Gynecomastia: The breasted man

Though their voices seemed like whispers to them, he could still make out the dialogue between those two females at the table near them, and he noticed the occasional looks of disgust targeted at him.

Larry knew his friend has always had to deal with talks and dirty looks like these since they were adolescents. While he and other guys of their age matured evenly and had flat chests, Cruz’s chest looked too bumpy for a guy, and his anatomical features ought to belong on a female.

It might seem like Cruz was all put together on the outside and didn’t quite care what people say, but secretly, Larry knew he had been saving up for surgery.

Gynecomastia

This is a non-cancerous enlargement of the breast tissue in males. It results from an imbalance in certain hormones produced by the endocrine system. The specific hormones in this case are the sex hormones, including Testosterone, which is known as the male hormone, and Estrogen, the female hormone.

Hormonal imbalance, in which there is low level of Testosterone or a high level of Estrogen in the male, brings about this disorder called gynecomastia. Older males, as a result of the decline in testosterone production, could also have gynecomastia.

Causes

Gynecomastia is part of the normal development of many boys as they go through puberty, and is the most common cause of gynecomastia. Certain drugs, medical procedures, diseases have also been linked to gynecomastia, but they all point to a change in hormone production. The list of drugs associated with gynecomastia is long. Therefore, someone with new onset gynecomastia as an adult should see a doctor or pharmacist to go over their medications in order to find out if one of the medications is the culprit. Diseases associated with gynecomastia include kidney failure, liver failure, prostate cancer, tumors in the testicles. Substances like alcohol, heroin, marijuana, and even essential oils like tea tree oil and lavender, and so on can also cause this condition.

Signs and symptoms

The obvious sign is the enlargement of one or both of the breasts in the male. Others include:

• Anxiety due to fear of having breast cancer. Breast cancer is very rare in men. Gynecomastia tends to occur in both breasts, but one side may be more affected. New onset enlargement of one breast but not the other in a male adult is a reason to seek medical attention sooner just to be sure.
• Discharge of milk suggests the person has excessive amounts of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates milk production. This calls for more in-depth medical evaluation.

Treatment

Gynecomastia often resolves on his own if the body’s balance of female and male hormones is restored. This is the typical course in adolescent boys with gynecomastia. Stopping the offending medication or substance, or treatment of underlying causes may be helpful in adults. Surgery may be needed in select cases.

Effect of society on patients with Gynecomastia

Sometimes, the breast pain that some individuals with gynecomastia experience is nothing compared to the psychological effects, which are worsened when derogatory words are used to address them, or when they have repugnant looks directed at them. Some experience low self-esteem as a result of these acts of bullying. It is important not to contribute to the stress experienced by persons with gynecomastia.