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Nipples are fascinating and enigmatic. Nearly everyone has them, and for many of us, they were the first source of sustenance in life, yet they remain a subject of taboo. How much do we truly understand about nipples? The answer might just astonish you.
10. No Nipples, Ma!
We’re so used to seeing nipples on people’s chests that we rarely think about what life would be like without them. Yet, for those with athelia, a rare genetic condition, the absence of nipples is a reality. People affected by this condition are born with either no nipples at all or just one.
Athelia can be harmless on its own, but for many individuals, it’s a sign of an underlying medical condition such as ectodermal dysplasia (ED) or Yunis-Varon syndrome (YVS). ED is a genetic disorder that can impact the development and function of teeth, hair, nails, and sweat glands. Approximately 7,000 cases have been diagnosed globally.
Those affected by YVS face even greater challenges. Along with the ectodermal issues seen in ED, YVS also disrupts the skeletal system, respiratory function, and the heart. First identified in the 1980s, fewer than 15 cases have been documented since then. While individuals with ED can lead relatively normal lives with proper care, many with YVS do not survive beyond infancy.
9. Artificial Nipples
For those who aren’t aware, wooden peg legs and iron hooks are not the only prosthetics on the market. If you’re looking to enhance your nipples, there’s a wide range of options available. However, nipple prostheses were designed for a much more meaningful purpose than pirate attire: the emotional and psychological support of breast cancer survivors.
The most effective method to eliminate breast cancer and prevent its recurrence is a procedure known as mastectomy, which involves the complete or partial removal of one or both breasts, often resulting in the loss of nipples. Women who undergo mastectomies have been found to experience significant emotional distress after losing their breasts and nipples, including a decrease in sexual desire. Prostheses are an affordable, risk-free alternative to costly, painful reconstruction for these women, and their use has increased in popularity in recent years. Since stress can be harmful to the healing process and might even stimulate cancer cell growth, fake nipples could be a lifesaver.
8. Nipple Cosmetics
Japan is known for its eccentric subcultures and fashion trends, and one of the latest is a fascination with pink nipples. Because permanent methods for changing nipple color, like tattoos, can be painful and expensive, some people have turned to nipple makeup. The added benefit is that users can choose from a variety of colors to match their preferences or even their mood. With nipple makeup, you could change your nipple color every day, just like regular makeup for your face.
But Japan is not the only place with nipple cosmetics—and they weren’t even the first to create them. The pursuit of perfectly plump and rosy nipples goes back centuries, all the way to the Renaissance. During the age of chivalry and romance, Venetian courtiers had a few tricks to impress their knights in shining armor. One of these tricks was called pezzuola di Levante, a small piece of cloth dyed with pigment, used to add a lovely reddish tint to their lips, cheeks, and nipples.
In the modern era, one of the companies that led the charge in nipple cosmetics comes from the United States. In 1977, a San Francisco-based cosmetic company named Benefit responded to the request of an exotic dancer who wanted a product to “make her nipples stand out and look rosier.” The result was Benetint, a product typically used for lips and cheeks, but originally created for any body part that needed a little extra red tint.
7. Female Koro
As mentioned earlier, koro is a cultural psychological disorder that primarily affects Southeast Asian men, marked by intense anxiety that their penis is retracting into their body. However, koro can also affect women, though it’s much rarer. Female koro sufferers believe their nipples are being drawn into their breasts, which may be accompanied by the sudden retraction of their labia.
Traditionally, it is believed that possession by a malevolent female spirit or a fox spirit is the cause of female koro. The suggested treatment involves making loud noises, typically with a gong or fireworks, to scare the ghost away. If that doesn’t work, the next step is to exorcise the spirit through physical pain. The sufferer’s head is first covered with fishnet, and then she is beaten severely with branches. During the exorcism, her nipples are pulled to ensure they don’t vanish, as this is thought to cause instant death.
It may seem strange to think that shrinking intimate parts could be fatal, but it’s all rooted in yin and yang, the negative feminine and positive masculine forces in Chinese philosophy. An imbalance between these forces within the body is thought to lead to various ailments depending on which area of the body is affected, possibly even resulting in death. Koro is believed to be one such condition caused by a disruption in the balance of yin and yang.
6. Nipple Orgasms
While it might sound absurd to many, orgasms solely from nipple stimulation are not as far-fetched as they seem. A brain-mapping study recently shed light on their fascinating potential. Researchers at Rutgers University used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to monitor the brain activity of women stimulating themselves in various areas. When the women were asked to focus on nipple stimulation, the data revealed that it activated the same part of the brain responsible for genital stimulation, leading researchers to suggest it has a similar effect.
Before any of you guys feel left out, there’s good news on the horizon. Early results from the study showed that men were capable of experiencing the same reaction.
5. The World’s Strongest Nipples
Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of a “purple nurple” knows all too well how sensitive nipples can be, but that’s not an issue for Sage Werbock. More famously known by his stage name, “The Great Nippulini,” Werbock built a career as a nipple strongman, lifting or pulling heavy objects using only his nipples.
