Do Inverted Nipples Have Any Health Risks? What You Need To Know

Inverted nipples come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. How do you know if you have them? First, a cursory Google image search will reveal helpful side-by-side comparisons of what they look like. Inverted nipples appear to have a slit across the peak of the nipple when they're not erect, or are flat when "warm," or are visibly concave. The surrounding areola looks completely normal, and inverted nipples often protract when stimulated, making it hard to tell. Because most inverted nipples do protract when stimulated, it's possible to have inverted nipples and not even know it. It's also possible for one nipple to be inverted or not the other.

The biggest issue most people have with inverted nipples is the misconception that they're unusual, rare, or undesirable. In reality, an estimated 9 to 10% of women are born with them, making them a relatively common occurrence. That's far more common than people with naturally red hair, who make up only 2% of the population. Interestingly, inverted nipples may even be temporary for some people.

That said, nipples can also become retracted over time due to weight loss or, in rarer cases, a disease affecting the breast tissue like breast cancer. If you suspect your nipples have changed from normal to inverted though, you should get it checked out.

"If you ever notice something change with your breasts in general, it is always better to seek medical attention. Inverted nipples can be associated with infection, abscess formation, breast cancer, and trauma," ob-gyn Shannon Clark, M.D., says.

Most women with inverted nipples can breastfeed, though it can sometimes cause difficulty for the baby to latch onto it if the nipple is not erect enough. Stimulating the breast can often help an inverted nipple to protrude and become erect enough to allow for easier breastfeeding, and devices like breast or nipple shields can also help. Alternatively, a breast pump can help improve the flow of milk.

Breastfeeding, foreplay nipple sucking, and other vacuum stimulation like a breast pump can stimulate the nipple to come out, though it's usually temporary.

Plastic surgery can turn an inverted nipple into the more common protracted shape. However, there's a risk of interfering with milk ducts and surrounding tissue. There's also a significant recurrence rate for inverted nipples; one observational study quoted1 12.6%. When procedures cost thousands of dollars and require downtime, a high recurrence rate isn't something to overlook.