5 reasons why you may have uneven breasts (and why it’s completely normal)

But did you know, according to the University of Portsmouth, that up to 94% of women in the UK will have one breast bigger than the other at some stage in their life?

94% of women in the UK will have one breast bigger than the other

Breast asymmetry, when one breast differs in size and/or shape to the other, can vary from barely noticeable to significant. Not only do size differences potentially lead to back, neck and shoulder pain, but the effects can also be emotional with many women finding it affects their confidence and self-esteem.

At Royce we love to celebrate all women in their beautiful, individual glory (‘wonky’ boobs an’ all) which is why we’ve teamed up with Evenly. This female-led company has created the Bra Balancer™ – a silicone breast prosthetic designed to be popped into a bra to even out breast size. These bra inserts are available in three thicknesses: the thinnest for those with up to one cup size difference between their boobs, up to the thickest for women experiencing a difference of three cup sizes.

Pockets can be added to most Royce bras

An Evenly Bra Balancer can be easily worn with all Royce bras and with added confidence thanks to our pocket-adding service. All Royce post-surgery bras come with pockets, designed to hold a prosthesis, as standard but did you know that you can request pockets to be added to many of our styles? Whether you’re wearing a Bra Balancer in a comfort bra on a night out, or your teenage daughter is wearing one in a sports bra for PE, slipping a Bra Balancer into a pocket provides extra reassurance that it will stay firmly in place!

It all started somewhere a little surprising – in shoes. Having one foot slightly bigger than the other, Kate Taylor (founder of Evenly) struggled for years to find pairs of shoes that fitted perfectly. After considering a business in selling mismatched-sized shoes, Kate actually found more women had a problem with mismatched boob sizes. After more in-depth research, trials and adjustments, the Evenly Bra Balancer was born.

Evenly Bra Balancer™

Kate understands that the need for a breast asymmetry product goes beyond the physical – it’s the emotional impact too. Evenly’s testimonials are full of women praising the product, not just for how it looks but for how it makes them feel – ‘confidence’ is one of the most frequent words you’ll read and is felt by teenagers to those surviving breast cancer, and everywhere in between. Some claim that wearing one has simply been life-changing.

It was this realisation that inspired Kate to create a taboo-busting community of women – The Uneven Titty Committee™ – where anyone experiencing breast asymmetry can find sisterly encouragement and mutual support.

There are several reasons as to why a woman may have breast asymmetry – if you’re not born with it (which can be down to congenital conditions such as Poland Syndrome) you’re likely to face it at some stage in your life, and that’s often thanks to your friend and mine: hormones.

Puberty

We’ve all been through it, and if you’re the mother of a daughter you’ll know all about those seismic physical changes your girl has or will face. Some girls may be excited about growing up, some may be nervous, but for all it’s a time when they need a bit of love, support and advice. Honest conversations about why their breasts may be growing unevenly will help reassure them and encourage a positive attitude to their own body image. Showing them our guide to choosing the right teen (or ‘first’) bra will also help them understand their changing body shape.

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Periods

Decades of periods mean we’re more than familiar with how much our boobs can fluctuate in shape and size from month to month, and even week to week! Some women will experience more pronounced fluctuations than others but the chances are, many of you will have had one of those months when one boob seems to either bulge over or shrink inside the cup of that (usually) perfectly fitted bra.

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The Baby Years

This time, uneven breasts are down to the female body coming into its own to literally grow and feed another human being. The rollercoaster of hormones during pregnancy, plus fat storage and milk production for when baby is here, often leads to wonky boobs. And it doesn’t take a genius to work out how likely breast asymmetry is when you’re breastfeeding (particularly if the little one develops an illogical preference for one boob over the other…).

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Perimenopause and menopause

It’s those hormones again. As oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate during perimenopause and start to decline with menopause, breasts can feel tender, develop lumps and change shape. Muscle-mass starts to deteriorate so breasts may sag, or menopausal weight gain may result in bigger boobs. Whatever path your menopausal journey takes, you may discover that uneven breasts are coming along for the ride.

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Breast Surgery

Possibly the most expected cause of breast asymmetry is after breast or chest surgery – either due to breast cancer (for which other treatments such as radiotherapy can also lead to unevenness) and other conditions. Women facing mastectomies, lumpectomies, therapeutic mammoplasties or reconstructions should ensure that getting advice on choosing and wearing the right post-surgery bra is all part of their care plan. Depending on the after-effect of your treatment, you may want to consider a prosthesis to even out the appearance of your boobs.

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