Finding the Perfect Bra Size

The breasts, regardless of size, require support. Brassieres do just that. A well-fitting brassiere can provide the necessary support to take tension off the breasts. On the other hand, ill-fitting brassieres can pinch some of the nerves in the shoulders and cut off some circulation to the spine. At other times, the bra band can inch up on the back, causing annoying discomfort.

Wearing ill-fitting bra can cause pain in the upper back, neck, shoulders and arms, headaches, breast pain, breathing problems and skin abrasions or infections under the breast. There are several easily identifiable signs that the bra you’re wearing does not fit.

• Breast tissue are pushed out over the top of the cups. All of the breast tissue should be contained within the cup of the bra. Try a bra with a larger cup.

• The bra band rides up in the back. Try a bra with a smaller band. To gauge whether the band size is correct, two fingers should fit under the bra in the back. If more than two fingers can fit under the band, the bra is too large.

• The center of the bra in the front or the underwire in an underwire bra does not lie flat against the breast bone. The center of the bra should lie against the skin, and the cup should contain all of the breast tissue. Try a bra with a larger cup.

• The cups are wrinkled. Stretchy fabrics mold to the shape of the breast and can sometimes provide a better fit and nice support. Try a bra with a smaller cup size.

To determine the correct bra size for you, just follow these easy steps:

1. Measure your band size. Wrap a tape measure snugly around the breasts and under the arms to determine the circumference in inches. If you measure an odd number, add one inch to get an even number.

2. Verify your band size. Measure the circumference just underneath the breasts. In this case, add five inches. Both measurements for Steps 1 and 2 should be about equal.

3. Determine your cup size. Measure loosely around the fullest part of the breasts, and subtract your band size from this number. The difference is your cup size: 0 = AA; 1 = A; 2 = B; 3 = C; 4 = D; 5 = DD.

Take note that there are some bra sizes that are relatively equivalent. Thus it is good to try on different sizes for the perfect fit. Remember too that your breast size tends to change over time. A lot of things may cause your breasts to change shapes and sizes, such as pregnancy, menopause, and weight gain or loss. So you should re-measure at least every two years.