Nipples
Hear this word Nipples
Also known as: Nips, nippies
Image description: An illustration of nipples on a person's chest.
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What Is It?
Nipples are a sensitive part of the breast or chest that may be raised, flat, or slightly indented. People’s nipples can be different sizes.
If a person’s body creates breast milk to feed a baby, the breast milk will leave the body from the nipples.
Some people like when their nipples are touched, and some people do not.
An Example
When it’s cold outside, Aaron notices that their nipples get hard and stick out. When Aaron and their partner Layla are sexually aroused, their nipples get hard and stick out, too.
What to Know
Every glossary word connects to different parts of the Sexuality Wheel. Explore the information below to learn more.
- People receive different messages about which nipples are okay and which must be hidden. But all nipples are natural, even if usually they are covered up with clothes.
- When a pregnant person has a baby, their body may begin to create breast milk to feed the baby. The baby drinks the breastmilk out of the nipples.
- If a person is breastfeeding and their nipples become sore, they can check the baby’s latch on the nipple with the help of a lactation consultant. Rubbing fresh breast milk on the nipple and letting the nipple dry after each feeding can also help reduce soreness.
Think about
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What did you learn about nipples?
To learn more about the body, explore websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub or visit other parts of Your Sexual Health Toolkit like our online game, Our Stories, Our Journeys: A Sexual Health Game!
What questions do you have?
Write down or record an audio note with any questions you have to ask someone you trust. You may also find answers to your questions by using websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub.