Summary
A Facebook user made a post stating that abortion, breastfeeding, and genetics are causes of fallen breasts. Breast sagging is primarily caused by factors like pregnancy, ageing, smoking, and genetics, while breastfeeding and abortion do not directly cause it.
Claim:
On April 8, 2025, every day, Everyday with Irene, posted on Facebook that abortion, breastfeeding, and genetics caused fallen breasts. However, she highlighted that genetics is a factor because some women have not breastfed or had abortions, but have saggy breasts. The post currently has 56k likes, 2k comments, and 383 shares. To safeguard against body shaming and beauty standards, NFM sought to fact-check the information.
NFM Checks:
Sagging breasts, medically known as breast ptosis, is the natural drooping or downward shift of the breasts over time. It happens when the skin, fat, and connective tissues that support the breasts lose their firmness and elasticity. Multiple factors increase the possibility of sagging breasts, such as smoking, decreased skin elasticity, and age. However, the major causes of sagging breasts are the breakdown of the mammary glands, a decrease in the elasticity of the skin, macromastia (enlarged breasts), menopause, pregnancy, weakened breast ligaments, called Cooper’s ligaments, and weight loss.
The breast sagging occurs as the breast tissue shrinks, making the breasts appear smaller and less full. As estrogen (a hormone that plays a key role in the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sexual characteristics) decreases, the connective tissue that supports the breasts becomes less elastic, which causes the sagging.
The size of a woman’s breasts and the area of the ligaments that suspend them affect the gravitational pull. People with small breasts, in general, don’t experience significant sagging. As we age, the skin loses elasticity, which can lead to sagging and significant weight gain. Loss can stretch and damage the elasticity of breast tissue. Some individuals are genetically predisposed to more sagging breasts. As stated earlier, smoking reduces skin elasticity, which can contribute to sagging.
Now, while some women experience breast changes after abortion, including tenderness and engorgement, there is no evidence to suggest that abortion directly causes breast sagging. Breast sagging is more commonly associated with factors like pregnancy, ageing, weight fluctuations, and genetics. After an abortion, a woman may experience temporary breast changes like tenderness, swelling, or engorgement due to hormonal fluctuations.
According to research by Livescience, a 2007 study found a significant effect on sagging breasts. Age, smoking, and the number of pregnancies a woman had did contribute to the shape of their breasts, according to University of Kentucky plastic surgeon and researcher Brian Rinker. The older a woman is and the more pregnancies she’s had, the more her breasts are likely to shrink. Additionally, the research also states there is no scientific evidence linking abortion to breast sagging.
NFM further consulted a medical expert, Ms Angela Iwendi, who explained that the formation of milk by estrogen occurs when abortion is carried out. This can lead to sagging of the breast, especially in those with large breasts. However, she says it depends on the stage of the pregnancy before it was terminated. If the pregnancy is in an early stage, 1 or 2 months, it has a lower chance of sagging, but from the 3rd month, when pregnancy is aborted, it can have an effect. On the same vein, breastfeeding does not directly cause breast sagging. She also agreed that genetics is a contributor to sagging breasts.
The misconception that breastfeeding causes breast sagging can perpetuate societal pressures on women to prioritise physical appearance over natural maternal functions. Breast sagging due to breastfeeding varies in women and does not directly cause breast sagging. This belief may discourage women from breastfeeding, despite its well-documented health benefits for both mother and child. By challenging these myths, we support women’s autonomy in making informed choices about their bodies without undue influence from societal beauty standards.
Social Media Users React
The claims by Everyday with Irene have also generated various arguments online, with many Facebook users disagreeing based on their experiences.
“There are some breasts that don’t fall even after breastfeeding. I have three kids; if I were single, no one would know that I breastfeed three kids,” Chi Chi Michelle commented.
“It’s gravity in action. No breast will stand forever. The more they grow, the more they fall and elongate,” Nasaha za Maisha quoted.
“The breastfeeding aspect isn’t entirely true; one of my aunts with three kids still has perky breasts. Those wey get fallen breast just get am jor,” Alero French responded.
Conclusion:
Breast sagging is influenced by factors such as pregnancy, age, smoking, and genetics. Breastfeeding and abortion are not causative factors. Dispelling myths surrounding these topics empowers women to make health decisions based on accurate information, free from societal misconceptions.
Naija Feminists Media is committed to fighting gendered disinformation and misinformation that concerns women.
