Puberty is the period of human development during which physical growth and sexual maturation occurs. The exact meaning for puberty is the period during which adolescents reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproduction. But it basically means growing up, maturing and developing. Another word for puberty is adolescence.
Puberty is also a stage of confusion for a child. Not an adult yet, but not a kid anymore. I remember when I had my first menstruation, I was at the school when I saw a blood on the back of my skirt, I was so confused at that time and didn’t know what to do. My older girl classmates accompanied me to the rest room and helped me wash the stain. When I went home, my mother was at work, it was only the housemaid that was there. I told her about it and she immediately took me to the bathroom and helped me showered, then she told me to jump three times. I forgot the reason why (perhaps an old myth), I just followed her and jumped.
It is better for parents to prepare their children for the changes they will encounter during their puberty stage, so they will know what to expect.  Offer some information why girls and boys are different, and why girls have started to develop breasts. Teen years is the age of turmoil and it is best to prepare your child and yourself for the bumpy ride ahead.
Signs of Change:
Girls:

• Budding of breast
• Growth of pubic hair
• Possible hair growth under arms and on legs
• Hip widening and buildup of fat
• Faster growth of limbs
• Arrival of  first menstruation

Boys:

• Enlargement of the testicles
• Growth of pubic hair
• Hair growth on arms, legs, face
• Faster growth of limbs
• Broadening of shoulders
• Weight and muscle gain
• Cracking and deepening of voice
• Frequent bouts of erection

How to Find the Right Bra

Buying a bra may seem simple but it is actually quite complex. First and foremost it is essential that you know your correct size. A properly fitted bra is essential for both comfort and posture and is especially important during the teen years when your body is growing.

The Importance of Knowing Your Bra Size

A poorly fitting bra can cause back problems, muscle tension, and even headaches. Since teens are still growing the strains caused by an improperly fit bra can lead to life long problems with posture and back pain. To ensure that you are wearing the right size bra you should be fit by a lingerie consultant once a year or after every noticeable growth spurt.

Different Bras for Different Reasons

After you have the right size the next thing to think about is why the bra is needed. Is it for support, coverage, comfort or athletics? Bras come in a variety of fits and fabrics. There are different styles of bras designed for specific body types, fashions and activities. No one bra can do it all!

First/Training Bras

Training bras are for young girls who have started to develop breasts but do not yet fit the standard bra sizes. A young girl who has started to develop breasts should wear a training bra but there is no harm in letting a girl get one before there is a real need. Remember, training bras are intended for girls of any age who have started to get breasts and who are not yet able to be fitted with a regular bra. If your breast size warrants a full fitting bra you should wear one, even if you are very young.

Light Support Bras

Light support bras usually have no under wire and are good for g irls with smaller breasts. They are less constricting than full support bras and many girls feel that they are more comfortable. Because they are wireless they offer less shaping than other bras and are most flattering on trimmer figures. These bras come in padded and unpadded versions, which you choose is really a matter of personal preference.

Full Support Bras

Full support bras usually have an under wire or plastic boning holding them up. They can be worn by girls of any breast size and are a must for those with larger cup sizes. These bras offer a shapely cut and have a structured build. These also come in padded or unpadded version and are flattering on any figure type.

Push Up Bras

Once called padded bras, push up bras are designed to show off cleavage. These bras lift the breasts and add shape to them with extra padding. Some more innovative push up bras use silicone inserts or water sacks to imitate the fullness of a natural breasts. They are said to lift and separate creating a full cleavage look on breasts of all sizes. These bras always offer lots of support.

Sports Bras

Of all the bras the sports bra is probably the most important one for growing teens to have. Sports bras stop the breasts from moving during athletic activity. Breast tissue is very delicate and growing breast tissue needs to be protected during high impact exercise. Even girls with smaller breasts should invest in a good sports bra if they take physical education or participate in sports.

What Teenage Girls Need to Know About Breast Development and Health...?

