From: namgorf (email) (web)

Question: Why do men have nipples? Females get pleasure from their nipples. Also the nipples are used to breast feed children. Men's nipples are useless.

Answer:

The growth and development of male breasts are like those of the female until puberty. During puberty, the testes begin secreting androgens, a group of hormones that primariliy influence the growth and development of the male reproductive system. These androgens -- testosterone being the most active -- suppress further breast development.

Estrogen is a group of hormones that primarily influence the development of the female reproduction tract. These hormones are produced by both sexes, but in higher amounts by the female sex. These hormones aid in the development of the female breasts.

An interesting condition is that of gynecomastia, an enlargement of the breasts in the male sex. Gynecomastia is caused by a hormonal imbalance -- an increase in the male estrogenic hormones. Mammary ducts and false milk cavities may form in the breast tissue, and non-milk fluids may be excreted from the nipple. Gynecomastia generally occurs in younger boys and in elderly men, because of the reduced secretion of androgens.

To address your statement about women getting pleasure from their nipples: men also get pleasure from their nipples. Different people find pleasure in different parts of their bodies. Some people find pleasure in their nipples, some enjoy a nibbled ear, some enjoy a hand running through their hair, others simply enjoy stimulation of the genitalia. It's an individual preference, and individuals of both sexes enjoy stimulation of the nipples.

As far as I can tell, the male and female breasts are the same up until puberty, when the estrogen and androgens start kicking in. At that time, nature decides to make male nipples totally pointless. Notwithstanding non-biological functions like personal pleasure, the male nipple doesn't seem to have any purpose.

Sources:

• "gynecomastia" Encyclopedia Britannica Online
  <http://www.eb.com:180/bol/topic?eu=39446&sctn=1>
  [Accessed April 18, 1999].

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