Gynaecomastia is the enlargement of male breast tissue. It’s a common, benign (not cancer) condition that mainly affects teenage boys and older men, but it can affect men at any age.
Even though gynaecomastia is very common, it’s not talked about much because some people, particularly boys, find it embarrassing.
Gynaecomastia can often make teenage boys feel very anxious and worry about what it means for them. Two out of three teenage boys develop some degree of gynaecomastia, and 90% of cases get better by themselves.
vary from a small, firm enlargement of breast tissue just behind the nipple to a larger, more female-looking breast. Gynaecomastia can affect one or both breasts. The area can be tender to touch or painful.
True gynaecomastia (caused by an enlargement of breast tissue) is different from pseudo-gynaecomastia, which is an increase in fatty tissue. However, gynaecomastia can also be a mixture of both.
Ageing
lll health
Drugs and medications
Herbal products
Diet and weight
Alcohol
In most cases you won’t need any treatment or follow-up if you have gynaecomastia. However, it’s important to go back to your GP if the breast(s) grows larger or becomes painful, or if you have any new symptoms.
For some people, removing the cause of the gynaecomastia (such as changing medication, reducing excess body fat or reducing alcohol intake) is all that’s needed to shrink the extra breast tissue. Other people may need to have medical treatments or surgery.
Occasionally your specialist may suggest you’re treated with hormone drugs (listed below). Although these treatments are not licensed for use in gynaecomastia, they have been shown to be useful in treating it. Your specialist will want to follow you up regularly if you’re prescribed any of these.
There are no guidelines on which treatment should be considered first. However, there’s usually a preference to use danazol or tamoxifen. While you’re taking these drugs you may experience side effects, so they should only be taken following a thorough discussion of their benefits and risks.
Danazol is licensed to treat breast pain. It works by reducing oestrogen produced in the testicles and so reduces the size of the breast(s). It’s given as a tablet and your specialist will advise you on what dose to take and for how long. It can have side effects including weight gain, acne and changes to the voice. You may experience some of these side effects or none at all.
Tamoxifen is more commonly used as a treatment for breast cancer. Recent studies have shown that it’s also effective in treating painful gynaecomastia and reducing the size of the breast(s) in men. It’s given as a tablet and your specialist will advise you on what dose to take and for how long. It can have several side effects including nausea and an upset stomach.
Aromatase inhibitors are also used as a treatment for breast cancer. Some research suggests they may be of benefit in treating gynaecomastia, but more research is needed. Aromatase inhibitors are given as a tablet and your specialist will advise you on what dose to take and for how long. The side effects can include joint pain and reduced bone strength, but whether these effects happen when the drugs are used for just a short time still needs to be researched.
Once you stop taking any of these drugs your gynaecomastia may return. If this happens, you may want to go back to your specialist.
Generally surgery is only recommended if your gynaecomastia hasn’t improved with lifestyle changes and/or medical treatments, or if you’ve had it for a long time and it’s affecting your quality of life.
Your specialist should discuss any risks of surgery with you before you decide whether to have an operation.
Surgery for gynaecomastia isn’t straightforward. The type of operation will depend on the size of your gynaecomastia and the amount of excess skin there is. The aim is to restore a more normal male chest size, and sometimes this involves more than one operation.
The various surgical options can be carried out alone or in combination. Your specialist will assess you very carefully before deciding on the most appropriate techniques for you.
Liposuction (a surgical procedure in which fat is removed from the affected area) is one of the most common procedures. It can be a treatment by itself or at the same time as a breast reduction operation (known as a reduction mammoplasty). A breast reduction can also be done without liposuction.
Because all the above procedures leave some breast tissue, your gynaecomastia could still return.
This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Doctors Catalog has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but makes no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. In the event of an emergency, please call 108 for immediate assistance.