"Come on grow!" said a 15-year old girl I knew when I was a teenager. She was giving her breasts a pep talk as she looked hopefully down her blouse. Teenage girls, and grown women, have long worried about their breasts or lack of breasts. Some girls like the one above, worry about their breasts not growing enough, while other girls worry about having breasts that are too large.
Breasts come in all shapes and sizes. Nipples can be large or small, they can stick out or be inverted. Some girls have breasts that are not the same size with one being large while the other is small. All of these are perfectly normal.
Some girls develop breasts early at eight or nine, while other girls are still waiting at 14 or 15. While this is normal, it is often hard for the girl who is 13, 14, or 15 to understand why her friends have developed breasts and she has not.
Breast maturity can occur very slowly, or almost overnight for some girls. The important thing to remember is that everyone is different and each girl will develop breasts in her own time.
How Big Will My Breasts Grow?
How big breasts eventually grow depends on a couple of factors:

• Heredity plays a key role in the size and shape of breasts.
• The amount of fatty tissue in the breast is a major factor in how large or small breasts will become; however, this has little to do with body weight.

Many girls try to increase their breast size by exercising the pectoral muscles (the muscles under the breasts). While exercising the pectoral muscles might increase the firmness of that muscle, it has nothing to do with the amount of fatty tissue in the breasts and will do little to increase breast size.
Do I Need to Wear a Bra?
Wearing a bra is less popular than it once was, and is basically a personal decision. If you feel comfortable without wearing a bra, then don't wear one. But if wearing a bra makes you feel better, or feel you look better, then wear it. If you are going to wear a bra, it's a good idea to go to a large department store and be fitted by the sales lady. A properly-fitted bra will be comfortable and will not cause red marks on your shoulders or around your chest.
Why Do My Breasts Swell and Feel Tender?
Swelling and tenderness of the breasts just before your menstrual cycle is normal for many girls and women. This happens because breast tissue tends to retain fluid before your period starts. Even if you don't normally wear a bra, wearing one when your breasts are swollen, tender, and feeling extra heavy might help to relieve some of these symptoms--just be sure that the bra is well-fitted.
Will I Get Cancer If I Bump My Breast or Something Hits My Breast?
While getting a hard hit to your breast may feel pretty bad, it won't cause breast cancer. Your breasts may bruise, but unless the bruising is severe you should have no cause for concern (and it still won't cause breast cancer).
Help! There's Hair Growing On My Breasts
Don't worry, you are not turning into the hairy-chested lady at the circus. Many, many girls and women have some hair on or around their breasts. Some girls have only one or two hairs, while others have many more. If it is an issue that you are not comfortable about, talk to your health care provider.
What's Wrong With Me? I Have a Discharge Coming Out My Nipples
This can be quite scary, but unless the discharge has pus or blood in it, or if it is brownish in color (most likely caused by an infection, although blood can indicate cancer), it is probably nothing to worry about. It is normal to have a nipple discharge that is thin and milky, clear, light green, grayish, or light yellow. Again, see your health care provider if you are unsure about any nipple discharge that you may experience.
I Have a Lump in My Breast. Do I Have Breast Cancer?
Lumpy breasts are very common in girls and women. In most cases, breast lumps are not a sign of breast cancer. Teenagers, both girls and boys, will often feel a lump called an "adolescent nodule." An adolescent nodule is a sore, swollen spot just under the nipple that will go away without any medical intervention. Although breast cancer is very rare in teens, anytime you feel a lump it's a good idea to have it checked by your health care provider.
Learning and practicing monthly breast self-exam is an important step that you can take to protect your health. Starting monthly breast self-exam as soon as you begin to menstruate will help to make it a lifelong habit. Breast cancer sounds very scary, but when detected early most breast cancers have a survival rate of over 90 percent.

