Gynecomastia

The word gynecomastia, derived from the words gynec and mastos, means excessive breast enlargement in men. Here, gynec means feminine and mastos means breast. Although it does not cause physical problems for men, gynecomastia, which can cause aesthetic problems, can be treated with both surgical and non-surgical methods.

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia, which is a disease that often occurs during adolescence, is a disease seen only in males.

Although it does not cause physical problems for men, gynecomastia, which can cause aesthetic problems, can be treated with both surgical and non-surgical methods.

In this disease, which can be defined as excessive development of the breasts, the development of the breasts is benign. Although rare, it is likely to occur in infancy or old age. Gynecomastia, a disease seen in one out of every three men, does not cause a functional problem. Overdevelopment of the breasts does not cause any serious health problems. But it can create aesthetic concerns for men. Social distancing, self-shame, lack of self-confidence and unique psychological problems are considered as effects of gynecomastia. In cases where gynecomastia lasts for a long time and progresses over time, recovery does not occur spontaneously.

When gynecomastia occurs, there is an abnormal and visible enlargement of the breasts. Imbalances in testosterone or estrogen hormones are shown as the main cause of this abnormal development, which occurs as benign. Gynecomastia sometimes affects one breast or both breasts, and the growth in both breasts may not be the same.

What Are the Types of Gynecomastia?

There are 3 known types of gynecomastia: glandular, fatty and mixed. In glandular gynecomastia, the mammary glands become hard just like the female breast, but there is no milk production. In fatty gynecomastia, there is no increase in mammary gland tissue, but an increase in adipose tissue is observed; The cause is generally considered to be excessive weight gain and loss. Mixed gynecomastia is a type of gynecomastia in which fatty and glandular gynecomastia are seen together.

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What Causes Gynecomastia?

Imbalances in hormones, different underlying diseases and drug use can cause gynecomastia. But sometimes it can happen naturally and spontaneously. It is possible to list the main conditions that can cause gynecomastia in detail as follows:

Hormone Imbalances

Estrogen hormone provides the development of feminine features such as breast growth. Testosterone hormone is high in men and conditions such as muscle development, penis elongation, beard and mustache growth and hair growth are related to testosterone level. Estrogen is also found in men, but in small amounts. The increase in this amount in men is shown as one of the strongest reasons for gynecomastia.

Newborn Babies

Babies are born with large mammals and this happens in the 2nd or 3rd month after birth. The reason why the breasts are large at birth is that some estrogen hormone is passed from the mother to the baby.

Adolescents

A number of hormonal changes occur in every male body during puberty. As a result of these changes, hair growth, deepening of the voice and similar situations occur. Gynecomastia that occurs during this period lasts between 6 months and 2 years on average. Gynecomastia that occurs during puberty is seen in 9 out of 10 boys.

Men aged 50-69 years

After a certain age, the level of testosterone hormone in men begins to decrease. This causes gynecomastia to occur. Gynecomastia is seen in approximately 25% of men between the ages of 50-69.

Drug Use

Various drugs can cause gynecomastia by creating some changes in the body. Drugs that can cause gynecomastia include:

  • Androgen and anabolic steroids used by athletes who want to increase muscle mass in order to have an athletic appearance are considered one of the main causes of gynecomastia.
  • Medicines used to treat AIDS, called antiretrovirals,
  • Antidepressant and anxiety drugs in the tricyclic group,
  • Drugs used in chemotherapy treatment,
  • Medicines called antiandrogens and used in the treatment of prostate cancer and prostate enlargement diseases.

Apart from all these, calcium channel brokers used for heart diseases are also considered as one of the causes of gynecomastia.

Diseases

Some diseases can trigger other diseases. The underlying diseases that may trigger gynecomastia are as follows:

  • Diseases such as liver failure and cirrhosis cause hormonal imbalance, which causes gynecomastia.
  • Tumors in the adrenal or adrenal glands, pituitary gland or pituitary gland affect the levels of estrogen and testosterone hormones,
  • Hypogonadism, which is called Klinefelter syndrome and disrupts testosterone production,
  • Pituitary gland failure
  • Excessive secretion of thyroid hormones due to hypothyroidism,
  • hemodialysis or kidney failure,
  • Decreased testosterone levels due to malnutrition and starvation.

In addition to the above diseases, researches are being conducted on the fact that some genetic problems may also cause gynecomastia.

What Are the Symptoms of Gynecomastia?

The most basic symptom of gynecomastia is the visible growth of the breasts. In addition, breast tenderness is also possible. The most common symptoms in patients who apply to a doctor with gynecomastia are as follows:

  • Discharge in one or both breasts
  • pain or feeling pain,
  • Feeling a lump or hardness under the nipple
  • Asymmetry due to the difference in size of the two breasts,
  • Swelling of the lymph nodes located under the armpit.

