What to Look for When Buying Bras

Although ads encourage women to think of bras as lacy, frivolous confections, choosing a bra has as much to do with health as with sexiness. Health experts have traced a possible connection between overly restrictive bras and breast cancer, and a badly fitting bra can also contribute to back pain. In fact, the right bra can eliminate pain you may have thought of as chronic and unavoidable.

Signs of a Poor Fit

• If your bra leaves red marks on your shoulders, chest, or back, or rides up your rib cage, you need a better fit. Other signs that you need to re-size your bra include breasts spilling out the sides or top of a bra, or an underwire bra that creates a feeling of pressure under the breasts. When you're trying on bras, be sure that the front part of the bra comes into contact with your sternum (breast bone).

Expert Help

• In a study at one London hospital where women with back pain were offered free expert bra fittings, all the women seen had been wearing the wrong size. Breast shape and size can fluctuate, so a bra fitting every six months by an expert at a specialty lingerie shop can help you buy a bra that is perfect for your own particular shape.

Becoming Your Own Expert

• If you cannot find an expert, or can't afford to shop at a store that offers professional fitting advice, learn the art of bra sizing. Experts say most women underestimate the width of their backs and overestimate their cup size. This results in a poorly fitting undergarment which can pinch and bind the back, neck and chest without providing sufficient support to the breasts. The pectoral muscles underlying the breasts, which ought to carry their weight, cannot do their job, causing strain on the back.
  Rather than automatically choosing your regular size, style or brand of bra, take the time to measure yourself before going to the store. To choose the right bra, you need two measurements. Wrap a tape measure around your chest just below your armpits. If the measurement is an even number, this is your bra band size. If you get an odd number, add one inch and try on bras in that size. Next, measure around the fullest part of your bustline, and subtract the band size from the bustline measurement. Each inch represents one cup size. For instance, if your band size is 36 and your bustline measures 39, your cup size is C.
  Styles and brands of bras will differ slightly, so use your measurements only as a guideline. Let comfort and support dictate your selection. Try the bra on, lift your arms above your head, and see if the bra rides up or feels too loose or too tight. Once you find a selection of bras that feel comfortable and allow you to move freely, you can think about style and appearance. It's also a good idea to see how you look in the bra when you're clothed, using a 3-way mirror if possible to view the full effect.