A Confidential Peek Into The Causes Of Gynecomastia

If you have taken the time to look around then you may have noticed that some men have larger than normal breasts than the average male. When we consider this we can come to the conclusion that it is actually quite unusual to find a man with large boobs because by nature, boobs are associated with females and this is what we perceive as somewhat normal. Please don't fall into the trap of believing the typical stereo types though like men with big boobs have them simply because they are fat and overweight. This in fact is not conclusive and a great proportion of men actually suffer from a condition known as Gynecomastia or otherwise called 'man boobs'. Essentially this condition is the development of pronounced breast tissues. I feel I must also point out that this condition should not me mistaken with pseudogynecomastia in which abnormal breast growth in a man is brought on by fat around the chest area.

To date there is still no medically proven and recognized cause of this condition. It is thought, however, to occur commonly during either puberty or old age as a result of hormonal changes in the male body. When this occurs during puberty, it commonly cures by itself without any requirement to undergo any form of surgery. Unlike when it occurs as part of aging; rarely does a man can get away with it without surgical treatment.

Unusual growth of breasts in male during puberty is pretty normal. Usually, the abnormal growth takes place in one or both breasts. A small, tender lump usually develops underneath the nipple at the onset of the condition. There is really nothing to worry about, though, as this only lasts for about some months to a period of a few years and eventually disappears as hormonal balance normalizes.

The condition also takes place because of natural aging. Typically it develops at the age fifty upwards. This is a common condition among older men due to hormonal regression.

Gynecomastia or man boobs can also be brought on by underlying medical conditions such as testicular problems, diseases affecting the liver, tumors, kidney failure, leprosy, leukaemia, genetic disorders and many others. In rare cases, the condition is brought about by some medications and prohibited drugs like marijuana. Steroids are also often considered as the culprit.

Certain prescription drugs and over the counter medicines can have an impact on the development of this condition. Some of the medications known to influence the abnormal growth of male breasts include corticosteroids, medicines for peptic ulcers, some anti cancer drugs, ketoconazole and tricyclic antidepressants. The mentioned drugs cause Gynecomastia as a side effect. However, the risk of acquiring the condition is said to be generally low.

Illegal drugs can also cause the said condition Marijuana was previously mentioned as a possible cause of Gynecomastia. Another proscribed drug that can cause this condition is heroin, which is one of the many widely used illegal drugs around. It is, in fact, being used as an ingredient in some pain killers due to its likeness to endorphin. Anabolic steroids are also said to cause Gynecomastia and there seems to be quite an issue of this with athletes who have used them.

Whichever way you look at it, this strange breast enlargement in men unquestionably causes embarrassment and can eventually result to low self-esteem. If the ailment is caused by hormonal change, there is no need to worry. If the cause is the use of certain medication, there is no other way but to discontinue taking the drug that causes it. Otherwise, there are procedures for male breast reduction available to think about.