Gynecomastia -

Gynecomastia is when a man experiences unusual breast enlargement of one or both breasts. Your buddies may jokingly call them “Man Boobs”. This frequently begins with a small lump under the nipple causing uneven swelling. Gynecomastia in males is not necessarily uncommon. Newborns frequently experience enlarged breasts which will disappear in a few weeks and can include milk flow. Enlarged breasts can occur during puberty and might only last for a few months.

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia, as represented during andropause, is driven by an imbalance of hormones. Hormonal imbalance is also the reason for enlarged breasts in newborns and during puberty. In newborns there may be a lingering effect from the mother’s estrogen that is still in the newborn.

All men possess some level of estrogen to help regulate mood, bone density and sperm production. Gynecomastia occurs when there is a much more significant imbalance between the male’s estrogen level and testosterone. This is one of the reasons why Hormone Therapeutics believes in the overall balance of all of your hormone levels and not just an increase in one or two.

As testosterone levels drop after age 50 due to andropause, the balance of testosterone to estrogen starts to shift. Gynecomastia will frequently occur at that point with an increased production in estrogen in addition to hyperthyroidism. Weight gain, frequently due to low testosterone levels, can also couple with an increased estrogen level to stimulate breast enlargement. Overweight men are at a far higher risk for unusual breast development.

Enlarged, or swollen breasts, can have many other contributing factors including, types of external estrogen, dietary issues, drugs and alcohol consumption. Hormone levels, and gynecomastia, will be affected by steroids, malnutrition, amphetamines, marijuana and heroin. Low levels of estrogen are found in many consumer products (derived in plants oils like tea tree and lavender) including lotions, shampoos and soaps and can lead to a further imbalance when testosterone levels are reduced.

The solution to reducing gynecomastia:

Breast reduction surgery is becoming increasingly common in males due to the increase in andropause. Because gynecomastia is a result of hormonal imbalance, Hormone Therapeutics always recommends to first treat the underlying hormonal issues. We find that a proper balance of testosterone and estrogen will frequently reduce gynecomastia. Surgery, in our opinion, should be looked at after examining all of these drivers of the condition.

Your physician through Hormone Therapeutics will develop a program for you to balance your hormones, testosterone and estrogen. They will also help to ensure you have a proper fitness and nutrition plan to alleviate these symptoms.

Your first step is to sign up today for a free consultation. Let Hormone Therapeutics develop a program for you to fight gynecomastia and live well, age well through a custom testosterone therapy program.

If you suffer from gynecomastia and any of the symptoms below, you could be a candidate for testosterone replacement therapy: