Are Your Man-Boobs From Gynecomastia?

 Gynecomastia is a condition in which the breasts become enlarged in boys or men, sometimes causing discomfort or nipple tenderness. The cause is usually a hormonal imbalance and typically occurs during infancy, adolescence, or mid-to-late life. Hair transplant in one lac in Islamabad

Fortunately, the condition often goes away naturally, but treatments are available for severe or persistent cases. It is uncommon for the condition to continue past age 17.

The most affected are boys in early to mid-puberty (up to 70%) who experience gynecomastia because of the normal hormonal changes occurring during puberty. It is also common among middle-aged and elderly men (up to 65 percent).

Causes of Gynecomastia

Contrary to popular belief, everyone produces both androgen and estrogen. In males, far more androgen hormones are present. Gynecomastia can occur when the balance is shifted, with an increase in estrogen or decrease in androgens. In many males, it occurs due to expected hormonal changes during puberty or aging, or because of the use of certain drugs or herbal products.

In adult men, the breakdown is as follows:

· Pubertal gynecomastia that does go away naturally - 25%

· Drugs - 10 to 25%

· Unknown causes (idiopathic) - 25%

Several drugs have been associated with gynecomastia, including:

· Spironolactone (Aldactone), a drug used to treat heart failure, high blood pressure, and several other conditions.

· Ketoconazole, a drug used to treat fungal infections.

· Cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), and related drugs called H2-receptor blockers used to treat stomach ulcers and severe heartburn.

Gynecomastia in children has been linked to regular use of skincare products (lotions, soaps, and shampoos) containing tea tree oil and lavender oil. Both oils have plant estrogens, which can affect the body's hormone balance. After stopping the use of the products, the condition usually resolves completely.

It is sometimes not clear what causes gynecomastia during mid-to-late-life. As men age, testosterone levels decline, which changes the hormone balance and favors an increased level of estrogen. It is likely these factors probably account for most cases of "idiopathic" gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia is different than pseudo gynecomastia, which happens in overweight men whose breasts enlarge because of fat deposits.

Treatment for Gynecomastia

Treatment for gynecomastia depends on its cause, duration, and severity, and whether it causes pain or discomfort.

Adolescents

Drugs that block the effects of estrogen can help reduce the size of the breasts for boys with severe gynecomastia that is causing substantial tenderness or embarrassment. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and raloxifene (Evista) are somewhat helpful.

But neither drug is approved for such use in the US. Lacking FDA approval, the risks and benefits have not been well-studied.

Surgery is usually not recommended during puberty as there may be regrowth of the breast tissue if the surgery is done before puberty has ended.

Adult Men

Treatment is usually delayed in adult men when gynecomastia is likely to be due to an underlying health problem or by drugs. Gynecomastia is resolved by treating the underlying condition or temporarily suspending the problematic drug when possible.

Prostate cancer patients:

Gynecomastia is a known complication of treatment for prostate cancer, and roughly 75% who receive this treatment develop gynecomastia. The goal in these cases is to prevent the development of gynecomastia and can include tamoxifen and radiation therapy.

Surgery

When tamoxifen or raloxifene is not an option such as when the condition has lasted longer than a few months, surgery to reduce the size of the breasts is an option for these men.

The extent of surgery depends upon the severity of the breast enlargement and whether there is also excess fatty tissue. For example, many men are treated with a combination of surgery and liposuction.