Gynecomastia – Man Boobs Or Male Enlarged Breasts

Gynecomastia is the excess growth of breast tissues in males that lead to the development of enlarged breasts. This is common among young boys going through puberty and the problems usually go away overtime without treatment. This problem may also affect middle-age men and older men who may also experience excess growth of breast tissues that lead to enlarged breasts.

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Gynecomastia is caused by imbalance hormone production. Male and female produce hormones estrogen and testosterone, estrogen is a female growth hormone that control the development of female characteristics where as testosterone is a male growth hormone that control the development of male characteristics.

In a normal circumstance a male produce high level of testosterone and low level of estrogen. The problem arises when production of estrogen is higher than testosterone causing imbalance hormone level that result in excess growth of breast tissue in male. It is common for infants to be born with enlarged breasts caused by the affects of estrogen passed from mother to the infants. The problems usually go away after few weeks without treatment.

Other causes that may lead to enlarged male breast include anabolic steroids, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, heart medication, aids medication, ulcer medication, antibiotics, chemotherapy, aging, testicular cancer, liver disease, kidney failure, tumors, genetic disorders, malnutrition, alcohol, marijuana, and drug abuse.

Symptoms

Enlarged male breast is caused by the excess growth of breast tissues rather than fatty tissue. Enlargement may occur in one or both breast where the excess tissues developed around the nipple. If both breasts are involved, enlarged breast tends to grow unevenly where one side is larger than the other. Enlarged breast is painless and it may also feel firm and tender. You should talk to your doctor if you experience pain from enlarged breast, nipple discharge in one or both breasts, retracted nipple, and breast lump.

Treatment

The most common diagnosis involved physical examination performed by a doctor. The breast is carefully examined by a doctor for sign of breast lumps or breast cancers. The doctor will also acquired information regarding personal and family medical history during the diagnosis to determine the cause. Blood tests and mammography may be performed to determine the cause and to be certain the enlarged breast is not cancerous.

If the diagnosis confirmed enlarged male breast is caused by gynecomastia, there are several treatments used to treat the condition and these include careful observation, medication, and surgery.

Young boys going through puberty may experience enlarged breast and most of the time the problem go away without treatment. For this reason careful observation is recommended by doctor where the condition is carefully monitored over the period of 3 to 6 months to determine whether the condition has improved overtime.

There are no medications that have been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating enlarged male breasts. Medications such as tamoxifen and raloxifene that are used for treating breast cancers may be helpful in treating early stages but once the condition has progressed overtime the use of medications become ineffective.

If breast enlargement does not go away after careful observation and cannot be treated with medication, a doctor may recommend surgery. The surgery performed is called mastectomy, is surgical procedure that removed the breast tissues. The surgery can be performed by making small incision to removed excess breast tissues and allow for shorter recovery time.

Men and boys who developed gynecomastia may feel less masculine, ashamed and embarrassed because the breast exhibit female characteristics. Feeling of anxiety and lack of confidence is also common and this negative feeling does not go away after years of torment and ridiculed by peers. The distress becomes part of their lives even when they grow from childhood to adulthood. Many men who undergo surgery to treat excess breast tissues may also required therapy to help them get through the distress.

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