Bra Fitting Issues

• Loose bra cups are an indication that a smaller-size bra should be worn. bra image by Sergey Minaev from Fotolia.com

  About 80 percent of women wear bras that don't fit them correctly, resulting in such problems as discomfort and back pain. These issues can largely be avoided if women get regular bra fittings. It's important to get a professional fitting done regularly, because breast size changes due to many different circumstances, such as weight loss and gain, pregnancy and age.

Straps and Bands

• Bra straps and bands should fit comfortably and not dig into you, and flesh shouldn't bulge over the edges. The band around your ribcage and any underwire should rest flatly and horizontally against your body and should not ride up. This band around the middle is the strongest part of the bra, not the straps as many believe. If this band rides up, it's a sign you are not being supported properly and you should try a larger size. Also, if your straps keep falling down, chances are they are uneven or too loose. To fix this problem, tighten them up and make sure both straps are even.

Cups

• Bra cups should properly enclose your breasts, even if you are wearing a balcony bra. If your breasts spill over the edge, this is a sign that the cups are too small -- it's not a way to show off cleavage. To give an impression of increased cleavage, go down a cup size and wear a push-up bra. If the cup has excess room and the fabric can fold over, then the cup size is too large. Find a bra size that allows the cups to fit snugly over your breasts.

Large Breasts

• Larger breasts can cause many bra-fitting issues. It used to be difficult to find stylish bras for breasts in double-D sizes, but since the early 21st century, bra manufacturers have increased their range of larger bras. Bigger breasts tend to sag with their heavier weight, and they tend to move around more. Therefore, if you have a bigger bust, you need to choose bras that provide strong support, especially in the midriff band area. This usually means purchasing a bra with wider straps and bands.