Gynecomastia defines a condition that causes male breasts to become bigger than how they have supposed to be. Enlarged male breast tissue can be seen in males of all ages and causes of gynecomastia vary.
 

What is Gynecomastia?

It is also known as “enlarged breasts in men” because it refers to the overdeveloped breast tissue in young and adult men. Gynecomastia is caused by hormonal imbalance, and what is meant by this is an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone hormones. Certain types of medicine and some diseases may cause male breasts to become bigger too. In some cases, breasts may grow unevenly or asymmetrical which means one breast can be bigger than the other.

Symptoms of Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia reveals itself with various symptoms but also it may not show any symptoms, especially in adult men. A lump of the adipose tissue right under the nipple can be observed. When you go to the hospital for checking this lump, the doctor may run tests for analyzing whether it is a malignant mass. After hearing patients’ problems and examining the symptoms, if it is determined that there is Gynecomastia, the appropriate treatment plan is scheduled.

The most common symptoms of Gynecomastia are:

• Breast tenderness,
• Unevenly enlarged breast appearance,
• Breast lump,
• Nipple discharge (of one or both breasts)
• Sensitivity around the nipple.

Causes of Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is triggered by hormonal changes that correspond to an imbalance between male hormone (testosterone) and female hormone (estrogen). Normally, the hormone estrogen, which controls breast growth, is secreted less in men, and compared to estrogen, the decrease in testosterone hormone can cause breast enlargement. Production of less testosterone and more estrogen can occur for several reasons such as hormonal changes, malnutrition, using alcohol, drugs, and some herbal products. Another important factor that should be considered is a health condition. Some health issues that affect the balance of hormones can cause gynecomastia:
 

• Aging
• Kidney failure,
• Liver disease,
• Tumors,
• Cirrhosis,
• Thyroid disease,
• Hormonal changes
• Obesity.

Treatment for Gynecomastia

It has to be added that not everyone who experiences breast enlargement conditions may want to be treated, that is the treatment is not essential in all circumstances. For example, if the cause of breast enlargement is the medical drugs that you are taking, it may be sufficient to stop using them or replace them with different drugs. But all this should be done under the supervision of a doctor.

If the Gynecomastia cannot be controlled with drug substitution, different medication methods, or hormone therapy, a gynecomastia surgery offers a good solution, and the procedure is applied with two methods that are:

Liposuction: Excess breast fat is removed.

Mastectomy: Glandular tissue is removed to prevent breast tissue growth.

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