“Man boobs” have been been mocked by professional comedians and amateur bullies, but the condition isn’t funny at all.
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The topic of “man boobs” is a common staple in sitcoms and other media outlets, but for men and boys who actually suffer from this condition, it is certainly no laughing matter. While gynecomastia, the medical term for this problem, is not fatal, it can still be embarrassing and can sometimes be mistaken for other conditions, including breast cancer.
What is Gynecomastia?
It may come as a surprise, but men and women both have breast tissue. Under normal circumstances, however, since the amount of estrogen that men produce is relatively low, this breast tissue remains flat to the chest. However, certain conditions can cause their breast tissue to swell, almost mimicking a woman’s, and men or boys with this disorder can also sometimes experience tenderness of the breasts as well.
It should be noted that though overweight men are at a greater risk for this problem, it is not a growth of fat tissue but breast tissue itself that is the problem.
Understanding the Causes Behind this Disorder
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… it is estimated that around 50% of boys will have to deal with this problem.
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It might help men and boys with gynecomastia to understand a little about the reasons for this disorder. There are actually a surprising number of reasons why swelling of the breasts occurs. The underlying cause is an imbalance between levels of estrogen and levels of testosterone in the male body. This imbalance of hormones can be caused by:
Natural hormonal changes that take place at certain times in a man’s life. The most common times for boys or men to get gynecomastia is during adolescence, when hormones are shifting due to puberty. As a matter of fact, it is estimated that around 50% of boys will have to deal with this problem. Men are also at risk between the ages of 50 and 80, which are marked by increasingly low levels of testosterone as the result of getting older.
Lifestyle choices like substance abuse. Using drugs, including the use of alcohol or street drugs like marijuana, cocaine or heroin, can also interfere with hormone levels and cause this condition.
Use of certain medications. Illegal drugs are not the only substances that interfere with hormone levels: legitimate medications used for a variety of health disorders can also have this side effect. The most frequent culprits include medications to help treat anxiety and depression, chemotherapy, antibiotics like Flagyl, antifungal medications like Flagyl, heart medications like digoxin, retroviral therapies for AIDs, steroids and medications to treat prostate cancers.
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Because of the emotional and psychological toll this condition can take, many men and boys can be reluctant to talk about this problem or seek help for it.
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Sometimes, even complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies like certain herbs can alter hormone levels. This is due to the fact that some herbs — such as lavender, dong quai and tea tree oil — have compounds which mimic human estrogen.
Some health conditions. There are also certain health conditions that can cause male breast development. Genetic disorders like Klinefelter syndrome, where a boy is born with two X chromosomes instead of one and tumors that occur in the pituitary or adrenal glands or the testes. Problems with the thyroid or with kidney or liver failure can cause hormonal imbalances as well.
One thing it is important to note is that gynecomastia is not caused by breast cancer, a common fear for men with this condition. Both conditions can result in swelling of the breast. However, Healthline notes that there are certain symptoms of breast cancer that should be reported to the doctor. These include thickened or hard breast tissue, scaling, redness, soreness or retraction of the nipple and redness, itchiness or rashes on the breast.
Getting Help
Because of the emotional and psychological toll this condition can take, many men and boys can be reluctant to talk about this problem or seek help for it. The good news is, though, that this condition is very treatable once it has been diagnosed. Diagnosis is usually based on obvious things like signs and symptoms, but doctors will also often due a detailed history and physical, imaging tests like CTs or MRIs, and tissue biopsies. This can help to rule out other issues like breast cancer or infections of the breast tissue (called mastitis).
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In some cases, however, medications like Evista (which are used to treat breast cancer) or surgery to remove excess breast tissue.
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The good news is that, in some cases, gynecomastia will resolve itself: the case of adolescent boys, for instance, this can take place between 6 months and a year. In this case, monitoring the condition is all that is necessary. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve discomfort and tenderness. In some cases, however, medications like Evista (which are used to treat breast cancer) or surgery to remove excess breast tissue. This often takes the form of liposuction or a mastectomy.
So, while gynecomastia can be embarrassing or distressing for men and boys, the good news is that, in many cases, the condition will resolve itself — and if it does not, then at least there are a wide variety of treatments that can help to treat the issue.
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Photo: Getty Images
