What is Gynecomastia?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition of breast enlargement with increased breast gland tissue in men. Gynecomastia can be seen in men of all ages, but is more common in newborns, during puberty, and older age. Gynecomastia is caused due to an imbalance of the testosterone (male sex hormone) and estrogen (female sex hormone) hormones. In this article, we will be discussing gynecomastia treatment in detail-
- What are the causes of Gynecomastia?
- What are the risk factors of Gynecomastia?
- What are the symptoms of Gynecomastia?
- How to diagnose Gynecomastia?
- What is the treatment for Gynecomastia?
- What are the complications of Gynecomastia?
- How to prevent Gynecomastia?
- What is the cost of Gynecomastia treatment in India?
What are the causes of Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia occurs due to a decrease in the amount of testosterone hormone levels as compared to the estrogen levels in a man.
The testosterone hormone is responsible for controlling male traits like body hair and muscle mass, whereas the estrogen hormone controls certain female traits like the growth of the breasts.
Men usually produce estrogen hormones in very small quantities. When the estrogen hormone levels in men are too high, or out of balance with the testosterone hormone levels, it can lead to gynecomastia.
The various causes of gynecomastia include:
- Natural hormonal changes:
- Many male infants are born with breasts that are enlarged. This is due to the mother’s estrogen hormone levels. Normally, it is a temporary condition and disappears two to three weeks after birth.
- Gynecomastia is commonly seen during puberty. The swollen breast tissue generally disappears without treatment in about six months to two years.
- Gynecomastia is commonly seen in men between 50 and 80 years of age. Most men with gynecomastia at this age have no symptoms.
( Know more about- What is hormonal imbalance in females? )
- Medications:
Many medications can cause gynecomastia. These medicines include:
- Anti-androgen medications: These medications are used for the treatment of an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, and other disorders. Examples are spironolactone, finasteride, and flutamide.
- Anabolic steroids and androgens: These drugs are used for the treatment of delayed puberty, muscle loss, and hormone deficiency due to another disease.
- Medications for AIDS: Some medications for HIV patients, like Efavirenz, have estrogen-like properties and can cause gynecomastia.
- Anti-anxiety medications: Medications like diazepam can cause gynecomastia.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications: Medications like Adderall that contain amphetamines can cause gynecomastia.
- Antibiotics: Medications used to treat infections can lead to gynecomastia.
- Tricyclic antidepressants can lead to enlarged breast formation.
- Chemotherapy drugs: Drugs used for the treatment of cancer can cause gynecomastia.
- Ulcer medications: Drugs like cimetidine can cause enlarged breasts.
- Stomach-emptying medications: Medications like metoclopramide can cause enlargement of breasts.
- Heart medications: Drugs like calcium channel blockers and digoxin may be responsible for gynecomastia.
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- Use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and recreational drugs:
The following substances can cause gynecomastia:
-
- Marijuana
- Alcohol
- Amphetamines
- Heroin
- Anabolic steroids (used for muscle building and enhancing athletic performance)
- Methadone
- Herbal products:
- Use of plant oils like lavender or tea tree that may be used in certain lotions, soaps, and shampoos may cause gynecomastia due to their weak estrogenic activity.
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- Health conditions and diseases:
Many health conditions could lead to gynecomastia. These include:
-
- Tumors: Tumors involving the testes, adrenal glands, or the pituitary gland can produce hormones that may alter the male-female hormone balance.
- Hypogonadism: Certain conditions like pituitary insufficiency or Klinefelter syndrome (a genetic condition in which males may be born with low testosterone) can lower the production of testosterone, causing gynecomastia.
- Aging: Hormonal changes due to an increase in age can cause gynecomastia.
- Obesity
- Hyperthyroidism: It is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland produces excessive thyroxine hormone. It may cause gynecomastia.
- Liver failure and cirrhosis: Liver disorders and medications taken for cirrhosis (chronic or long-term liver damage) may be associated with gynecomastia.
- Kidney failure: Men being treated with dialysis for kidney failure may develop gynecomastia due to hormonal changes.
- Malnutrition: When adequate nutrition is not provided to the body, it may lead to a drop in the testosterone levels, while the estrogen levels remain the same. This causes a hormonal imbalance which may lead to gynecomastia.