Good Luck...All

Another dot-connecting post....I've connected some, others are 'un'-(connected) :)

Since I have been supplementing Iodine I have been through many changes, physical and emotional. My FBD is healing and I am hoping that along with that there are emotional/psychological issues being resolved as well. It was one of Turiya's posts that started this thought train:


http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=862721#i


"Thyroid resides as in the center of the 5th chakra. The 5th chakra is considered the center for creative expression. It may get stuck due to a past [childhood] trauma. Iodine may help the body release the repressed emotions that are psychologically preventing one from creatively expressing ones inner-most feelings. This release may also be accompanied by remembering [or re-experiencing] that particular event, perhaps this may be played out again in dream state."

and another of Turiya's posts today, that crystalized things for me:


http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=922711


"From my experience, issues relative to the paternal father are connected with the 5th chakra [thyroid]; mother issues- to the 2nd [hara]. it may be that iodine supplementation assists the body to release emotions that have not been fully expressed, as they are tied to past experiences and remain as tensions within the body-mind mechanism. dreams, remembering, and/or re-living certain events are indicative of their release. it is a way that these pent-up emotions come to their final conclusion and closure. means, the bars to a sort of self-imposed mental prison are fading away, unloading unnecessary baggage. i would look at it as a sign of mental & physical healing."

I have had SO many repressed memories come to light since iodine supplementation and I have really been able to see the sequence of events that led me to this point. I see my formative influences, very clearly. I've been elated, I've been depressed, I've had feelings of expansion & limitless possibility, also feelings of being trapped. I've realized that what I thought I'd "gotten over", I hadn't. I'd merely packed those thoughts away, got life to live, for cry-iy, no time to muck about in sadness.

and yes, father issues, BIG time. There are things that will NEVER be resolved there, as he is long gone. Dang, I've been trying to figure it out, though. I thought that my tears for him dried up long ago, but they haven't. So Turiya's post gave me an inkling as to WHY I'm re-living, re-thinking, re-crying over issues I thought were all "resolved"(suppressed).

This is all GOOD, BTW:) *enough*

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Stuff I've been able to dredge up re: thyroid...emotional health...


http://iodine4health.com/overviews/clinicians/shevin_clinician.htm


”Those who feel improved commonly report improvements in energy, mood, and clarity of mind."


http://iodine4health.com/overviews/clinicians/west_clinician.htm


"Iodine in some people can make them stronger, clear-minded, and more youthful.
Indeed, in some patients, years seem to roll back. The mind functions better, and the “brain fog” is often lifted."


http://iodine4health.com/overviews/clinicians/howenstine_clinician.htm


"Iodine has a role in promoting general well being....."


http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/wha/wha_gravesdi_crs.htm


"Many people feel nervous or not able to control their emotions." (grave's disease)


http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/organ/thyroid.html


"The thyroid supports a wide range of functions from controlling our weight, heart rate, cholesterol level in the blood, muscle strength and skin condition to our eyesight and EMOTIONS."

....................................................................................................................................................................................


http://www.elaine-moore.com/gravesdisease/whogets.htm


"The fifth chakra is the throat chakra. It is related to our ability to speak out and voice our truth. If there is a blockage in the throat area, it may be due to holding back or not being comfortable enough in the world (third chakra influence) in order to express one’s ideas and feelings. Or one may feel powerless and feel the necessity of keeping secrets. However, when this center is open, individuals freely speak out and express their deepest ideas and feelings."

This post, by Rainbow Girl, also gave me pause:


http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=862570#i


"I have always felt uncomfortable "speaking" on a forum and the words that you two have just given me have made me feel so - oh I don't know how to explain it - --- just goood.

Thanks --

One of the other things that I have noticed is that in the last 2-3 months I can speak - I don't know if this makes sense, but a lot of times, I would just keep silent in a lot conversations, I was known as a good listener. But in reality, I just did not speak up for some reason. Now, I will pipe up in company meetings, or just with friends, and they have all commented on how much more outgoing I seem to be lately, I wonder if iodine could have something to do with that? Sounds a little bit out there to me:)"

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George Eliot ~ " [I]t is very hard to say the exact truth, even about your own immediate feelings - much harder than to say something fine about them which is not the exact truth."




