Table of Contents
What is gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition of enlargement of the glandular tissues in breasts in males. As a result, the breasts become more prominent, or they may grow unevenly. This condition may cause discomfort or nipple tenderness. The best treatment for gynecomastia varies among individuals.
Gynecomastia mostly happens during the hormonal changes of puberty in a preteen or teenage boy. However, this condition can also develop in newborns and men.
Gynecomastia differs from breast enlargement, a condition in overweight individuals due to fat deposits. In some cases, this condition goes away on its own, but still, treatments are available for severe or persistent cases. In addition, gynecomastia surgery can be a result of an underlying health problem. Treatment of that problem usually improves gynecomastia as well.
Up to 70 per cent of males in early to mid-puberty go through gynecomastia due to the hormonal changes they experience during puberty. This condition is also common in middle-aged and older males. Since gynecomastia causes anxiety, fear of breast cancer, and psychological discomfort, an early diagnostic evaluation is essential. Gynecomastia affects Up to 65 percent of men.
What are some common causes of gynecomastia?
It’s a common perception that estrogens are female hormones, and androgens, such as testosterone, are male hormones. In reality, Individuals of both genders produce both hormones. However, androgens are the predominant hormone in males, along with a small amount of estrogen. Gynecomastia develops with an increase in estrogen or a decrease in the number of androgens. There are many underlying causes of this hormonal shift, and it could be due to hormonal changes during puberty, aging or the use of certain drugs or herbal products.
There are multiple causes of this condition; some of these are as follows.
Hormonal changes in puberty
Gynecomastia that develops during puberty most of the time resolves without treatment. However, it takes six months to two years to resolve it. Sometimes it develops between ages 10 and 12 but commonly occurs between 13 and 14.
Drugs
Many drugs that cause gynecomastia are as follows:
- Medications for heart diseases
- Antifungal drugs
- Drugs used to treat stomach ulcers and heartburn
- Prostate cancer drugs
- Anti-anxiety drugs
- Antibiotics
- Antidepressants
- Steroids, heroin and marijuana
If the drugs you take cause gynecomastia, the doctor may recommend that you stop using them and replace them with other medication that is less likely to cause this condition. Gynecomastia develops in 75 percent of men who take drugs to treat prostate cancer.
Sometimes when men take combination treatment for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), they also develop large breasts. In most cases, this condition is due to fat redistribution, a side effect of this combination treatment. But in some cases, true gynecomastia has been observed.
Herbal products
According to NCBI, gynecomastia in children has been linked with regular skin care products containing tea tree oil and lavender oil. This is because these oils have plant estrogen and can affect the body’s hormone balance. Mostly gynecomastia resolves after stopping these products. Soy products can also cause gynecomastia when consumed in large quantities.
Unknown causes of gynecomastia
The cause of gynecomastia in mid to late life is not clear yet. However, as men age, blood testosterone levels tend to decline, and hormone balance changes to a higher amount of estrogen-to-testosterone ratio. These factors probably are the cause of most idiopathic gynecomastia. Therefore, treatment for gynecomastia varies among different patients.
How is gynecomastia evaluated?
Sometimes, pseudo-gynecomastia or lipomastia is confused with gynecomastia. Pseudo-gynecomastia is a condition in which overweight men have large breasts due to fat deposits. In the case of a man or boy with enlarged breasts, the health care provider examines whether the breast tissue is fatty or glandular. Glandular tissue has a network of ducts that can be felt during a physical exam and secret substances, such as hormones and milk.
Healthcare providers sometimes face difficulty in the diagnosis of gynecomastia. Therefore, they may recommend a breast ultrasound or a mammogram in such a situation.
Laboratory test
In some situations, healthcare professionals order blood tests to measure the levels of hormones. However, blood tests are not required if the cause of gynecomastia is known, e.g. puberty or drugs.
What are treatment options for gynecomastia?
The best treatment of gynecomastia depends upon its causes, such as how severe it is, duration and whether it causes pain or discomfort.
Treatment for adolescents
As pubertal gynecomastia goes away with time, health care providers do not usually recommend its treatment. Instead, healthcare providers watch for changes in size for a few months. It resolves during that time in most cases. However, healthcare providers may recommend some medication in case of severe gynecomastia that causes substantial tenderness or pain. These medications block the effect of estrogen in the body and can reduce the size of the breasts to some extent.
Treatment for men
Healthcare professionals do not recommend treatment for men with gynecomastia caused by underlying problems or drugs. In these cases, gynecomastia resolves by treating the underlying health condition or stopping the problematic medication.
Surgical treatment of gynecomastia
Healthcare professionals recommend surgery for a patient whose breast tissue is not tender or who has had this condition for more than a year. Plastic surgery is the best treatment for gynecomastia in patients with severe issues.
Two types of gynecomastia surgeries are:
- Liposuction
This plastic surgery removes the breast fat but does not remove gland tissue.
- Mastectomy
This surgery removes the gland tissues in the breasts. A small incision does this. This plastic surgery is less invasive, so it has less recovery time.
The extent of surgery depends upon the excess fatty tissue and the severity of breast enlargement. Many patients are treated with surgical procedures like removing glandular tissue and liposuction. More extensive plastic surgery, such as partial removal of breast skin, is required for males with severe breast enlargement or those with excessive breast sagging that mainly occurs after weight loss.
The best treatment for gynecomastia in Pakistan is offered by Cosmetic Otoplasty, which provides the best gynecomastia surgery in Lahore. Many patients visit from other countries to get affordable gynecomastia treatment in Pakistan. Gynecomastia surgery cost in Lahore is more affordable than in other cities, and health professionals in cosmetic plastic provide the best patient care. Patients from many developed countries visit Pakistan for affordable gynecomastia surgery costs in Pakistan.
