Effects of Gynecomastia on Looks and Overall Health

Effects of Gynecomastia on Looks and Health

Male bodies habitually make a hormone known as testosterone, which monitors their sexual growth during the teenage years. But males too make some estrogen which is a hormone that directs sexual growth in females.

When a male is going through his teenage period, or when an older male’s body produces less testosterone, the balance of the two hormones fluctuates. When this situation arises, a higher percentage of estrogen becomes the cause of male breast tissue to swell. Nearly half of teenage boys and as many as two-thirds of men older than 50 are having Gynecomastia to some extent.

Table of Contents

Gynecomastia Symptoms:

The first and early signs of Gynecomastia may well be a bump of fatty tissue below the nipple. This might be worrying for you and you tend to think that you have breast cancer. But Gynecomastia is not certainly a sign of cancer and in order to properly diagnose the exact cause, your doctor may advise you to have some lab tests to rule it out.

Sometimes the swelling of the breasts is uneven, with one becoming larger than the other. You may also feel tenderness in your breast.

See your doctor if you experience that your breasts have swelling, are painful or tender, or there is expulsion from the nipple of one or both breasts.

Gynecomastia Causes:

A lot of things can contribute to the hormone imbalance which results in male breast growth, and most of the time the exact cause is not identified. In addition to the variations in the body such as youth and mature, some things that can cause Gynecomastia are:

An injury or diseases that affect the testicles, which produce testosterone
Thyroid problems
Cancers, including tumors of the lungs and pituitary gland
over-weight
Illegal Drugs,
Kidney failure
Liver disease

Some Types of Medicines Can Also Be a Cause of Gynecomastia:

Anti-androgens
Anabolic steroids and androgens
HIV drugs
Anti-anxiety drugs
Heart medications
Medicines used to empty your stomach
Ulcer drugs

Gynecomastia Diagnosis:

If your doctor doubts that you have Gynecomastia, then he will most likely examine you just to make sure there are no hard lumps, discharge fluid, or any skin problem that may well be a sign of cancer. The doctor will also gather the details about your medical history.

You might also be asked to go for some laboratory tests. They could include:

Blood tests or urine samples
Mammogram
Biopsy
CT scans
MRI scans
Testicular ultrasounds

Gynecomastia Treatment:

When your doctor concludes that you have Gynecomastia, then he will refer you to an endocrinologist, who looks after the problems related to hormones. How you will be treated is dependent on depending on your age, your health, and how well you respond to certain medications.

If Gynecomastia occurs during the teenage years, it commonly goes away naturally without any medication. However, this might take 6 months to 3 years.
If it turns out your hormones imbalance because of another underlying health problem, then you will have to treat that condition as well.
You might be prescribed a medication that is used to address the hormone imbalance which is causing breast growth.

In some cases, you will require surgery. Your doctor may recommend some surgical techniques, such as:

Liposuction: that is used to remove extra breast fat

Mastectomy: that is used to remove breast gland tissue

Gynecomastia Prevention:

There are certain ways through which you can lower your chances of having Gynecomastia. They are:

Don’t use banned drugs, which include anabolic steroids, androgens, amphetamines, marijuana, or heroin.
Do not consume alcohol
Discuss your medications with your doctor in detail. If any of your medications can cause Gynecomastia, change that medicine, and ask for the alternatives.