Werbock was inspired to capitalize on his extraordinary nipples after watching videos of performers using their chests to lift heavy objects. Noticing that his nipples were bigger than theirs, he wondered if he could use them to lift weights instead. He was right. The Great Nippulini holds the world record for lifting 32 kilograms (70 lbs) on each side with his nipples in 2009. Not satisfied with just one record, he earned another in 2011 for pulling a nearly 1,000-kilogram (2,200 lb) vehicle over a distance of 20 meters (66 ft). Werbock accomplished these feats despite suffering a 2004 accident where one of his nipples was partially ripped off during a performance. As shocking as it sounds, he claims the act doesn’t cause him pain.
4. Fashionably Exposed Nipples
When we think about women from centuries ago, we often envision them in tightly laced gowns, modest attire, and definitely not with exposed nipples. However, recent studies on medieval fashion have revealed some surprising truths. It turns out that our ancestors might not have been as different from modern people as we thought—in some cases, they were even more daring. For instance, exposing bare breasts and showing off nipples was a fashion trend among the well-to-do from the 14th to the 18th centuries.
It all began with Agnes Sorel, the mistress of King Charles VII of France. Since Queen Charles preferred staying home to care for their children instead of attending court, Agnes quickly took over many of the queen’s duties, acting as the king’s consort at public functions and ceremonies. With such power and constant presence at court, Agnes gained considerable influence, especially over the women of the nobility. Known for her beauty, she loved flaunting her womanly attributes, often displaying her breasts by ordering gowns designed to show off either one or both of them. Many noblewomen followed her example. Agnes’s nipple-bearing antics caused such scandal that a bishop filed a formal complaint with the king to stop her sinful ways.
Decades after Agnes’s death, another noblewoman from Mantua, Isabella d’Este, revived the trend in both the Italian and French courts. Her success was so great that even the French queen joined in on the fashion. Noblewomen during this time were so obsessed with keeping their breasts firm and their nipples perfectly shaped that they hired wet nurses to breastfeed their children, thus avoiding the unwanted effects of nursing.
3. Sucking The King’s Nipples
Royal ceremonies are a spectacle to behold. However, if modern monarchies adhered to the same rituals and customs as the ancient Irish, these ceremonies might be rated PG-13 at best. To the ancient Celts, the king’s nipples held a sacred significance, and subjects would show their respect by performing the ritual act of sucking the king’s nipples during royal ceremonies.
Ancient Ireland, however, was not always a safe place for a king’s nipples. Scientists studying ancient remains discovered in Irish bogs suggest that the ritual mutilation of the king’s nipples signified his high rank. The king’s nipples were considered so important that rival claimants to the throne would often plot to cut off their enemies’ nipples. When a king was defeated in battle or overthrown by his people, his nipples were removed before his execution.
Additionally, the king was believed to be the consort of the Celtic fertility goddess. This role made him the scapegoat for famine or disease, as these misfortunes were thought to be caused by the goddess’s anger with him. To appease her and restore prosperity, a sacrifice was necessary, which typically meant the removal of the king’s nipples whenever calamity struck the kingdom.
2. Supernumerary Nipples
Typically, humans develop two nipples, but due to certain genetic quirks, around 1–5 percent of the population may have more than two. These additional nipples, which indicate a condition known as polythelia, commonly appear along the milk lines, an evolutionary remnant from our distant multi-nippled ancestors. However, they can also manifest on other areas of the body—there have been cases where a fully developed nipple, complete with an aureola and nipple hair, appeared on a foot. Since many supernumerary nipples aren’t fully formed, they are often mistaken for moles or warts, leaving some individuals unaware of their presence.
In medieval times, extra nipples were referred to as “witches’ teats” or “witches’ marks,” thought to be indicators of a person’s association with dark forces. Demonologists at the time believed that witches used these additional nipples to suckle imps or their supernatural companions. Today, there is no longer any negative connotation attached to having extra nipples, and some celebrities have openly acknowledged possessing them in recent years.
1. Drugged Nipples
Thailand, known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant cultural heritage, is a dream destination for travelers from around the world. The country has grown into one of the top tourism hotspots in recent years, with the tourism industry serving as a major contributor to the economy. A significant portion of this thriving sector caters to the sexual desires of international visitors, due to the country’s more lenient prostitution regulations. This, in turn, has led to criminal gangs exploiting unsuspecting tourists for their money.
In 1997, authorities uncovered a strange criminal scheme operating in Pattaya beach resorts, linked to the deaths of over a dozen tourists from drug overdoses. The method used by these gangs was both cunning and alarming: A female or kathoey (transgender) gang member would apply drugs to her nipples, attract an unsuspecting tourist to a private location, and encourage him to lick them, causing the victim to pass out within minutes. Upon regaining consciousness, the victim would find himself robbed, with only his clothes left behind. Although Thai police have denied the continuation of such activities, it's wise to remain cautious when visiting unfamiliar places, especially when approached by strangers with alluring offers.