Buckminster Fuller ~ "There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."




Marcel Proust ~ " We are healed of a suffering only by expressing it to the full."
.....................................................................................................................................................................................


http://www.whatthebleep.com/herald9/health.shtml


"The thyroid sits at the throat, the center of the fifth chakra, or seal. This is the seal that is associated with the speaking of "truth.” Is it possible that when a person does not express their emotions and speak their truth that the thyroid might be affected over time? Practitioners who observe closely find this might be the case.

A person who stifles (chokes back) the expression of their emotions gives the energy of their emotions no place to go. It is possible that unexpressed, or blocked emotional energy could have a negative impact on the proper functioning of the thyroid. Equally as debilitating is the person who over-expresses their “truth” and runs the seal without rest. In regards to expressing “truth,” in quantum physics we know the quantum world makes room for all possibilities. If we speak words that are empty, meaningless or even untrue, we are NOT projecting a description of the reality being held in the frontal lobe of the brain. Instead we are creating words (and possibilities) that have no “vision,” no “will,” and certainly no integrity behind them. How can the thyroid function in an integrated, healthy manner if the words - the vibrations, the energy - flowing around and through it are misaligned, twisted and powerless? What possibilities are being created except the possibility of poor health?"


http://kheper.net/topics/chakras/Throat.htm


"When this chakra is open and functioning well, with a strong flow of Chi, one finds it easy to express oneself, and one's speech is clear and smooth. When it is blocked, not only does one find speaking or getting the right words out difficult, but one also feels an unwillingness to change."


http://www.adamsonhouse.com/cv/chakra/page4.html


"5th Chakra - Throat Chakra - deals with communication, expression, inspiration and judgment. Meditating on this Chakra brings about issues of communication that need to be resolved. The greatest need of this Chakra is to live an ideal life, to be surrounded by beauty and peace, and to have control over one's mental abilities.

The 1st Chakra of the five physical senses, it represents the characteristic of ether or pure essence of space. It allows the 4 lower elements of air, fire, water & earth to be formed; it is the carrier wave of these elements and can turn into any of them. The sense of sound & voice is derived from this. This Chakra relates to the thyroid glands. It governs the vocal chords, bronchial apparatus, and the alimentary canal.

Your voice becomes full, clear and deeper when this Chakra is in balance. Thinking & feeling become connected as this Chakra becomes aligned. Language & communication become more of an expression of innate spiritual maturity."





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And I'm wondering where the inability to speak/create/communicate ends and iodine deficiency/thyroid issues begin?

This is from " Breast Cancer & Iodine" by David Derry, MD:

"...It is not surprising that the clinicians of that day did not enquire if the patients had severe childhood difficulties to the point of being terrorized or frightened for long periods during their growing up years before the age of 12. Almost without exception, I have found patients who have a childhood history of abuse or prolonged fright of some sort react sluggishly or poorly to thyroid hormone. Many also give histories of puzzling reactions to other drugs....
...These people seem to be pharmacologically different from normal people...
....it is possible that the receptor system for thyroid hormone & other drugs may be malleable under the age of 12, and adjustments to its sensitivity to thyroid hormone and likely other hormones enable them to better survive under frightening conditions. The receptor changes are permanent, as I have found people in this category over 50. Sexually and physically abused people have had many counseling sessions which do not remove flash backs, fear and anxiety of their past, whereas thyroid medication over time seems to slowly adjust these well worn brain pathways of flashbacks, images and anxieties.
Thyroid seems to soften these images with time and the patient becomes more able to handle their past... "

Breast Development
(In Male-to-Female transsexuals)

