Gynecomastia (patient information)
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(Gynecomastia) |
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(Gynecomastia) On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Husnain Shaukat, M.D; Aarti Narayan, M.B.B.S [2]
Overview
What are the symptoms of Gynecomastia?
- Breast enlargement
- Breast pain
What causes Gynecomastia?
- All men have both androgens and estrogens in fix levels. Androgens are hormones that create male characteristics, such as hair growth, muscle size, and a deep voice. Estrogens are hormones that create female characteristics.
- Changes in the levels of these hormones, or in how the body uses or responds to these hormones can cause enlarged breasts in men.
Common causes include
- Infancy
- Puberty
- Aging
- Chronic liver disease
- Exposure to anabolic steroid hormones
- Exposure to estrogen hormone
- Kidney failure and dialysis
- Lack (deficiency) of testosterone (male hormone)
- Marijuana use
- Hormone treatment for prostate cancer
- Radiation treatment of the testicles
- Side effects of some medications (ketoconazole, spironolactone, metronidazole, cimetidine.)
- Overactive thyroid
Rare causes include
- Genetic defects
- Tumors
Signs that may suggest breast cancer include
- One-sided breast growth
- Firm or hard breast lump that feels like it is attached to the tissue
- Skin sore over the breast
- Bloody discharge from the nipple
When to seek medical care?
- Call your health care provider if:
- You have recent swelling, pain, or enlargement in one or both breasts.
- There is dark or bloody discharge from the nipples.
- There is a skin sore or ulcer over the breast.
- A breast lump feels hard or firm.
Note: Gynecomastia in children who have not yet reached puberty should always be checked by a health care provider.
Treatment options
Home care
- Apply cold compresses and use pain relievers ( analgesics) as your health care provider recommends if swollen breasts are also painful.
Other tips include:
- Stop taking all recreational drugs, such as marijuana
- Stop taking all nutritional supplements or any drugs you are taking for bodybuilding
What to expect from your Office visit?
- Your health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination.
- Medical history questions may include:
- Is one or both breasts involved?
- What is the age and gender of the patient?
- What medications is the person taking?
- How long has gynecomastia been present?
- Is the gynecomastia staying the same, getting better, or getting worse?
- What other symptoms are present?
- Testing may not be necessary, but the following tests may be done to rule out certain diseases:
- Blood hormone level tests
- Breast ultrasound
- Liver and kidney function studies
- Mammogram
Intervention
- If an underlying condition is found, it is treated. Your physician should consider all medications that may be causing the problem. Gynecomastia during puberty usually goes away on its own.
- Breast enlargement that is extreme, uneven, or does not go away may be embarrassing for an adolescent boy. Treatments that may be used in rare situations are:
- Hormone treatments that block the effects of estrogens.
- Breast size reducing surgery.