Basically, gynecomastia occurs during the period of "hormonal changes" in newborns, adolescents and older men. In addition to the occurrence of physical discomfort, such an ailment provokes the development of complexes and psychological difficulties. Let's find out why gynecomastia occurs in men and how to deal with this disease.
With gynecomastia, the male breast enlarges, while there is a feeling of heaviness, and pain appears on palpation. Basically, this disease occurs during the period of "hormonal changes" in newborns, adolescents and older men. In addition to the occurrence of physical discomfort, such an ailment provokes the development of complexes and psychological difficulties. Let's find out why gynecomastia occurs in men and how to deal with this disease.
Causes of gynecomastia in men
The occurrence of true gynecomastia is associated both with the hyperfunction of female sex hormones and with a decrease in the level of male sex hormones, testosterone in particular.
Gynecomastia is often accompanied by "hormonal changes" in infants, adolescents and older men. More rare causes are tumors formed in the adrenal glands, testicles, pancreas, stomach and lungs.
Also, breast enlargement in men may be associated with certain medications. Most often this disease is caused by corticosteroids.
Symptoms of gynecomastia in men
With gynecomastia in newborns, the breasts slightly increase, colostrum-like discharge may appear.
In adolescent patients and adult men, gynecomastia is accompanied by an increase in the diameter of the mammary gland (up to 2-15 centimeters), and its mass can reach 160 g. In addition, the nipple and areola diameter increase. Sometimes with such a disease, milky discharge appears, a feeling of pressure appears, the nipples become hypersensitive.
If the gynecomastia is one-sided, the risk of a tumor in the mammary gland increases significantly. Those tumors that have hormonal activity are able to intensely provoke estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin, which provokes more breast enlargement, it becomes painful.
If there is an association of gynecomastia with hyperprolactinemia, the disease is accompanied by oligospermia, erectile dysfunction and symptoms of damage to the nervous system.
Gynecomastia treatment
In order to suppress the high concentration of estrogens, hormonal preparations are prescribed for adolescents. In the event that conservative treatment of gynecomastia has not yielded any results, surgical intervention is required during which the removal of breast tissue and fat deposits in the adjacent areas.
In order to achieve a balance of male and female sex hormones, men are prescribed testosterone preparations. Such therapy can be effective only in the first 4 months after the onset of the disease. If there is a high concentration of estrogens in the male body, the patient is prescribed antiestrogen therapy, due to which the effect of estrogen on the breast tissue is blocked.
Surgical treatment of gynecomastia
If medical treatment is unsuccessful, the man is prescribed surgical treatment. For such purposes, the following types of operations are used:
- endoscopic mastectomy;
- subcutaneous mastectomy performed from paraareolar approach;
- subcutaneous mastectomy with liposuction.
As it is right, such surgeries are tolerated by patients quite well, and already 5-7 days after they are performed, you can return to your usual work activity.
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