Although many people only associate breast problems with women, men can also be affected. If you have noticed changes in your breasts or nipples, don’t worry it’s not unusual. Males may notice a change in their breasts during puberty or it can happen at any age and for a number of different reasons. This breast development that occurs in males is medically known as Gynecomastia. If you have questions about changes in your own breasts, speak with your health care provider.
The term ‘Gynecomastia’ comes from the Greek words gyne and mastos, meaning female and breasts (feminine form), respectively, and roughly translating to female-like breasts.
The causes of gynecomastia
Just as in females, the hormone estrogen causes male breast tissue to grow. As a newborn, you have higher blood levels of estrogen you obtained from your mother via breast milk. (Pregnant women have high estrogen levels and some of the hormone is passed to their fetus through the placenta.)
During adolescence, males produce a lot of the male hormone testosterone. However, some of the hormone is converted into estrogen
Increasing breast size in adult males is almost always due to overeating which results in fat laying down fat over the pectoral region. If male breasts suddenly increase in size and/or become painful, then medical intervention is required. In old age hormonal imbalances may be the cause. Possible causes of male adult breast growth include kidney failure, chronic liver disease, tumors, genetic disorders such as Klinefelter's syndrome, as well as side effects of some therapeutic drugs, exposure to androgen hormones taken by some body builders.
How long does it last?
As males move further into adolescence, the testosterone levels become more dominant and the breast tissue becomes less noticeable. In rare cases, the breast tissue does not recede, and minor surgery can be done to remove it through an outpatient procedure.
Treatment of gynecomastia
Choices of treatment for gynecomastia depend on several factors. The first is the cause of the disorder. If the gynecomastia is drug-induced, discontinuance of the agent may be all that is needed.
If it is pubertal, watchful waiting is in order, since in most patients the condition will resolve spontaneously.
Gynecomastia due to hyperthyroidism, acute hepatic disorders, or a recent onset of
hypogonadism may remit in response to therapy for the underlying disorder.
The second consideration is whether the gynecomastia is an incidental finding, detected only by the physician, or is brought to the attention of the physician by the patient himself. Mild asymptomatic gynecomastia detected only through physical examination requires no therapy other than treatment of the underlying cause.
A third factor to consider is the length of time the gynecomastia has been present. A number of histologic studies have shown that gynecomastia present for less than six months usually demonstrates an active, or florid, histologic picture, characterized by marked ductal epithelial hyperplasia, proliferation of the periductal mesenchymal tissue, and periductal edema.
In general, the indications for treatment include: marked pain and tenderness, severe embarrassment or emotional disturbance. The most uniformly effective therapy at any stage is surgical removal of the glandular tissue through a periareolar incision. In patients with a large amount of adipose tissue in the subglandular area, suction-assisted lipectomy may be performed at the time of surgery to improve the cosmetic results.
