Men may not think about the fact that their chest actually has breasts on it (since they are practically nonexistent anyway), but they are there. And when a male's breast size increases enough for others to notice (known as gynecomastia), it can be very embarrassing. Several conditions can bring about this unpleasant change and they include puberty, obesity, drug use, medication side effects, castration, or tumors, as well as diseases.
Gynecomastia Causes
According to the Mayo Clinic, Hypogonadism (a condition that results when males have too low testosterone levels), sometimes produces the symptom of gynecomastia (increased male breast size). In addition to hypogonadism, gynecomastia can be caused by many other factors (steroid abuse, obesity, disease), as mentioned above. But a hormonal imbalance between estrogen and testosterone levels, according to the Mayo Clinic, is often the cause (see link in Resources).
Symptoms
Other than the obvious increase in size, males may also experience several other symptoms. These include tenderness in the breast, swollen breast tissue, and nipple discharge. Fortunately, there are some medications that can be prescribed to treat gynecomastia under certain conditions: if it is a result of hypogonadism, or due to malnutrition, or the result of cirrhosis of the liver.
Duration
While the majority of males that experience increased breast size do not have to seek treatment due to the regression of the condition on its own, a small percentage (10 percent) are not as fortunate according to the online website Gynecomastia.org (see link in Resources).
Medication/Treatments
Medications that are prescribed to treat breast cancer (tamoxifen, raloxifene) are sometimes also prescribed for this condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not specifically approved tamoxifen or raloxifene as a treatment for gynecomastia.
Surgery
There are two surgery options available for those sufferers that do not see a gradual regression of the condition automatically---or who have the condition due to circumstances that would not respond to medication therapy. The mastectomy is the least invasive of the two, according to the Mayo Clinic, and will result in less down time in regards to recovery. The other surgical option, liposuction, entails removal of the fat tissue of the breast, not the breast gland itself.
Other Issues
Males having enlarged breasts (or one enlarged breast) does not automatically mean they have gynecomastia. Other health issues can cause a similar appearance, including fatty breast tissue, breast cancer (it can occur in men too), and a breast abscess.
Tags: Mayo Clinic, according Mayo, according Mayo Clinic, breast cancer, breast size
