5 Unknown Facts About Gynecomastia

From adolescence to adulthood, men suffering from gynecomastia often think that the condition is rare or, perhaps, that they are among the unlucky few. However, some degree of it presents in more than half the male population at one point or another during an individual’s lifespan. What’s more, the condition even affects as many as 70 percent of boys during puberty (when specific hormonal changes occur). To give a frame of reference, there are millions of men in the U.S. who are affected by gynecomastia.

What is Gynecomastia?

It is defined as an excess of the male glandular breast tissue. The word is itself, gyneco meaning “woman-like,” and mastia, meaning “breast,” is literally where the term comes from. To the layman, the condition is commonly referred to as “man boobs.” Gynecomastia itself, though, is caused by high levels of estrogen in a man, which are disproportionate to the amount of testosterone in their body, resulting in the swelling or enlargement of tissue in the breast. Its development most often starts as a small lump under one or both of a man’s nipples, which, in some cases, will feel tender to the touch.

Though it can often be detrimental to a man’s self-esteem and confidence, the condition can be corrected via medication or surgery, the latter of which is best carried out by a doctor specializing in matters of the male body. The condition does not affect a man’s overall health but can occur at any age. Because the term itself is relatively new in our species’ medical history, there is also a lot of misinformation and myths surrounding it. Here are 5 unknown facts:

Unknown Facts About Gynecomastia

1. Exercise and dieting will not correct or reduce breast swelling. Contrary to popular belief and the ever-present forms of “bro science” circulating on forums, gynecomastia cannot be reversed by simply working out or losing weight. Another less commonly used term, pseudo-gynecomastia, is often used to describe excess fat that builds up in the male breast and may be affected by exercise but is a separate condition entirely. This condition has nothing to do with weight gain or obesity.
2. It affects nearly 65 percent of adult men. Those who suffer from breast tissue enlargement often believe they’re alone in their plight. But the truth is, it (to some degree) affects more than half of the adult male population.
3. Surgery for this condition is the fourth most common plastic surgery for men. The number of individuals who received surgical treatment for the condition has increased roughly 29 percent since 2000, and over 26,000 procedures were performed in just 2014 alone. 
4. Some recreational drugs can be contributors to gynecomastia. From common vices such as alcohol and marijuana to harder, addictive substances such as heroin and methamphetamine, drugs can make a big impact on the development of gynecomastia. 
5. The condition often occurs during puberty. Contrary to many opinions that gynecomastia evolves simply from a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle, in many cases, the hormonal changes boys experience during adolescence are the most common culprit to what causes it. What’s more, the condition can continue into adulthood.

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