Man-Boobs : Many people don’t know this but men also have breast tissues. In most cases, these tissues never grow as long as the male hormone testosterone dominates the female hormone, estrogen. However, in some cases, the hormones become imbalanced due to some reasons resulting in enlargement of the breast tissues. This condition is called gynecomastia and often referred to as man boobs.
Today, we will learn what causes gynecomastia and how the condition can be treated in detail.
What are the Different Causes of Gynecomastia?
Man-Boobs, the primary cause of enlarged breasts is a hormonal imbalance between testosterone and estrogen. Estrogen is the hormone that controls female characteristics, including breast growth
And testosterone is the hormone that controls male characteristics. Males produce estrogen and females produce testosterone in a small amount. And when the estrogen levels in males become high, it causes gynecomastia.
At different stages of life, different factors can cause gynecomastia, such as:
- Immediately after birth, newborns still have a large amount of estrogen that they receive from their mothers. That’s why newborns have enlarged breasts. After some time, the hormone levels are regulated by the body automatically and the condition resolves within two to three weeks.
- During puberty, hormone levels start to change that sometimes results in gynecomastia. Generally, the enlarged breasts become normal within 6 months to two years after puberty starts.
- In adulthood and older age, breast enlargement usually occurs due to hormonal imbalance caused by aging, usage of certain medications or drugs.
Apart from natural age-related factors that cause the development of male boobs, there are other factors that cause gynecomastia. These include:
- Obesity
- Lack of proper nutrition
- Adrenal glands or testicular tumors
- Liver diseases
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypogonadism
- Hypoandrogenism
- Kidney failure
Regular usage of certain medications and overuse of some drugs also increase the risk of gynecomastia. These drugs include:
- Anabolic steroids used for performance improvement
- Estrogens
- Finasteride used for enlarged prostate
- Spironolactone, digoxin, amiodarone, and calcium channel blockers
- Cimetidine and proton pump inhibitors used for heartburn
- Diazepam used for anxiety
- Ketoconazole used for fungal infections
- Metronidazole used for bacterial infection
- Human chorionic gonadotrophin used for fertility issues
- Amphetamines, marijuana, heroin, methadone, and excess use of alcohol
Any of the above-mentioned things can contribute to the development of gynecomastia. In some cases, men can also mistake fat accumulation for gynecomastia. That’s why a proper diagnosis is required to confirm that you have gynecomastia.
How Man-Boobs/Gynecomastia is Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of gynecomastia usually requires a physical examination. The doctor will ask you about the symptoms, medical history, and the medications you use on a regular basis. It is important that the doctor review all your medications, supplements, and herbal products that you use.
A blood test will also be suggested to check your hormone levels. If needed, the doctor will recommend further tests including a mammogram or breast ultrasound to rule out the possibility of breast cancer in males.
How Man-Boobs/Gynecomastia is Treated?
Many people have to face embarrassment because of the large size of breasts due to gynecomastia. People joke about the condition and call the swollen breast tissues “man boobs” teasingly. Men who have gynecomastia have to face both physical and mental challenges. Most men decide to get treatment to regain their confidence and self-esteem.
Fortunately, gynecomastia can be resolved easily if caused due to puberty changes or medications.
- In case of puberty, the doctor will monitor the changes and recommend watchful waiting as the condition is most likely to resolve within 2 years.
- In the case of medications, the doctor will ask you to stop taking the medications that are causing breast enlargement and replace them with alternative medicines. After some time, the condition will resolve on its own.
If none of the above methods work and the condition still persists, then you may have to undergo surgery to get rid of the male boobs.
Surgical Treatment of Gynecomastia
The surgical treatment of gynecomastia is called male breast reduction done to remove the glandular tissues and contour the shape and size of the chest in men. The doctor recommends surgery when the condition cannot be resolved through other treatment methods and the symptoms are only getting worse.
Before the doctors proceed with surgical treatment, they determine whether you are an ideal candidate for male breast reduction or not. To undergo gynecomastia surgery, you need to meet the following criteria:
- You must be above 18 years.
- You have already tried other methods that failed to deliver results.
- You have already tried exercise and dietary modifications to reduce the accumulated fat.
- You must have a healthy body with no underlying condition that can impact the healing process.
- You must not be overweight and have a healthy BMI.
- You should have realistic expectations from the surgery.
- You should not have a habit of excessive drinking or smoking.
Once you qualify to undergo surgery, the doctor will proceed with the treatment. Some surgeons use liposuction to remove the excess tissues whereas others prefer gland excision surgery. Some doctors combine these two methods to perform a minimally invasive surgery and provide the best results.
If you want to undergo minimally invasive surgery to resolve gynecomastia, you can get in touch with daycare providers like Pristyn Care for gynecomastia treatment in Gurgaon or in any other city of India. They have a dedicated team of gynecomastia surgeons and advanced technology to treat the condition through a quick, painless, and scarless procedure.
The Bottom Line
We have listed most of the things that cause the formation of man-boobs or gynecomastia. If you are noticing changes in your chest region and suspects that you have gynecomastia, visit an expert right away. In the earlier stages, it will be easier to treat the condition. Consult a specialist as soon as possible and get proper treatment.