I'm nearly at a year of transition but I'm kind of wondering. Since I still have my breast buds, and being a 36D (not sure that's relevant), I'm like wondering at what point is a breast bud big enough to not be considered a breast bud anymore? They are still pretty firm, but I wonder sometimes if there is a correlation between breast size and the breast bud size. Normally I don't really read about them getting really big, like normally breast buds, from what I've read, usually only get to about almond to quarter size, and I'm sitting over here with breast buds that are both basically 3 inches in diameter. I don't know if that's normal or not, or if that means I'm going to have a very heavy chest when I'm done developing, but just something I'm really curious about.

  You may be confusing Buds with breast tissue that has grown from them. Breast tissue is the firm lumpy tissue inside the breast similar to cottage cheese. It is that and fat that are the main components to a breast. Milk glands would be the 3rd major component and without progesterone it does not typically develop.

  Hugs,
  Jeanette

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 27, 2017, 02:51:17 PM
  You may be confusing Buds with breast tissue that has grown from them. Breast tissue is the firm lumpy tissue inside the breast similar to cottage cheese. It is that and fat that are the main components to a breast. Milk ducts would be the 3rd major component and without progesterone it does not typically develop.

  Hugs,
  Jeanette

I've been on progesterone for about 6 months at this point. XD maybe I am confusing the two. I've always been told that the buds basically grow, and then they soften up and sort of just stop being a firm mass. But yeah, it goes beyond my areola, it's firmer than cottage cheese though, but sort of feels like it in a sense, but like so sounds like it's beyond the breast bud stage at this point and is mainly just breast tissue that's just developing o.o firm but developing o.o and slowly rounding XD

   Have you consulted the Tanner stages. They are meant for assessing breast/puberty development.  You can find them easily with google as you can breast anatomy diagrams.

  Hugs,
    Jeanette

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 27, 2017, 03:14:32 PM
   Have you consulted the Tanner stages. They are meant for assessing breast/puberty development.  You can find them easily with google as you can breast anatomy diagrams.

  Hugs,
    Jeanette

I have consulted the tanner stages. The issue with the tanner stages is that they are more about the visual appearance outside, and not everyone conforms to the scale. Looks at the breast anatomy, internally it looks like it's a tanner stage 3 or between a stage 3 and 4. Though with the scale some drawings show tanner 3 being a lot more round, others show tanner 3 not being as round. I think I'm bordering on tanner stage 4. But like from what it sounds like you're saying, it sounds like it's beyond breast buds, especially when you consider I fill out a D cup bra, even if I' still filling and rounding out.

  Yes that was my guess too from the information you related. I'd very much believe you are at the end game.

Congrats!!!

  Hugs,
  Jeanette

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 27, 2017, 03:25:33 PM
  Yes that was my guess too from the information you related. I'd very much believe you are at the end game.

Congrats!!!

  Hugs,
  Jeanette

I don't know if I'd say I'm at the end game lol. There is still actually being stage 4 and then getting to stage 5 lol. And then there is the next 3 - 4 years of development I have left XD I'm only just now getting to a year of transition so the end game for my breasts is still really far off o.o

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 27, 2017, 02:51:17 PMBreast tissue is the firm lumpy tissue inside the breast similar to cottage cheese. It is that and fat that are the main components to a breast. Milk ducts would be the 3rd major component and without progesterone it does not typically develop.

In the breast, there is glandular tissue made up of ducts (mainly stimulated by estrogen, not progesterone) and lobules/alveoli mainly stimulated by progesterone and prolactin. The ducts are meant to deliver the milk to the nipple's surface while the lobules/alveoli make up the milk glands that produce milk. Finally, the remainder of the breast is composed of muscle, connective tissue, water and fat.

What we call buds is the beginning of the development of glandular tissue.

   Oh okay, yes there is a stage 5 and as I understand it not many of us will actually get to 5. And yes there is more growing to be done. But you have the goal in sight dear.  My gosh you're a "D" !! I would be happy if i could fill my "A" properly which I can't   I suppose with only almost 3 months in I should be happy with what I do have.

  Hugs and enjoy,
   Jeanette

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 27, 2017, 03:36:17 PMthere is a stage 5 and as I understand it not many of us will actually get to 5.

Some contend that progesterone helps us reach Tanner Stage 5. Pregnancy with high levels of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin will usually help women reach Tanner 5 stage.

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 27, 2017, 03:36:17 PM
   Oh okay, yes there is a stage 5 and as I understand it not many of us will actually get to 5. And yes there is more growing to be done. But you have the goal in sight dear.  My gosh you're a "D" !! I would be happy if i could fill my "A" properly which I can't   I suppose with only almost 3 months in I should be happy with what I do have.

  Hugs and enjoy,
   Jeanette

I think I might get to stage 5  because I started at 19, but yeah most don't. And well my family is typically an E cup, at least in the bra size I wear, so I still have like 2 - 3 cups to go to get to their size. But yeah I'm super happy I'm a D ^_^ . I just kind of try to stay realistic. Like I'm happy but at the same time I know I still have a lot of breast development ahead of me in the next few years along with other body changes, so it's just a thing I'm curious about.

Quote from: KayXo on February 27, 2017, 03:38:26 PM
Some contend that progesterone helps us reach Tanner Stage 5. Pregnancy with high levels of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin will usually help women reach Tanner 5 stage.

That's true. I think Progesterone has certainly helped me with my development. I know that at 6 months my levels were are normal levels, and my prolactin I want to say was 11ng/dl I think though it may have been slightly higher, but I'll get my blood test results in two weeks when I see my doctor who is also doing a breast exam.

Quote from: KayXo on February 27, 2017, 03:38:26 PM
. Pregnancy with high levels of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin will usually help women reach Tanner 5 stage.

  And how does that relate to us trans-women? My statement that "not many of us will actually get to 5" still holds true.

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 27, 2017, 03:56:58 PM
  And how does that relate to us trans-women? My statement that "not many of us will actually get to 5" still holds true.

I believe that the statement relates because technically you could undergo a hormone regimen that induces lactation which can sometimes bring about tanner 5 breasts, however the few who do reach tanner stage 5 tend to not need those high levels, so idk. I'm just happy I have a good shot at hitting stage 5.

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 27, 2017, 03:56:58 PMAnd how does that relate to us trans-women? My statement that "not many of us will actually get to 5" still holds true.

I mentioned pregnancy just as on the side information for anyone who might be interested. That's all.

As I stated earlier, some have found that by prescribing progesterone or a progestogen to transwomen, tanner 5 could be reached and maybe the reason not many of us reach this stage is because we aren't prescribed this hormone often enough or in the doses needed to make a difference.

I am on injections where my estradiol levels (and prolactin levels) are typical of first term pregnancy levels. I also take a good amount of progesterone. Small breasts, but tanner 5, I think. I don't lactate, nor did I ever lactate.