The Most Common Bra Problems Faced by Women

The vast majority of women complain about uncomfortable bras. The reason for much of the complaining boils down to a few common problems. Fortunately, most of these are easily fixed.

Straps vs. Band Support - Every woman knows what a bra looks like, but many don't understand how it actually is intended to work. Much like a hanging plant, most believe the shoulder straps should hold up the cups and breasts. This is incorrect. The band around the bottom of the cups that circles around your back should do at least 80 percent of the heavy lifting. If you have shoulder and neck pain as well as headaches, creating slack in the straps can solve it immediately.

Be the Band - Now that we know the band is supposed to do much of the work, we need to obviously buy bras where the band fits correctly. The correct fit is one where the band runs around your body at the same level. This should be just below the breast. It should not ride up on your back. If it does, the band is usually to loose and your breasts will sag dramatically. The band should be snug and not move up and down. If you get a teeter-totter type motion, there is a problem.

Adjust for Time - As we age, our bodies change. We might not like it, but facts are facts. If you are still wearing the same bra size you wore 20 years ago in college, you either have great DNA or need to update your undergarments. The size of a bra will change five or more times during your life, so make sure you get a sizing check every few years.

Know Thy Cup Size - Consider a cup of coffee. If you fill it too much, the coffee spills. If you fill it to little, you don't get your morning jolt. If you fill it just right, it is going to be a good day. The same analogy can be applied to bra cups. If you don't fill the cup completely, you are abusing your breasts. Go down a size and see how it fits. If you are busting out over the edge of the cups, you are wearing cups that are too small. Try moving up a size and you'll notice any breast pain you are suffering will often disappear quickly.

The bra is a rather simply fashion mechanism, but getting the right fit can be a continual challenge. Don't settle for discomfort and pain. There is no reason to and a properly fitting bra can make a world of difference in your quality of life.