For all women, breasts are a very important and very visible aspect of their "womanhood", it is also probably fair to say that the female breast is regarded as a key aspect of feminine beauty, both in our modern society and historically - and with both men and women.
The development of breasts gives the male-to-female transsexual woman a tremendous confidence boost, and powerfully identifies her as a female to others.  It is also impossible to ignore that the fact that breasts are immensely strong sexual symbols, and secondary sexual organs whose presence can be enjoyed by both the owner and their partner.  Unlike a vagina, breasts can be easily and acceptably be publicly displayed in either part (cleavage) or full (e.g. topless sun bathing), or prominently implied underneath a skimpy top.  Bra's and [usually] breast forms/padding are essential early purchases for every transsexual woman. 
While ultimately many transsexual woman will have breast implants, the first step is always female hormone treatment, using oestrogen and anti-androgens to enable the growth of breasts to their maximum natural size - although this is somewhat less than that of close female relatives.  Breast growth can often be enhanced by use of an appropriate progesterone, causing a more natural breast shape to form with lactative and ducting tissue as well as the fatty tissue laid down by oestrogen treatment.  If the woman starts treatment already past puberty, the resulting breast development can range from respectable to very disappointing - although even in the later case it should be noted that modern bra's, "push-ups" and breast enhancers can still do wonders appearance wise.  But the final breast development may still be regarded as unsatisfactory, particularly in older patients, in which case implants may be desired.

A lovely shot of transwoman Melanie Annie communing with her breasts.

The Breast
A breast (also known as a mammary gland) is a quite complex structure consisting of a mass of fatty tissue and nerves served by a good blood supply.  Fully developed, each breast when lactating is capable of supplying a pint or more a day of nourishment (milk) and immunoglobulins to a nursing infant.  Visible in the centre of the breast is the protruding nipple, which is surrounded by a pigmented circular area called the areola.  Small glands in and around the nipple provide lubrication and protection against infection, which is particularly important for breast-feeding mothers.  Produced by the lobules (consisting of alveoli) in the interior of the breast, milk is carried to the nipple by a collection of tubes known as ducts. 
Stages of Mammary (Breast) Development
At birth the rudiments of the functional mammary gland are in place: the nipple and areola are formed along with a rudimentary system of mammary ducts extending into a small fat pad on the chest wall.   The mammary gland remains a rudimentary system of small ducts until puberty when the advent of oestrogen secretion by the ovaries brings about the first stage of the four stages of mammary development: mammogenesis, lactogenesis, lactation and involution.

Cheryl (shown age 35) is a possible transsexual who has occasionally taken hormones since her early 20's.  The results of hormones can be embarrassing and difficult to explain for untransitioned women still living their daily life as a man.

Mammogenesis is completed during pregnancy, with the gland becoming able to secrete milk sometime after mid-pregnancy.  Pregnancy is often considered to be the period of most extensive mammary growth.   Indeed extensive lobular and alveolar development occurs only during pregnancy.
Lactogenesis (referred to as the time when the milk "comes in") starts about 40 hours after birth of the infant and is largely complete within five days. 
When nursing has ceased the gland undergoes partial involution, losing many of its milk producing cells and structures, a process that is only completed after menopause. 

A good example of the type of breast development that transsexual women starting female hormones post-puberty may achieve

Breast Development in the Transsexual Woman
Every person whether genetically male or female is born with milk ducts — a network of canals that transport milk through the breasts — present from birth.  In the male-to-female transsexual woman the mammary glands stay quiet until commencing female hormone treatment releases a flood of oestrogen's, causing them to grow and swell in what is effectively a female puberty and initiating the first phase of mammogenesis. 
Although often only partially developed, the breast structure of a transsexual "XY" woman is basically the same as a genetically "XX" woman after the first phase of mammogenesis, indeed transsexuals with well developed breasts are quite able to nurse given the right stimuli. 
It's important to note that all the common information and rules about the female breast (including the need for regular breast self-examination and mammogram's) apply just as much to transsexual women taking oestrogen as they do to genetic women.  
Externally, breast growth and development is medically defined by "Tanner's Five Stages":
After female hormones are commenced the breast slowly evolves and gradually increases in size, often with periods of growth and periods of apparent standstill.  In the initial phase of hormone therapy subareolar nodules - which can be painful - are common.  Both oestrogen and progesterone should be taken, it's thought that oestrogen stimulates cell mitosis and growth of the ductal system, while growth, development and differentiation of the glandular tissue (called lobules or alveoli) seems to be dependent on progesterone, and breast fat accretion seems to require both.

