Gynecomastia is the development of breasts in men. This is an embarrassing condition that can be highly damaging to a man’s self-esteem and unfortunately it’s also a problem that many men live with.
So what exactly is gynecomastia and what are the top causes?
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a word that comes from the Greek for ‘woman-like breasts’. The condition can actually affect a single breast on its own in some cases but will more regularly affect both equally.
What’s important to recognize, though, is that ‘man boobs’ and ‘gynecomastia’ are not necessarily the same thing. In some cases, ‘man boobs’ can occur simply as the result of excess fat – in which case the rest of the body will also likely be a little ‘flabbier’. In other cases of genuine gynecomastia, however, the breasts can appear even on a thin individual and have a much more ‘breast-like’ appearance.
In the latter scenario, the breasts are caused by a hormone imbalance. In this case, the patient might also notice their breast gland tissues swelling and their breasts becoming tender. Even the diameter of the areola can increase!
Top Causes
As such then, the main causes of genuine gynecomastia are things that affect the normal hormone balance. A hormone imbalance can occur on its own, or which can be the result of:
- Birth – In newborn children, gynecomastia is common as the child has oestrogen from the mother
- Steroid use– Anabolic steroids used by some athletes and bodybuilders can cause an increase in testosterone. Interestingly, this can then increase oestrogen as well as oestrogen can be metabolized from testosterone in the body. Thus individuals using steroids should always use a ‘post cycle therapy’ stack – or better yet, stay away from them in the first place!
- Medication – Likewise, medications that raise testosterone can also raise oestrogen. Likewise, gynecomastia can be a side effect of heart drugs, HIV medication, tricyclic antidepressants and chemotherapy among other treatments. If you suspect your breast tissue may be the result of your medication, then you should speak with your GP.
- Kidney failure – Around fifty percent of patients subject to hermodialysis will also experience hormonal changes, often leading to gynecomastia.
- Hyperthyroidism – In this condition, the thyroid gland can increase excess thyroxin which results in a hormone imbalance.
- Hypogonadism
- Alcohol abuse – Alcohol abuse is also linked with gynecomastia. There is also some evidence to suggest that marijuana abuse may cause the condition.
- Aging – As men age, they naturally undergo various hormonal changes which may lead to the condition.
- Obesity – Obesity can increase fat tissue around the breasts creating the illusion of gynecomastia. This can then be exacerbated by actual gynecomastia, caused by reduced testosterone.
Overall then, gynecomastia is most commonly caused by an increase in oestrogen and/or decrease in testosterone. If you cannot identify a specific cause for the problem, then another option is to consider trying a supplement that is designed to support healthy hormone balances in men. Otherwise, consult with your doctor or consider surgery to treat the problem
One of the best ways to treat gynecomastia or man boobs is with the help of natural male breast reduction pills. Some of them are a 100% natural formula that has a 99% success rate in reducing man boobs. It works by reducing fat cells in the mammary glands, both in number as well as size. One of the most appealing features of such pills is that they have no side effects. Furthermore, it can help you get rid of man boobs without pain or surgery.
