If you don't, you probably know or have seen a man with gynecomastia: a swelling in the male breast tissue caused by hormonal imbalance.
Many boys, especially at puberty, suffer from the cruel jokes that peers insist on making and, out of shame, do not talk to their parents or a doctor about it.
The consequence? A lifetime without knowing that this problem could be treated.
Although it is most common in adolescence, gynecomastia affects all ages: babies and the elderly have the same chance of developing this swelling in the breast tissue.
Understanding hormonal imbalance
Breast tissue becomes swollen when there is a reduction in male hormones (testosterone) or an increase in female hormones (estrogen).
As we talked about earlier, the cause can be puberty, but other factors can stimulate swelling in the tissue, such as aging, medication, and health problems that affect the hormones.
The testosterone index can also drop as a consequence of other health problems, such as:
- Chemotherapy;
- Chronic liver disease;
- Estrogen exposure;
- Renal failure;
- Lack of testosterone in the body;
- Hormonal treatment for prostate cancer;
- Radiation treatment of the testicles;
- Side effects of some medications;
- Congenital defects;
- Hyperthyroidism;
- Tumors;
- Breast cancer, although the disease is extremely rare in men.
Another very common cause of gynecomastia is the use of anabolic steroids!
So, it is essential to consult a doctor to be sure of the diagnosis and also to stay away from anabolic steroids (everyone knows the negative consequences of using this type of resource).
The treatment
It is essential to see a general practitioner to make the diagnosis, and if he or she feels it is necessary, he or she will probably refer you to a specialist.
In the consultation, it is fundamental to inform any details that may be important, such as medical history and use of medications.
The treatment is directed at the underlying problems. In other words: the doctor will treat the hormonal imbalance and, as a result, the breast tissue will deflate.
In some cases, surgical intervention that reduces the size of the breast may be necessary, but who will determine this is your doctor!