7 Legit Things That Happen To Your Boobs When You Stop Having Sex

Sex can impact our bodies in endless ways you wouldn't even imagine. Whether it's our mood, our fitness or our health, everything gets involved. And our breasts are part of that party. If you don't get any for a while, your boobs are going to feel the impact.

"There are scores of women not having sex and their breasts look just fine; however, not having sex does cause you to miss out on a lot of the pros that breasts bring to the table during a sexual encounter: i.e., the increase in blood flow during stimulation not only causes the breasts to become more engorged, but nipple stimulation, aids in achieving orgasm!" says Dr. Angela, an OB/GYN.

With that, here are seven things that happen to your boobs when you stop having sex.

1. Your ability to have a nipple orgasm decreases.

Yes, nipple orgasms are possible. But refraining from getting freaky can actually decrease your chances of having one.

"Some lucky women can achieve orgasm through breast stimulation and, like all such skills, needs practice to continue reaching orgasm. If they stop having sex, they might not remember how to find the exact type of stimulation in what exact order was necessary for them to achieve orgasm through nipple stimulation," says Dr. Alyse Kelly-Jones, an OB/GYN.

2. They lose their firmness.

Like everything else, if you don’t use them, you lose them. And what does it mean to lose them?

"NOT that they literally fall off your chest, but that they may lose their firmness, tone, buoyancy. Lets think about this: when else, other than sex, do your breasts get a helluva workout?" asks Dr. Angela. "You know what I'm talking about: the massaging, the sucking, the gnawing, the kneading? I'm an exercise person and have to tell you that my breasts aren't getting nearly the sort of workout that they get during a sexual encounter." 

3. They may get smaller.

"Your breast volume increase during sexual arousal because blood flow increases to the breast. Just like a penis needs regular blood flow to become erect and engorged, so does the breast. Without breast stimulation, some of these arterial pathways can become atrophic and blocked. Once they are blocked, you can't get them back," says Dr. Kelly-Jones.

You don't want your boobs shrinking, do you?

4. You may not feel as connected to your partner.

"When you stimulate the nipple, you release oxytocin, which is our bonding hormone. Some call it the cuddling hormone. We can all relate to cuddling being a very feel good sensation, especially after an amazing nipple orgasm," says Dr. Kelly-Jones.

That said, the mind-body connection is strong.

"A woman who has not been sexually active for quite some time may have difficulty feeling comfortable with her partner, which in turn will impact her ability to feel relaxed and aroused," says Lisa Agustines, assistant chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the  Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center in Harbor City, CA.

5. Breastfeeding can be even more uncomfortable.

It's also important to know that breastfeeding and lactation can impact a woman's comfort with sex, both psychologically and physically.

"While there is nothing wrong with nipple discharge or leaking during sex, many people are uncomfortable with it," says Dr. Agustines. "Physically, a woman's vaginal tissue can become thin and dry during lactation, causing discomfort during sex. Even after lactation has ceased, it may take as long as 12 to 24 months for her to return to normal lubrication."

6. Your risk of breast cancer increases.

It's crazy, but true. One study found that women who had sex more than once per month had a lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who were less sexually active.

7. Your mood may change.

Remember that oxytocin? It's the "feel good" hormone. When your nipples stop getting stimulated, your stress goes up and your good feelings go down.