Loira - "mid-twenties" - has been taking hormones for two years.  Her breast development amply fills a A cup or supports a padded B.  The breast size is similar to many girls in their early teens, but unfortunately on a larger rib cage. A "30'ish" transwoman.  No further elaboration was provided but the result is consistent with 4 or 5  months of full dose hormones - with enough breast development to have a 12 year-old girl wearing a trainer bra.

It's perhaps worth emphasising here that the results of female hormone treatment eventually become obvious to everyone, whether called breasts or "man boobs" .  Indeed breast growth is often a severe embarrassment for the pre-transition woman on hormones - ranging from in bed with a partner, running, or a visit to the beach. 

Good but not generous final breast development is typical for many women starting hormones in their early 20's. Small, pert and strangely teenage-like breasts are common for those starting hormones in their early 30's.  Many eventually have breast augmentations.   This 53 year-old trans-woman has been on hormones (0.675 mg Premarin, 10 mg Progesterone, 2 mg  Estrofem) for 7 years.

Taking hormones hoping to somehow become a closet page 3 girl - but without any one at work or even the wife noticing - is simply not realistic.  Breast growth is irreversible without reduction surgery, stop taking the hormones and the breast growth that has been stimulated will still be around ten years later, it does not melt away.
Assuming that hormones is the right route, patience is essential, it will take at least two years to achieve full growth and some imperceptible changes will continue for the rest of your life - as trying on a very old bra will reveal.
Dissatisfied girls rushing to seek breast implants after one year may then experienced complications and misshaped breasts when another spurt of breast tissue growth sets in - as is quite common after SRS or an orchidectomy.  It should also be expected that the breasts will grow unevenly, e.g. the right may become much fuller that the left.  In the long-term the differences will mostly even out, but even in mature genetic women there is often a quite visible difference in size and shape between the left and right breasts when a study is made of them.

The top photo is of a 27 years old transwoman after 18 months on hormones.  The lower picture is of a 56 year old transwoman (also shown right, age 53) after 10 years on hormones.  Comparison shows many similarities, although the younger women has greater development in far less time.

The final amount of breast development obtained by a transsexual woman on hormone treatment is quite variable, but it's known to be very age dependent - unfortunately the younger a person and the more recent puberty (which normally ends between 18 and 20), the better the development will be.  Genetics also plays a very significant role - some people are genetically predisposed to have copious amounts of fat cells in therefore large breasts, others practically none.  Thus amply endowed sisters are a promising sign that development will be good, while flat chest'ed sisters are a serious worry! 
Other smaller factors come into play in determining the size of a woman's breasts, including nutrition, exercise, health, and weight.  For example, if a woman's body weight falls below its optimum then her breasts can shrink dramatically as the fat cells in them are burnt up (or in the case of a skinny transwoman are perhaps never deposited), while if her weight is above optimum then the apparent or relative size of her breasts may diminish as they are swallowed by the surrounding "padding".    

This type of roughly Tanner III breast development is very common in transgirls who start taking hormones in their late teens or early twenties.  They often seek breast augmentation.

The limited evidence would indicate that maximum results are obtained by starting female hormone treatment just before the on-set of male puberty, but when puberty ends (around age 18) a "switch" in the body seems to turn off and the likely amount of breast development rapidly falls away in an elongated 'reverse S-curve' to a much lower level.  Thus a 12 year old boy-to-girl will typically end up with well developed breasts not that much smaller to his sisters and mother, the same person starting hormone therapy as a 20 year-old will still have quite good results, but as a 30 year-old she will have far less satisfactory results, and this will be only slightly better than a 40 year-old who in turn will be barely better off than a 50 plus year-old. 
Anecdotal evidence (clearly there is a need for medical studies, but so far none seem to have been conducted) indicates that the best possible hormone induced breast development achievable by a transwomen - normally by young transwomen - is about one bra cup size less than the average of their close female relatives.  

