Gynecomastia is a condition in men where the breast tissues swell up. This happens due to a hormone imbalance, where either too much or too little estrogen is produced. Often, there’s an underlying issue in the body causing this imbalance.
Gynecomastia can affect men of any age, including infants, teens, and adults. This swelling can lead to the formation of breast buds, making the breasts feel firm or rubbery. These breast buds can last up to two years and might be embarrassing, though they usually aren’t a health threat. Treatment is unnecessary unless the imbalance is causing other health issues or if the breast buds signal serious problems like male breast cancer. Men noticing breast buds should still see a doctor to figure out the cause and ensure their safety.
Key signs of gynecomastia include the growth of male breast buds, caused by glandular (not fatty) tissue enlargement. Typically, breast buds develop on both sides of the chest and are about the size of a nickel or a quarter. If a lump appears on just one side, it might indicate male breast cancer, requiring further check-ups and possibly a biopsy.
Men can recognize gynecomastia by the growth of breast buds, but other symptoms might include:
– Rubbery or very firm breast tissue that’s symmetrical around the nipple
– Tenderness
– Sensitivity
However, these symptoms might not appear in all cases. Cancer-related symptoms are different and can include hardness or firmness in the nipple, enlarged lymph nodes in the underarm, nipple discharge or retraction, and skin dimpling.
Several causes can lead to gynecomastia, including:
– Exposure to estrogen in the womb, which can cause more than half of male infants to have gynecomastia at birth. This usually lasts two to three weeks.
– Natural hormonal changes during puberty or aging, with over half of boys experiencing it during puberty. Older men might develop it due to a natural drop in testosterone.
– Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and certain medications such as flutamide, Proscar, Aldactone, and alkylating agents can cause hormonal changes resulting in gynecomastia.
– Using Risperdal, an anti-psychotic medication, which has been recognized as a cause.
– Steroid use, particularly drugs like prednisone and dexamethasone.
– Medical conditions such as liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, lung cancer, pituitary or adrenal gland cancer, and overactive thyroid can increase the risk of gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia can develop naturally or due to the side effects of drugs and medications. Key risk factors include adolescent and old age, as well as drug therapies.
Doctors can initially diagnose gynecomastia with a physical examination to check for breast swelling. Depending on factors like age and breast bud condition, other tests might include:
– Blood tests
– Mammograms
– Chest X-rays
– CT-scans or MRIs
– Breast tissue biopsies
– Testicular ultrasounds
These tests help rule out serious underlying health issues and, sometimes, determine the cause of the hormone imbalance.
Treatment is generally limited, but addressing the underlying health problems that caused breast growth might be necessary. Often, breast buds will go away on their own without any medical intervention.
Doctors might suggest stopping a medication that caused gynecomastia or dealing with issues like malnutrition or cirrhosis linked to the growth. However, if the condition persists and causes significant discomfort or embarrassment, treatment options include medications and surgery. Medications like tamoxifen and raloxifene, although approved for cancer treatment, are frequently used off-label to treat gynecomastia.
Surgical options include liposuction, which removes only fat, not gland tissue, and mastectomy. Mastectomy used to be more invasive but can now be done endoscopically with small incisions, reducing recovery time.
For those with gynecomastia, the outlook is good if there are no severe underlying issues. When caused by normal hormonal changes or treatable health problems, it usually doesn’t lead to other health issues. In most cases, breast buds disappear on their own within one to two years. If they don’t, surgical removal is typically effective.