You’re sitting there, maybe looking in the mirror or scrolling through some high-def celebrity photos, and you notice it. A slight bump. A distinct protrusion in the middle of a woman's neck. It’s a bit of a shock because we’re basically conditioned from middle school biology to think that the laryngeal prominence—the "Adam's apple"—is a strictly "guy thing."
But honestly? Can girls have adams apples? The short answer is yes. Every single human being, regardless of their sex at birth, has the underlying hardware that creates an Adam's apple. It’s not a special bone that dudes grow during puberty like some kind of secret biological DLC. It’s just cartilage. Specifically, it’s the thyroid cartilage that wraps around your larynx.
The Anatomy of the Bump
Let’s get into the weeds of the neck for a second. Your larynx—your voice box—is protected by several plates of cartilage. The biggest one is the thyroid cartilage. It’s shaped a bit like an open book or a shield. During puberty, everyone’s larynx grows. It’s why voices get deeper.
In people with higher testosterone, that growth is explosive. The cartilage doesn't just get bigger; it tilts. It juts out at a sharper angle. Think of it like a hinge. If that hinge opens wide, the front of the "book" stays relatively flat against the neck. That’s what usually happens in women. But if that hinge closes into a sharper V-shape, the spine of the book pokes out. That’s your Adam's apple.
It's a matter of degrees. Literally.
The angle is usually around 90 degrees for men and 120 degrees for women. But biology loves a spectrum. Some women naturally develop a sharper angle, or their larynx just grows a bit larger than average. If you have a very thin neck or low body fat, that cartilage is going to be way more visible. There's no fat or muscle to "pad" the area, so even a standard female larynx can look like a prominent Adam's apple.
Hormones, Genetics, and the "Why"
It isn't always just about being "born that way." Sometimes, a visible Adam's apple in a woman can be a sign of what's happening internally with her hormones. If a girl has an overproduction of testosterone—which happens in conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)—the larynx can undergo more significant changes during puberty than it otherwise would.
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But don't go diagnosing yourself with a hormonal disorder just because you see a bump.
Genetics play a massive role here. Just like some women are taller or have broader shoulders, some simply have a more prominent laryngeal structure. It’s often just a quirk of your DNA. You might notice your mom or your aunt has the same neck profile.
There's also the "pseudo-Adam's apple" factor. Sometimes what looks like a laryngeal prominence is actually something else entirely. It could be:
- An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
- A thyroglossal duct cyst
- Lymph nodes that are slightly swollen
- Just the way your neck muscles (the sternocleidomastoids) are positioned
If the bump is new, painful, or feels hard and immovable, that’s when you stop reading articles online and go see an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor).
The Celebrity Factor and Social Perception
We see this a lot in the "celebrity truther" communities—people obsessing over the necks of famous women like Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Garner, or Meg Ryan. There’s this weird, persistent myth that a visible Adam's apple is a "tell" for someone's biological sex.
It's nonsense.
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Look at any high-fashion runway. You’ll see incredibly thin models with very prominent neck structures. It’s a combination of low body mass index (BMI) and natural anatomy. In the world of anatomy, "normal" is a massive range. Yet, for some reason, we’ve gendered this specific piece of cartilage so heavily that women who have one often feel self-conscious. They wear scarves. They choose turtlenecks.
But really, it’s just a variation of a standard human body part.
When It’s Actually a Health Concern
While a prominent larynx is usually just a cosmetic trait, there are times when a bump in that area needs a professional look. Dr. Nancy Chen, a specialist in otolaryngology, often points out that any new mass in the neck should be evaluated.
The thyroid gland sits right below the "Adam's apple" area. If that gland becomes inflamed or develops nodules, it can push the thyroid cartilage forward or create a secondary bump that looks like an Adam's apple. Thyroid issues are significantly more common in women than in men. So, if you've noticed your "Adam's apple" getting bigger along with symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, or feeling "tight" in the throat, it’s likely your thyroid, not your larynx.
Can You Get Rid of It?
Yes. People do it all the time. It’s called a Chondrolaryngoplasty, or more commonly, a "tracheal shave."
It’s a surgical procedure where a surgeon literally shaves down the thyroid cartilage to reduce the protrusion. While it’s most common among trans women as part of facial feminization surgery (FFS), cisgender women get it too. If the bump causes significant psychological distress or "gendered" bullying, surgery is an option.
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But it’s not a minor "lunchbreak" procedure. We're talking about surgery right over your vocal cords. If the surgeon shaves off too much, it can compromise the structural integrity of your larynx or permanently change your voice. It’s high stakes for a cosmetic fix.
The Reality of Human Variation
We spend so much time trying to fit into these narrow boxes of "male" and "female" traits. The truth is way messier. Men have breast tissue. Women have facial hair and Adam's apples.
If you're a girl with a prominent neck bump, you aren't an anomaly. You’re just seeing the result of your specific skeletal structure and how your cartilage decided to fuse during your teenage years. It’s a shield for your voice box. That’s its only job.
Whether it pokes out a half-inch or sits flat against your throat doesn't change your biology or your femininity. It's just a bit of cartilage.
Actionable Steps for Moving Forward
If you are concerned about a prominent bump in your neck, follow these practical steps to determine if it's a natural trait or something requiring medical attention:
- Perform a "Swallow Test": Stand in front of a mirror and swallow. A true Adam's apple (thyroid cartilage) will move up and down rhythmically as you swallow. If the bump stays static or feels "stuck," it might be a cyst or a different type of growth.
- Check for Symmetry: Feel the area gently. Is the bump centered? Most laryngeal prominences are perfectly midline. If the protrusion is off to one side, it is more likely to be a lymph node or a thyroid nodule rather than your "Adam's apple."
- Audit Your Hormones: If the prominent neck bump is accompanied by sudden acne, irregular periods, or unusual hair growth (hirsutism), schedule a blood panel to check your androgen levels. High testosterone can sometimes cause the larynx to enlarge even after puberty.
- Consult an ENT, Not a Plastic Surgeon (First): If you're worried about the look or feel, see an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist first. They can use a laryngoscope to ensure your vocal cords and cartilage are healthy before you ever consider a cosmetic "shave."
- Assess Your Body Fat Percentage: Recognize that if you have recently lost weight or have a naturally low body fat percentage, your larynx will naturally become more visible. This is a change in "padding," not a change in the bone or cartilage itself.
Understanding your anatomy is the first step toward stopping the "mirror-check" anxiety. Most of the time, what you’re seeing is just a normal variation of the human frame.