims might be traced back to a few letters published in the magazine Society during 1899, which can be judged as erotic fantasies rather than descriptions of actual activity.
Male nipple piercings have become more popular in recent years.
In the late 1970s, the practice was revived again by Jim Ward and gained foothold in gay BDSM and leather subcultures. The mainstream popularity of the practice is partly due to celebrities who publicly displayed their piercings or confessed to have one in the 1990s, such as Tommy Lee, Corey Taylor and Lenny Kravitz. Nipple piercing has gained much popularity in recent years with many celebrities and fashion models having this type of piercing.
Stimulation of nipples
Stimulation of nipples is a common human sexual practice, either for itself or as part of other sexual activities. The practice may be performed upon, or by, people of any gender or sexual orientation. Breast and nipple stimulation of women are a near-universal aspect of human sexual activity, but stimulation of nipples of males is not as common.
The male or female breast, nipple and areola develop similarly in the foetus and during infancy. At puberty the male's breasts remain rudimentary but the female's develop further, mainly due to the presence of oestrogen and progesterone, and become more sensitive. All breasts have the same number of nerve endings no matter how large they are. Accordingly, smaller breasts are more sensitive while larger breasts may require more forceful stimulation.
The touching by one person of the breasts and nipples of another is normally an indicator of intimacy, and allowing breasts to be touched is an indication of either an emotional bond and trust between the individuals or, if unwelcome, of submission. Breasts, and especially the nipples, are highly erogenous zones, for both men and women, and have a heightened sensitivity, the stimulation of which may result in the production of erotic sensations or sexual excitement. The touching of the nipples can be a form of foreplay giving rise to the sexual arousal of the female and an erection of her nipples.
Erect nipples are the most prominent indicators of a female's sexual arousal, and the female's sexual partner may find their partner's arousal and erect nipples as their own erotic stimuli. Some people achieve their own sexual arousal by sucking on a female's nipple or by the sight of an erect nipple, including through clothing. The practice of an adult suckling on a female's breast is sometimes referred as erotic lactation, while a person who is sexually aroused by the sight of a female's breast may be a breast fetishist. A person may experience a spontaneous erection of the nipples, with all the associated physiological changes, as a result of exposure to erotic stimuli or as a reaction to cold.
Technique Stimulation of nipples
Nipples can be stimulated orally, digitally, manually or by the use of an object. Oral nipple stimulation involves a sex partner stimulating a person's nipples by licking, sucking, biting or blowing on the partner's nipples.Other ways of stimulating nipples include fondling or rubbing them with the hands or by using a soft object. Some people self-stimulate their nipples.
Physiological response
Stimulation of nipples may result in nipple erection due to the contraction of smooth muscle under the control of the autonomic nervous system and are a product of the pilomotor reflex which causes goose bumps. Nipple erection can also be caused by a mild tactile stimulation or as a response to cold temperature in both males and females.Nipple erection may also result during sexual arousal in females and males, or during breastfeeding. Both are caused by the release of oxytocin.
The stimulation of a woman's nipples promotes the production and release of oxytocin and prolactin.During the stimulation of the nipples, large amounts of oxytocin are released, which would normally prepare the breast for breastfeeding. Besides creating maternal feelings in a woman, it also decreases her anxiety, increases human bonding and trust.
The release of oxytocin can also result in a female's sexual arousal, with the resulting physiological effects including the erection of the nipples. An erection of the nipples makes them even more sensitive to touch. An orgasm by nipple stimulation can be achieved in some women. A 2011 study using magnetic resonance imaging has shown that the area of the sensory cortex in a woman's brain associated with the genitals, is aroused by stimulating her nipples.
Prolactin produces sexual gratification after sexual activity. Prolactin represses the effect of dopamine, which is responsible for sexual arousal,and is thought to cause the sexual refractory period following orgasm during which the individual (typically a male) does not desire any further sexual stimulation. During this period, the nipples can become extremely sensitive to touch and further stimulation can be painful. The amount of prolactin can be an indicator for the amount of sexual satisfaction and relaxation. Unusually high amounts are suspected to be responsible for impotence and loss of libido (see hyperprolactinemia symptoms).
