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Question: Today, my boyfriend sucked on my nipples and like gave them hickeys; while it hurt a little, it was that good kind of pain. But anyway, my question is, if a guy does this, is it normal for there to be bumps, like all over the areola? They're like really big, they look kind of like pimples before it gets the head, it disappears kind of when the nipples not erect, but when it is, they really stick out, is that normal? And if it is, why do I have them, and what are they?

Answer: The area of the areola, the tissue surrounding the nipple, is populated by several oil producing Montgomery's glands. They are also referred to as areolar glands and tubercles. They lubricate the nipple during breastfeeding. Their size and sensitivity can be influenced by your menstrual cycle, and they are larger and more numerous on some women than others. They are mentioned and illustrated on the page about the Anatomy of the Breast. Your partner sucking strongly on your nipples, as an infant may do, may have irritated them or triggered them into producing additional lubrication, causing them to become temporarily larger in size.