How I Learned to Wear a Bra
If someone had told me a year ago that I would be spending time choosing bras, working out my cup size and thinking about which one was most comfortable to sleep in, I would probably have laughed. Yet that is where I find myself now.
The reason is fairly straightforward. My breasts have developed due to the treatment with Finesteride for my enlarged prostate. Eventually I reached the point where the need for support wasn't just something I could ignore due to the jiggling and wobbling of my breasts which gave me a sensation nakin to sea sickness!
Choosing a bra for the first time was a surprisingly strange experience. I knew almost nothing about what I was looking for. I had to learn about cup sizes, underbands, different shapes and the importance of getting the fit right. I also had to get over the very awkward feeling of standing in a shop thinking the whole shop was looking at me.
I've tried several styles, and I've learned that appearance isn't nearly as important as comfort. My breasts are relatively shallow and very slightly asymmetrical, so some bras simply don't suit my shape. Others have left gaps at the top of the cups or irritated me under the arms. Eventually I found that an M&S Jasmine demi-cup in 38A fits me particularly well (although I do measure as a 40B).
Putting on a bra that actually fits properly was a bit of a revelation. Instead of feeling like I was wearing someone else's clothing, it slowly started to feel as though it belonged on me.
The physical sensation has been interesting too. At first I was conscious of virtually everything — the straps on my shoulders, the band around my chest, the cups against my skin. I would notice the bra whenever I moved. Gradually that constant awareness has faded. I still occasionally have moments when I suddenly think, "Oh yes, I'm wearing a bra," but increasingly I simply forget about it.
There has been a psychological adjustment as well. I'm a heterosexual man, and wearing a bra hasn't changed how I see myself. Nevertheless, seeing myself with breasts and wearing something traditionally associated with women has taken a lot of getting used to. At first there was the embarrassment - now there is much less of that. I've become more accepting of the changes to my body and less concerned about what others think the clothing might say about me.
These days, choosing a bra is a bit less complicated. I know roughly what suits me, what feels comfortable and, to some extent, what doesn't. It's still a strange experience in some ways, but it has become less unusual with time.
I suppose I've simply got used to it.