Bra is an integral part of women clothing. Girls start wearing a bra after they achieve puberty. Most women do not wear the right bra. Wearing a right bra not only enhances your figure, but also protects your breasts from sagging.

How to choose a bra is the question faced by many. You should take your time in choosing a bra. The choice of the bra would depend upon your breast size and the purpose for which you want to choose a bra . For example- you can't wear a sports bra to a party, or wear a lacy bra for exercise.

If your breasts are heavy, then go for a bra that has wide cups and has flat pad. Do not wear a thin strapped bra. Wide strapped bras provide support to the heavy breasts and helps in controlling sagging of the breasts to some extent.

If you are small breasted, wear a double padded bra. The double padding bra will help your breasts look bigger and fuller.

Choosing a Sports Bra If you are exercising or are engaged in sports activity, then, always wear a sports bra while exercising or playing. Sports bra provides extra support to the breasts needed during excessive breast movements. Sports bra should also be worn during pregnancy.

The bra straps should be firm, but not too tight. Very tight bra straps will leave strap marks on your back and shoulders.

The breast cup should be of the right size. The right cup will provide support to the breast from below. This will prevent breasts from sagging. You will know that the bra size is not correct, if you find wrinkles on the cup-you have chosen a bigger sized bra. Like wise, the breast bulges from the bra- you have gone for a smaller sized bra.

Mastectomy bra : Breast cancer patients have their breasts removed. Mastectomy bras cover the area with padding and does not make others realize that the breasts does not exist. It gives a feeling of completeness and a feeling of being normal to the patients.

Measuring the bra size is as important as choosing the right bra. The bra size is measured in two steps:

Band size: Measure the size right under the bust. Make it as tight as possible. If the measurement is an even number, add 4 to it, if it is an odd number, add 5 to get the bra size.

Cup Size: Cups are available in 'A', 'B'; C' .sizes, depending upon the breast size. Heavy breasted women have to choose a bigger cup.

To measure your cup size, stand erect, with arms on your sides. Measure the breast size with a tape, measure at the highest point, i.e. at the nipples.

The difference between the band size and the cup measurement is your cup size.

E.g. if your band size is 40 and the cup measurement is 43, then your bra cup is '3',then the right bra for you is 40C.

Now, how to choose a bra should not pose a problem with the above tips.