Big breasts in men, is it normal? What caused it?

Some men can have large breasts like women's breasts. In the medical world, this condition is called gynecomastia. Maybe you've heard people call it " man boobs "Aka male breasts. Gynecomastia is the growth of additional breast tissue caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone.

Although it can be insecure, big-chested men generally don't need to worry about their condition. In most cases, the large chest due to gynecomastia will go away on its own. On the other hand, male breast growth can be a sign of a more serious health problem. What are they?

Various causes of male breast growth

1. Obesity

Men who are very obese (obese) can have a build-up of fat in the chest, causing their chest to appear enlarged like a woman's. On the other hand, obesity also increases the level of estrogen in the blood and suppresses the production of testosterone, which results in the growth of extra breast tissue.

Male breasts caused by pure gynecomastia tend to be dense, while obesity will cause a man's chest to feel very soft to the touch because most of the breast tissue is filled with fat. The breasts of obese men also sway in motion when walking or running, similar to how a woman's breasts move.

2. Testosterone therapy

When the amount of estrogen in a man's body jumps up compared to his testosterone level, this can cause breast tissue to swell. But the same can happen as a side effect of testosterone therapy.

This is because the aromatase enzyme can convert excess testosterone into estrogen. That's why when you undergo testosterone therapy, estrogen levels will also increase indirectly.

However, you don't need to worry, because usually this male breast growth is only temporary and can shrink in a few weeks. If the breasts do not shrink, the doctor will stop the treatment for a month or two to normalize the hormone levels in the body so that the breast tissue returns to normal.

3. Steroid side effects

Anabolic steroid doping, which is usually done illegally by athletes and bodybuilders to improve sports performance, can result in male breast growth. This occurs by the same mechanism as the side effects of testosterone therapy. The aromatase enzyme can convert excess testosterone into estrogen.

It should be noted that the side effects of steroid doping are higher than that of regular testosterone treatment.

4. Massage with essential oils

Tea tree oil or lavender oil can increase men's breast size. A number of these essential oils contain natural estrogens which can disrupt normal hormone levels in your body. Applying tea tree or lavender oil all over your body will make it soak into the skin and flow through the bloodstream to the breast tissue.

That's why essential oils are not recommended for long-term use. If you use certain oils and feel a change in the size of your breasts, then stop using them.

5. Drug side effects

A report from the journal Expert Opinion on Drug Safety found that a number of certain drugs can cause male breast growth as a potential side effect, although they are quite rare.

The drugs include the anti-loss drug finasteride (Propecia) which is used to treat male pattern baldness; certain antibiotics; heart disease medication; anxiety disorder medication; HIV / AIDS drugs; tricyclic antidepressants; chemotherapy drugs; and anti-testosterone spironalactone.

Other drugs that have been cited as triggers for gynecomastia include anti-androgens used to treat prostate cancer and calcium channel blockers. Some drugs to treat heartburn symptoms, such as tagamet (cimetidine), have even been reported to increase the risk of gynecomastia by up to 25 percent.

This is because the ingredients in certain drugs can upset the hormonal balance enough to fill your breast tissue. Even so, side effects of this drug are rare. Even if it happens only temporarily and will stop once the dose is stopped.

6. Severe liver and kidney disease

Any serious illness can cause a decrease in testosterone production, because your brain gets a signal that this is not the time to reproduce. But severe or advanced liver disease, such as cirrhosis, is strongly associated with hormonal disorders.

Liver disease tends to disrupt the protein breakdown process. The buildup of these proteins, one of which is a protein called globulin-binding sex hormone (SHBG), can bind testosterone. This causes a decrease in testosterone levels in the body.

Advanced kidney disease can also have a risk of gynecomastia that is up to two times higher than that of cirrhosis. But before man boobs actually grow, usually you will first experience a change in urine color, swelling of the ankles or feet, skin rashes, back pain, to nausea and vomiting.

7. The presence of a tumor that was not detected

Certain types of tumors, such as testicular tumors and pituitary tumors, can affect hormone production. These tumors produce the hormone HCG which acts to stimulate the production of testosterone from the testes, as well as convert excess testosterone into estrogen,

If your body doesn't produce enough testosterone or too much estrogen, this hormonal imbalance can cause male breasts to grow larger.

8. Age

Gynecomastia can occur at any age, but puberty often occurs. Seventy percent of boys have this condition during puberty, according to WebMD. Apart from pubescent boys, gynecomastia is also seen in newborn boys (due to their mother's exposure to estrogen) and is more common in older men (over 50 years). The aging process messes up normal levels of the hormones estrogen and testosterone.

9. Other causes

Sometimes, large breasts in men can be a side effect of other health problems besides obesity, such as hyperactive thyroid disorder (hyperthyroidism); lipoma (benign tumor in the fatty tissue of the body); mastitis (inflammation of breast tissue); breast cancer (although rarely causes gynecomastia); hematoma; and fat necrosis (lumps due to damage to breast fat tissue).

When to see a doctor if you have gynecomastia?

Most cases of gynecomastia resolve on their own. Men's breasts that are enlarged due to the side effects of drugs or therapy may shrink back over time after discontinuation of use. Fat deposits in the breasts due to obesity can be trimmed by living a healthy lifestyle and exercising more diligently to gain a healthy weight.

Even so, immediately consult a doctor if your breasts do not shrink and cause the following symptoms:

1. Unusual swelling of the breast
2. Breast pain
3. There is discomfort in the nipple

This can be a sign of male breast cancer, although it is rare. Early detection is needed to determine the best treatment that needs to be done. Therefore, further consult a doctor for more information.

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