Gynecomastia is a simple case of breast enlargement in men. However, the causes may not be as simple because there are multiple reasons for this to happen to a male.
What is Gynecomastia
Mainly, the reason for breast enlargement is because of a hormone change. There are fewer androgen hormones than there is estrogen, and this alters the physical structure of a male.
It is also possible that the tissue surrounding the breast areas are less sensitive to the androgen hormone, and this causes it to grow bigger.
It is also possible that it’s a natural course of change from boy to teen, and you may notice many young teenage boys having a slightly large chest, especially those who are overweight. Now, here are two causes: a weight problem and hormone changes due to development.
Another cause for gynecomastia is specific drugs that will actually promote larger breasts like ant androgens, antibiotics, ulcer medication like cimetidine, cardio drugs like captopril, cancer-treating drugs that have alkylating agents, and penicillamine, among others.
It must be noted that it is the reaction to the medicine that will determine whether a male will develop gynecomastia or not. In other words, it is possible to take captopril, and not experience this condition.
If you have this condition, and you are taking any other drugs, you could request your doctor for an alternative drug.
It is also possible that excessive alcohol and the use of marijuana will cause this condition because these products will appear to look like estrogen, and the body will respond by producing more androgen.
If your breasts, or even just one side starts to grow unusually, you need to have your doctor check it because it is possible for the cause also to be a tumor. You could have a liver or lung condition that produces estrogen, and causes an imbalance in your hormone levels.
Most male patients who have this condition which is not improving over time, their doctors will probably recommend gynecomastia surgery which will cut into the breast to remove the glandular tissue that is causing the larger breasts. Gynecomastia surgery is not considered cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery for men will only make the operated area look more attractive, and usually follows the gynecomastia surgery. This breast reduction surgery will usually not take long to recover from – most often less than 2 weeks, and one can go back to everyday activities by that time.
Breast reduction surgery and the cosmetic surgery for men that follows is generally a way of dealing with the appearance of the larger breasts. However, not everyone will be considered for this breast reduction surgery. For instance, a doctor will rule out breast reduction surgery if the patient is hypertensive or has a heart condition, or is at an age where the gynecomastia is not life-threatening, but the patient is too old to undergo such a surgery.
