What is gynecomastia in males?
Gynecomastia is enlarged breast
tissue in men. It is an enlargement the male breast gland because of a hormonal
imbalance, but the appearance of enlargement may be described as pseudogynecomastia,
a symptom causing an excess of fat which is deposited on the chest. It is a
common and a temporary condition in boys going through puberty.
It is caused by an imbalance of
the hormones estrogen and testosterone. It may affect one or both the breast,
sometimes unevenly. Going further even older men may develop Gynecomastia as a
result of normal changes in hormone levels, through other causes. However, it
isn’t a serious problem and may go away on its own, but it can be tough to cope
with such conditions in men. Some may experience pain in their breast and may
feel embarrassed.
Let’s read on to find out, why do
some men develop breasts?
Both male and female, possess both
male hormones (androgens) and female hormones (estrogens). During puberty,
the level of these hormones may vary and rise at different levels, resulting in
a temporary state of hormonal imbalance. Studies say that the prevalence of
gynecomastia in normal adolescents is due to the relatively high concentration
of estrogen hormone.
In girls, breast growth is caused
due to high levels of estrogen. Usually, when going through puberty, the
production of androgens is higher in boys, whereas production of estrogen
remains low. In some cases, boy produces enough estrogen during puberty that’s
developed breast tissues.
What causes gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement?
Gynecomastia is triggered due to
decrease in the amount of the testosterone hormone in comparison to estrogen
hormone. This decrease can be a condition that blocks the effect of or reduces
testosterone hormone or a condition that increases your estrogen level.
It is observed that, more than
half of male infants are born with enlarged breasts due to the effects of their
mother’s estrogen. Usually the swollen breast tissue goes away after a couple
of weeks after birth. Gynecomastia causing hormonal changes during puberty is
relatively common. This usually disappears on its own by 6 months or a year. In
some cases, gynecomastia is developed during puberty continuing beyond 2 years
and is referred to as persistent pubertal gynecomastia.
Commonly known risk factors
causing gynecomastia are; Adolescence, Older age, Use of anabolic
steroids or androgens to improve athletic performance. Certain health
conditions, including liver and kidney disease, thyroid disease, hormonally
active tumors, and Klinefelter's syndrome. Gynecomastia may cause a few
physical complications, but many a times it causes psychological or emotional
problems caused by appearance.
Always remember
that, temporary breast tissue growth in boys is a common part of puberty that
will usually go away on its own. And if you have any concern or any questions
about gynecomastia, it is advisable
to talk to your doctor.
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