If you're a man who has ever had to deal with gynecomastia, you know just how frustrating it can be.
Sometimes referred to as 'man boobs,' gynecomastia is nowhere near as funny or amusing as this nickname.
In this article, we will explore exactly what this condition is and the different things that can cause gynecomastia.
What is Gynecomastia? Gynecomastia is actually from two Latin words meaning 'woman' and 'breast.
' Men who experience this condition have abnormally large mammary glands which result in larger breasts which are more feminine than a typical man's breasts.
In fact, they can sometimes even secrete breast milk.
This condition is most often seen in puberty or teenage years and often goes away on its own after a few years.
However, in some men, the condition stays and if they want to get rid of gynecomastia, they must seek some sort of treatment.
This condition is a very sensitive issue for most men who have to deal with it.
In much the same way as a woman wouldn't want to walk around with a mustache or beard, men can feel as if their manhood is being compromised or that they aren't as much of a man as they should be.
Although the feelings are understandable, they are not true and there are many different treatment options for the condition.
Still, it is a source of frustration, embarrassment, aggravation and depression for many men.
From taking your shirt off to go swimming to being intimate with your spouse or girlfriend can be difficult and embarrassing.
Causes of Gynecomastia The troubling thing about this condition is that the cause is largely undetermined.
Although experts have their theories, they don't know why some men develop gynecomastia while others never have an issue with it.
One theory is that the condition is caused by unbalanced sex hormones or abnormalities with the tissues that are responsive to these hormones.
Hypertrophy of breast tissue is the most common cause of gynecomastia.
This is different from men who experience larger breasts due to simply being overweight or obese.
Normally, those who are overweight experience fatty tissue which makes the male breasts appear larger.
However, with true cases of gynecomastia, the actual mammary glands and breast tissues are larger and function more than they are supposed to.
There are several different things that may cause this to happen, including taking certain medications.
Just a few of those medications include cimetidine, omeprazole, spironolactone and some antipsychotic medications.
These result in about 10% to 20% of teenage gynecomastia.
Increased estrogen levels can also cause this condition as well as certain conditions which affect the pituitary gland or hypothalamus.
Although there are a slew of different possible causes of gynecomastia, there is no defined cause for about 25% of cases.
Luckily, for those who don't think the condition will go away on its own, there are many treatment options.
Speaking with your doctor is a great way to explore your options and decide on whether or not to seek treatment and what type of treatment to seek.