What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is defined as excessive breast enlargement in men. As a result of gynecomastia, which is a health problem, men develop feminine breast tissue. Studies show that one out of every 3 men over the age of 35 has gynecomastia. Although we encounter gynecomastia more frequently in middle ages and in old age, in some cases we can see this even in infancy. Especially during adolescence, gynecomastia becomes a common problem with weight gain due to hormones. According to a study conducted in Turkey, the rate of gynecomastia in adolescent boys was reported as 34.6%.
What are the Causes for Gynecomastia?
Basically, gynecomastia, which is the abnormal growth of breast tissue due to an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone hormones in the body, is not a serious health problem. It usually only affects the outward appearance. It can affect one breast in some cases or both breasts in some cases. If both breasts are affected differently, the two may reach different sizes. However, the presence of this disease is disturbing for the self-confidence of the individual. Moreover, in more severe cases, individuals may also experience pain.
We can list the following reasons to answer the question “Why does breast enlargement occur in men?” in more detail:
Natural Hormone Changes
The most common cause of gynecomastia is natural hormone changes. A healthy male synthesizes a small amount of estrogen hormone. Gynecomastia occurs when this estrogen-testosterone balance shifts and estrogen hormone predominates. The reason why most male babies are born with large breasts is the estrogen hormone that comes from the mother. This hormone stabilizes on its own within a few weeks.
Gynecomastia Caused by Drugs
Some drug groups that cause gynecomastia are:
- Anabolic steroids and androgens
- Anti-androgen drugs used in prostate treatment
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Antibiotics
- Ulcer medications
- Antiretroviral drugs used to treat AIDS
- Heart medications
Health Problems Causing Gynecomastia
Various diseases can cause gynecomastia by disrupting the balance of hormones. Some of those:
- Hypogonadism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Tumors
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure and cirrhosis
- Malnutrition (Malnutrition)
In addition to these, let’s say that the consumption of drugs and alcohol can also cause gynecomastia.
What are the Symptoms of Gynecomastia?
Individuals who suspect that they have this disease, “What are the symptoms of gynecomastia? How do I know if I have gynecomastia” In fact, gynecomastia manifests itself with very clear symptoms.
- Swelling in the breast tissue,
- Discharge from the nipple,
- One breast is larger than the other,
- Pain or tenderness in the breasts,
- Feeling of a lump in the lower part of the nipple,
If you have at least one of these symptoms, we recommend that you go to the nearest hospital and be examined. Remember that breast cancer is not just a female disease. These symptoms, which you ignore as insignificant, can sometimes point to much more serious problems.
Gynecomastia Treatment
We can carry out gynecomastia treatment in several ways. Before proceeding to the treatment process, we need to evaluate the underlying causes of this problem. Therefore, you should first consult the nearest endocrinology specialist for the diagnosis of gynecomastia. We determine the treatment planning for gynecomastia according to the type of the disease. If we examine that the disease is caused by hormonal reasons, we will shape the treatment process accordingly.
Gynecomastia is not the only kind. For example, the course of gynecomastia in adolescents and their response to treatment are different from those of older patients. We measure the gynecomastia we encounter during adolescence with the help of the Nydick classification. Using the Nydick classification, we determine the type of gynecomastia by the size of the glandular tissue disc under the brown ring located on the nipple. If this tissue disc is less than 4 cm in diameter, we expect the disease to go away on its own without any extra treatment.
The primary criterion we seek to start the treatment process is that the patient has had these complaints for many years. We start the treatment process if the symptoms disturbing the patient increase. Medical treatment is sufficient if the disc in the patient’s breast tissue is between 4-6 cm. If this disc exceeds 6 cm in diameter, that means we have no choice but to undergo surgery.
If breast enlargement is observed due to a drug, your doctor may suggest you to quit it. In case of the patient needs to use this medicine for life, he may ask his doctor to prescribe a substitute medicine. If breast enlargement in men is caused by an underlying condition such as hypogonadism, malnutrition, or cirrhosis, these will go away when treated.
Gynecomastia Surgery
People with this disease often ask ”How to get rid of gynecomastia?” Gynecomastia surgery is the most effective treatment method. We use liposuction, (fat removal) in surgical operations performed by specialist physicians. Excess fat tissue removed by liposuction does not grow again.
If you have more questions about gynecomastia (male breast enlargement), don’t forget to contact our medical consultants via WhatsApp. If you wish, you can also wait for us to reach you by filling out the form on the side.