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What are the risk factors of Gynecomastia?
Certain factors increase the risk of developing gynecomastia. These factors are:
- Old age
- Adolescence
- Using anabolic steroids for the improvement of athletic performance
- Health conditions like liver disorders, kidney failure, thyroid disorders, tumors, Klinefelter syndrome
- Use medications like anti-androgens, anti-anxiety medicines, antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-ulcer drugs, ADHD medicines, medications for AIDS, etc.
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Use of illicit drugs
- Use of herbal products like lavender oil
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What are the symptoms of Gynecomastia?
Many men having gynecomastia may have no symptoms. However, some of them have the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Swollen breast tissue
- Tenderness of breasts
- Nipple sensitivity
- Nipple discharge
How to diagnose Gynecomastia?
- Physical examination: The doctor will first examine the patient physically. The symptoms of the patient are noted, along with the patient’s complete medical history and family history.
- Blood tests: A blood test is useful for checking the hormone levels in the blood, and also the presence of any underlying infections.
- Breast Ultrasound: Sound waves are used to obtain clear images of the breast growths.
- Mammogram: It helps in the examination of any changes or unusual growths in the breast tissue.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: These are imaging tests done to obtain clear images of the internal organs of the body such as the breast tissue.
- Testicular ultrasound: Sound waves are used to create clear images of the area in and around the testis.
- Tissue biopsies: A small sample of suspected tissue growth is excised by the doctor and sent to the laboratory to check for the presence of any cancer cells. This test is usually done to rule out breast cancer.
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What is the treatment for Gynecomastia?
- Most cases of gynecomastia require no treatment and disappear on their own.
- If the cause of gynecomastia is an underlying medical condition, that condition needs to be treated to resolve the enlargement of breasts.
- If you are taking certain medications that may be causing gynecomastia, the doctor may recommend stopping them or may prescribe substitute medications.
- In the case of adolescents when the primary cause of gynecomastia is hormonal changes, the doctor will re-evaluate the condition every three to six months to check if the condition improves on its own. Normally, in such cases, gynecomastia disappears without treatment in less than two years.
- The patient can speak to a counselor or his doctor if he feels self-conscious or embarrassed about his condition.
- In cases where gynecomastia does not get treated on its own, or if it leads to pain, tenderness, or embarrassment, the following treatments can be done:
- Medications:
- Certain medications that may be used for the treatment of breast cancer and other conditions can also help in treating the condition of gynecomastia.
- Some medications that help in the treatment of gynecomastia include Tamoxifen, and Anastrozole (aromatase inhibitors).
- Surgery:
- Surgery can be used for the removal of the excess breast fat and glandular tissue.
- Two types of surgeries can be performed for gynecomastia:
- Liposuction: This surgery helps in the removal of the breast fat, but not the breast gland itself.
- Mastectomy: This kind of surgery is done for the removal of the breast gland tissue by making small incisions (cuts). This is a minimally-invasive type of surgery that has less recovery time.
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What are the complications of Gynecomastia?
The following complications may be associated with gynecomastia:
- Breast cancer
- Chronic (long-term) discomfort or pain
- Embarrassment
- Breast skin ulcerations
- Bloody nipple discharge
- Painful lumps formation
- Breast lump that is firm and immovable
If you notice any of the above complications, contact your doctor immediately.
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How to prevent Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia can be prevented by:
- Avoid the use of recreational drugs
- Limit the consumption of alcohol
- Avoid the use of steroids not prescribed by the doctor
- Bodybuilding supplements and drugs should be avoided
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a well-balanced diet
- Exercise regularly
What is the cost of Gynecomastia treatment in India?
The total cost of gynecomastia treatment in India can range from around INR 50,000 to INR 1,50,000. However, the cost depends on the type of procedure done and may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for gynecomastia treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of gynecomastia treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the procedure, the patient is kept in hospital for 1 day and in the hotel for 7 days for recovery. So, the total cost of gynecomastia treatment in India will be around INR 65,000 to INR 2,00,000.
We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding gynecomastia through this article.
If you need more information about gynecomastia and its treatment, you can contact the Cosmetic or Plastic Surgeon.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication, treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