When gynecomastia occurs, problems such as embarrassment or avoiding sharing it may occur in adolescents. However, a doctor's control is required to plan the treatment process.

What are the Gynecomastia Treatment Methods?

In order to plan gynecomastia treatment, it is necessary to investigate the underlying causes first. When gynecomastia is suspected, an examination is usually performed by endocrinologists. If the glandular tissue disc in the breast in adolescent boys is below the level of 4 cm, no treatment may be required. However, in cases where the disc diameter is between 4 and 6 cm for more than 4 years, medical treatment will be sufficient. In cases where the disc diameter exceeds 6 cm, surgical treatment is recommended.

Medical Treatment

The current diseases of the patient and the structure of the hormones are decisive for medical treatment. In medical treatment, tamoxifen-type drugs are generally used first, and the effect of these drugs is expected to lose their effect within 2 weeks. It would be wrong to expect a result from drug treatment in older people or in cases where the disease lasts longer than 1 year. If medical treatment is not applied or has not yielded results, it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention or liposuction methods. Sometimes these treatments can be applied in combination.

Liposuction

In the liposuction method, which is generally used in fatty type gynecomastia, the mammary gland tissue is left in place and excess breast tissue is removed. If mixed type gynecomastia is in question, liposuction and surgical mastectomy should be used together.

Mastectomy

Mastectomy is a surgical procedure and is generally used in the treatment of glandular type gynecomastia where there is excess hard breast tissue. In the mastectomy procedure, the mammary gland tissue is completely removed. There are no visible scars after the operation because the incisions made for the operation are extremely small.

Doctors may not recommend any treatment for the treatment of gynecomastia, especially in old age. If gynecomastia that occurs during adolescence causes lack of self-confidence and similar problems, a psychological treatment may be recommended. It is very important to get help from a specialist surgeon, especially in cases that require surgery.

What is Estrogen? Why is it Important in Gynecomastia?

The role of the estrogen hormone in the treatment of gynecomastia is an important factor in understanding the hormonal imbalances in the development of the disease. Estrogen, which is normally at low levels in men, can increase in some cases and lead to the growth of breast tissue.

This condition can often be due to low testosterone levels or overproduction of estrogen. Various methods are used in the treatment of gynecomastia, such as treatment options to reduce the effect of estrogen, drugs to regulate hormone balance or surgical interventions.

By controlling hormone levels and reshaping breast tissue, patients can generally achieve positive results in terms of aesthetics and health.

What is Testosterone? Why is it Important in Gynecomastia?

The role of the hormone testosterone in gynecomastia treatment is based on the understanding that the disease is often caused by hormonal imbalances.

Gynecomastia can occur especially when normal levels of the testosterone hormone are low or when the estrogen hormone is overproduced. The role of testosterone in the treatment of gynecomastia is aimed at normalizing breast tissue by restoring hormonal balance and reducing the effects of estrogen.

This is usually accomplished with hormone replacement therapy or treatment options to increase testosterone levels.

However, the treatment method may vary depending on the individual's hormonal status and the severity of gynecomastia. Especially ensuring hormonal balance is an important step in the treatment of gynecomastia and is usually guided by a specialist doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the abnormal growth of breast tissue in men. It can usually occur due to reasons such as hormonal imbalances or medication use. The use of drugs such as steroids causes problems such as gynecomastia in men.

There are many specialist clinics offering gynecomastia treatment in Istanbul. When evaluating treatment options, you should consider expertise, patient satisfaction, and the solutions they provide. You can contact us for gynecomastia treatment.

Methods such as surgery (liposuction or tissue removal), hormone therapy or lifestyle changes can be used in the treatment of gynecomastia.

The recovery process after gynecomastia surgery is usually completed within a few weeks. In the postoperative period, it is important to rest, use supportive clothing and follow the care instructions recommended by the doctor.

Treatment of breast enlargement in men usually gives permanent results. However, in some cases it may recur and require regular follow-up.

Breast enlargement in men may cause psychological effects such as loss of self-confidence and stress. If left untreated, these effects may increase.

Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular exercise and stress management can support the treatment of male breast enlargement. Excessive consumption of sugary foods and increased fat content triggers gynecomastia. In men, a very fat body causes changes in the estrogen hormone. Keeping estrogen low is very important for gynecomastia.

Erkekte meme büyümesi tedavisinde kullanılan ilaçlar genellikle hormonal dengenin düzeltilmesine yöneliktir ve yan etkileri olabilir. Tedavi süreci hekim kontrolünde yürütülmelidir.

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