How old were you when you first tried wearing a bra?

[Parity]

It's kinda funny i guess.  When I was 11 or so I noticed them and knew I had a softer side, unlike the other boys.  I did try a few things on then.  As  I got in my 20's I was very toned and it wasn't noticeable.  In my mid 50's, 10 years after I had the tumor removed and had treatments, I began to wear off and on.  Here I am today sporting a nice full C cup.

[Busty]

I am struck by how much experiences so many here gave had parallel each other.

Developing breasts around the same time as the girls in our class.

Being teased 

Trying on bras of our mothers and sisters.  Some of the result of the teasing

Our breasts filling the cups of those bras.

The various new feelings engendered by filling out those bra cups with just us

[Parity]

I really do feel good and smile when I get up, put on a bra and see it filled.  All natural!

[Johndoe1]

I think it goes to show that when we develop as teens, there's really no difference between the boys and the girls. We both are being affected in the same way at the same time by the same hormones with basically the same results, breast development. The difference is how society reacts to those developments.

[blad]

I think it goes to show that when we develop as teens, there's really no difference between the boys and the girls. We both are being affected in the same way at the same time by the same hormones with basically the same results, breast development. The difference is how society reacts to those developments.

I think this is very true. I never thought about it from this point of view but it makes sense that those of us who developed breasts as teens were basically wired in similar ways as the girls were. We were in a way delighted to finally try a bra and see how well we looked and felt wearing one.

I would wonder as a teen why I liked wearing a bra for my breasts, but in reality those feelings were likely dictated to me by the same hormones that grew those breasts. 

[Parity]

Very true.  I just wish I could be seen and accepted in my everyday life as I am here. 
I don't know how to expedite that acceptance in culture.  Wearing and "hiding" isn't helping.  Sometimes I feel I'm part of the problem.
For me small encounters is all I can do now.  I'm just  tired of the constant battle with society.  I feel no one is willing to accept there can be a variation in M/F.  Yet everyone can see how things change in other areas.  Birth defects etc.
I'm not giving up just getting tired and ready for this small win.

[AlfaQ]

But things are changing!  My daughter is always telling me that clothes have no gender. ( she is always borrowing mine) and I have been pleasantly surprised how I have been accepted for Bra fits.  Yes there are areas that are still tricky to navigate.  The more visible we are the more we will be accepted.  

[Moobzie]

"maybe the fact I had it bad in my youth was a signal of having it bad in adulthood? "

Don't think so in all cases.  Researching gyno shows that is a common occurrence in infants and adolescents. The first from the mothers' hormones in the baby, the second from natural development in males as hormones adjust - with it usually subsiding after adolescence (though, as guys here have experienced, not always).
'Geriatric' gyno is usually due to the 'natural' age related depletion of testosterone, and there is not necessarily causal relationship to adolescent development.  And then there are health 'conditions' and the associated medications accompanying them that can cause / exacerbate breast development (as well as ED related issues).
THAT said, however, there are also those (as we see here!) whose development IS in fact a lifelong thing.
My take on having developed breasts now is ... who cares what caused it in me.  Doesn't change the fact I need a bra, nor that most other people consider it odd / strange (duh - it is), nor does it make me less human. It just is what it is.

[Johndoe1]

'Geriatric' gyno is usually due to the 'natural' age related depletion of testosterone, and there is not necessarily causal relationship to adolescent development.

I know when I hit 50, growth spurts started and what libido I had wained. That's when my bosom really began to dictate I take care of it for what it is. That's when I started to seriously consider I needed to really get support. Between the estrogen and gravity, I really felt I had no choice. And a very frank discussion with a female doctor confirmed what I had suspected for some time that bras were in my future. 

[Traveler]

Mid 50’s for me. Had C+’s for the longest time and now I have DD’s. I HAVE to wear some kind of support and bras do the best job!

[Evolver]

I know that many of you know that story. I think having that early influence helped make me the woman I am today.

Yes, and yes. It was a salient event for you that has clearly stuck in your mind, and there is no doubt that it changed your life. For the better! ❤️

As for me, I first tried wearing a bra in my tween years, for fun, but it has really been only in the last few years that I realized that I could actually justify wearing one. Particularly lately, whether it be a crop or a flimsy cotton bra or something more substantial, I have noticed far less irritation at the end of the day. Like Johndoe1, my libido has also crashed, in my case from mediocre to zero, but like him this is commensurate with other symptoms. To date, this hasn't resulted in extra growth though. 

[JTL]

In my late teens, I had puffy nipples and some extra flesh on my chest. I tried on one of my mother's bras. It was way too much cup for the little bit I had. That was the end of that.

But two years ago, I was talking to my wife about uncomfortable it is when my nipples rub against my shirt. She had me try on a stretchy sports bra that was too small for her. It was a perfect fit for me and very comfortable. I bought a few more bras since then. I'm 72.

[Johndoe1]

Welcome JTL!

[JTL]

Welcome JTL!

Thanks. I discovered this forum about 20 years ago. I have dropped in a few times since then. The attitudes on here about men wearing bras have changed a lot. It used to be that anyone saying they enjoyed wearing a bra would have been flamed quite a bit.
John

[Johndoe1]

The other side of the site is still very anti bra or anti accepting. This side is very accepting.