Many transsexual women suffer from small or under-developed breasts.  This can be helped by  breast augmentation as shown.

It must also be emphasised that although many girls who are able to start hormone treatment while in their teens will eventually develop full Tanner IV or V, "B" or even "C cup" breasts, this is still by no means certain.  For example the model Caroline Cossey started hormones at age 17 but owes most of her famous 36C chest to implants two years later, and Caroline is far from unique.  Other young (age 16 to 18) transsexuals report having very little breast growth even after a year or two on hormones - although in these circumstance there must be a suspicion that a change of hormone regimen might have helped them.  Certainly many young transsexuals are dissatisfied with their breast growth as they compare themselves with other girls, and begin to compete for boyfriends.
Conversely, while most of those women starting hormones when already in their mature years will achieve only slight Tanner II or III "AA cup" breast buds, a few will get adequate, even ample, breast development.
There is undoubtedly often a degree of wishful thinking and 'rounding up' in the bra sizes claimed by transsexual women.  Realistically, most adult transsexual women starting hormone treatment over the age of 20 will be very lucky if they  eventually genuinely fill a "B cup" bra from hormone use alone, and those over 30 an "A cup".  However, if letters are important it should be remembered that despite a perception created by television and the press, the average cup size of genetic women is actually only "B".

The areolae of transsexual women are  usually small compared to genetic XY women.

One odd problem that transsexual women face is that their areala - the coloured skin surrounding the nipple - rarely expands in accordance with 'normal' female breast growth.  The areolae of a man averages about 25 mm (1 inch) in diameter, but few woman are under 30 mm and 50 mm is common, and the areola of women who have large breasts or who are lactating may be over 100 mm (4 inch) in diameter.  Unfortunately even well endowed transsexual women tend to have male type arealoe - this seems to be a genetic limitation as AIS women (who are also genetically XY) face a similar problem despite otherwise above average breast development.
Hypoplastic Breasts
Many transsexual women, particularly those starting hormones over about the age of 25, suffer from under-developed or hypoplastic breasts.  Such breasts are very small or narrow, lack normal fullness, and may seem bulbous or swollen at the tip due to an over-prominent nipple-aereolar complex - their narrow elongated appearance leads them to be termed "tubular breasts", and nicknamed "snoopy breasts".  This condition is occasionally found in genetic XX woman, but is far more prevalent in transwomen.  The shape is usually caused by a failure to sufficiently develop the glands and lobules which help fill out the breast. 

A hypoplastic tubular breast.

As a tubular breast consists primarily of just fatty tissue, milk production and breast feeding can be problematic - although of course this is rarely relevant for transsexual women.  The use of a "cocktail" of hormones that includes both oestrogen and progesterone may help reduce hypoplasticy.
In older transwomen, their small breasts are also likely to be spaced widely, and one breast is often noticeably larger than the other.  These problems make it difficult to monitor the degree of breast development in mature transsexual women using the Tanner scale.

Breast Size
Breast size can be quantified by measuring the maximum hemi-circumference over the nipple with a flexible tape.  The following table shows the results from one study of breast development, measured in the sitting position, in 500 transsexual women:

Long-term breast development in an un-augmented transsexual woman who started hormones at age 23 - the picture is taken 11 years later.  This picture shows the excellent C cup breast development but perhaps rather flatters their appearance on the woman's 42" size chest.

Two tgirls in their late twenties.  Genetics and the lottery of life have resulted in different  development, but both girls have the small areola common for transwomen.

A follow-up from the header picture.  Diversity is the spice of life.

And a few more examples sent to me by transwomen of their breast development: