Reasons and solutions for men's breasts to resemble women's breasts

 Reasons and solutions for men's breasts to resemble women's breasts

A 25-year-old man said that for the past few years, his chest has become like a woman's breast. Therefore, he said that he should not change his clothes in the presence of other men. The reason for the size of her breasts is that her body is producing sex-steroid hormones in excess of what is needed?

A man's chest resembling a woman's breast is medically called 'gynaecomastia'. This is the growth of the areola and the surrounding area of ​​the male chest and taking the shape of a woman's breast.

Regardless of gender, all humans have both male hormones-androgens and female hormones-estrogens. The period of physical and hormonal changes that occur during the process of becoming an adult is called 'puberty' in English. It starts between 9 and 14 years of age for males.

During puberty, the amount of androgens and estrogens in the body can change and increase to various levels, so a temporary condition can be created where the relative amount of estrogens is higher than androgens.

Physiological gynecomastia is caused by an imbalance in hormone levels, where there is an increase in estrogen compared to androgen.

The main type of androgen hormone is testosterone. Physiological gynecomastia occurs when the normal estrogen-testosterone balance is not met in children, especially children between the ages of 12 and 16 years.

Breast enlargement is a common physical phenomenon in men during infancy or puberty and if it gets better within 6 months to two years, then such a condition is called 'physiological gynecomastia'.

Sometimes gynecomastia that starts at puberty can last for more than two years, which is called 'persistent pubertal gynecomastia'. The same is understood to have happened to the said man. It is understood that many men in the world population are suffering from it.

Androgen hormones are essential for sexual development in both men and women. Androgen can also be taken as a supplement. Gynecomastia is seen in androgen abuse (often in athletes), marijuana abuse, alcohol abuse, the result of certain medications, malnutrition, liver cirrhosis, trauma, infection, hyperthyroidism, endocrine disorders, testicular disorders, HIV patients, tumors, kidney failure, or the elderly.

Gynecomastia can also be caused by some heart disease drugs that have been used for a long time.

Other types of gynecomastia

– Pseudo gynecomastia

– True gynecomastia (breast tissue)

– Combined pseudo gynecomastia (fatty tissue)

– Severe gynecomastia

Therefore, some laboratory tests are necessary to make a definite diagnosis of gynecomastia.

If gynecomastia is suspected, hormonal testing can be done as part of the first test, in which estrogen, testosterone, hCG and prolactin are tested.

A normal ultrasound of the chest can be done to distinguish whether it is fat or glandular structure (true gynecomastia). If a tumor is suspected, it can be distinguished by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or biopsy. A CT scan of the abdomen and a video X-ray scan of the testicles can be used to find out the cause of the 'enlarged' chest.

Treatment

First of all, you can consult an endocrinologist. In addition to physiological pubertal gynecomastia, the cause of gynecomastia can be a symptom of testicular cancer or a side effect of drugs used to treat other diseases. Since there are various reasons behind the occurrence of gynecomastia, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination of gynecomastia patients, which should be done in a very delicate manner.

Patients are treated based on the underlying cause of gynecomastia. For example, gynecomastia may occur due to the use of certain types of drugs, which can be relieved if 'controlled'. Gynecomastia is usually caused by puberty, which tends to resolve on its own over time. If there is persistent gynecomastia, surgical treatment can be performed after the period of growth of the patient's body is over. Such treatment helps to increase the morale of the patient.

Other treatment options include endoscopic transaxillary liposuction and subcutaneous mastectomy.

If gynecomastia does not resolve itself even after two years, surgery can be performed for permanent treatment, plastic surgery is suitable.

Depending on the situation, 'periareolar male breast reduction' may also be done, where surgery is performed around the 'nipple areola complex' area.

In cases with extremely large breasts (CD), 'Classical Breast Reduction with Superior or Inferior Flaps' can be done. In an alternative surgery, 'vertical incision breast reduction' can be done, which leaves a vertical scar on the chest.

Other side effects of gynecomastia treatment include scarring, numbness in the treated area, and depression at the surgical site. However, gynecomastia has returned after surgery in some people.

In some painful cases of gynecomastia, aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen and testosterone replacement in elderly people are also used. At present, surgery is considered more effective than using aromatase inhibitors and tamoxifen.