So I heard about certain "exercises"...

[Firelight]

Exercises for people on HRT. Basically, what I was told is that you should press and rub in the direction of the middle of your chest in order to promote breast growth during HRT.

It sounds like a silly superstition, but then I started wondering "Could that actually work?"

Has anyone heard of this? I'll see if I can track down the article.

[imaz]

Probably just tones your pectoral muscles IMO... Once heard you are meant to massage inwards and upwards, that's clockwise for your right breast and anti-clockwise for the left one more than 100 times a day!

I tried it a couple of years ago and apart from being really hard work, my arms were exhausted by 100 times!, it gave me sore breasts.

Did seem to have some effect though, although probably it was just muscular.

[Jeannette]

What Imaz said. Acupressure's known to increase the muscles underneath your breasts but not the actual breast tissue & that can give the appearance of bigger breasts. 

[TamTam]

Although I'd think not enough to make any sort of difference worth the amount of time and belief put into it.  These wives' tales have been around forever, all girls everywhere hope they're true but they really aren't.

I don't see how it could hurt, though.  But I think when they're growing they might hurt way too much for you to be able to massage that hard.

[imaz]

I tried massaging with Estrogel for a couple of months in the manner I outlined above. I think it had some effect, certainly improved muscle tone and maybe that improved shape etc...

I now remember that one is meant to aim for 350 of those rotations a day, never got beyond 130 myself as ones arms give out which again makes me think it's muscle related.

I'd been on HRT for over 15 years at the time so it can't have been growth, was just a general soreness and not that hitting oneself on a door frame pain that takes one's breath away!

[Starr]

I'd have to agree that the exercises are all old wives' tales. I do have a tip to pass along, although it's not so much about growth as how to make sure you don't inhibit growth. I strongly suggest not sleeping on either your side or your stomach. Don't "squish" them. Sleeping on your breasts as they are growing seems to affect tissue development. I speak from personal experience on this.

[Hannah]

The first thing I did when I read this, actually I wasn't even done yet, was reach up under my top.
Beneficial or not, like, ouch!

I once saw something about using a breast pump to encourage growth too, and before hrt it seemed like a clever idea, but lord now I think that would be torture.

[sd]

My understanding was that it promoted blood circulation more than anything else. The blood obviously bringing nutrients and estrogen needed for growth.