There are currently no studies that show any health benefits either for wearing a bra or going braless.
Some of the common myths you’ve heard may be a result of one person’s experience that became an urban legend.
Some might just seem logical but actually have never been backed up.
But it’s still worth clearing up some pervasive myths about bras, or lack of them.
Myth 1: Underwire causes breast cancer
I first heard the myth that wearing a bra with underwire can cause breast cancer when I was still too young to wear a bra.
The reasoning behind this myth is that the underwire blocks your lymphatic fluid and causes you to develop a tumor.
There are no academic studies that show a connection between developing breast cancer and wearing a bra with wires.
Let’s put this myth to rest, as fear and falsity aren’t really an empowering way to start going braless.
Myth 2: Bras cause breasts to sag
A few years ago, a viral internet story proclaimed that the French scientist Jean-Denis Rouillon had concluded a 15-year study that found that women who wore bras were more likely to develop saggy breasts.
However, there are many important things to consider about this study.
Rouillon hadn’t published these findings at the time the story went viral..
The media picked it up from an interview he did about his preliminary findings with a local radio station in France.
Studies that haven’t been published in peer-reviewed medical journals are considered less credible.
They haven’t been reviewed by other experts in the field to make sure the results are accurate.
It’s also important to note that of the women who were interviewed (the number of which fluctuated from 100 to over 300, depending on the media outlet reporting the story), were all under 35 years old.
Meaning that most of them probably hadn’t even started experiencing the natural loss of collagen and skin elasticity that comes with age.
The study also didn’t seem to be following up with these women over time to see if their breast tissue had changed since their first interview.
Myth 3: Going braless means you’re promiscuous
Some people say that when they first leave the house without a bra, they’re worried they’ll be sending a message to passerby that they’re “loose” or “slutty.”
This is just a holdover of beliefs that a woman’s existence is for the male gaze.
How you dress is an expression of your personality, not an interpretation of someone who hasn’t taken the time to get to know you.
Just like blond hair isn’t representative of intelligence, clothing doesn’t send a secondary message (except, maybe, if there’s actually words on them).
Myth 4: Going braless will help your breasts grow bigger
There’s no scientific research about bras making breasts bigger, despite all of the wild theories.
Your boobs can grow and shrink due to diet and exercise.
If you’re hoping dropping your bra will help you increase in cup size, there are faster ways to make your breasts appear perkier.
Culled from healthline.com