Gynecomastia is the medical word used to describe the abnormal enlargement of male breast tissue. The word gynecomastia comes from the word, gyneco, meaning “woman or female” and mazos meaning “breast.”
Gynecomastia is also commonly referred to as man boobs, as when swelling occurs, a man’s breasts will develop. I have seen many cases of gynecomastia that can fill up an a or b cup bra sizes.
So what exactly is gynecomastia?
The definition of gynecomastia is the presence of breast tissue greater than 0.5 cm in diameter in a male. It is the non-cancerous development of a rubber-like or firm lump that can be felt under the areola. In some cases, there may also be fatty deposits, which cause the nipple and breast to appear larger and more feminine.
The swell can occur in one side of the chest or both, called the bilateral enlargement of the male mammary glands.
When will gynecomastia develop?
If gynecomastia develops during the adolescence years, it may go away on its own, usually within the first 1 to 2 years. It is reported up to 70 percent of teenage boys will develop gynecomastia during puberty. If it persists beyond 2 years, it will likely be a permanent condition.
If gynecomastia develops in an adult, it can be a result of taking certain drugs, supplements, hormonal changes, etc. In some instances, gynecomastia may have been present before adulthood, but it was so mild it wasn’t noticed, however with weight gain and/or aging, the appearance of it becomes noticeable.
Last but not least, gynecomastia could be a manifestation of an underlying medical condition such liver disease, testicular disorders, hormonal deficiency and others.
So do all overweight men have gynecomastia?
It is important to note that many men suffer from gynecomastia, without realising they have them. If you are overweight, you tend to have more fat developed in the chest area. But that does not necessarily mean you have gynecomastia.
True gynecomastia is resistant to diet and exercise. There are no pills or creams proven to eliminate gynecomastia. The only viable option is gynecomastia surgery procedure. The good news is that your investment lasts a lifetime, because surgery permanently corrects gynecomastia.
