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Gynecomastia is a condition in which firm breast tissue forms in males. The breast tissue is usually less than 1-1/2 inches across and is located directly under the nipple. Gynecomastia may be present on one side or on both sides. This condition may make the breast tender. Some men and boys have fat on their chests that makes it look like they have breasts. This condition is called pseudogynecomastia (false gynecomastia). It is not the same thing as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is usually caused by changes in hormones at puberty or as part of aging. Hormones are chemicals produced by the glands of the body, such as the thyroid gland, the testes and the ovaries. Gynecomastia may be caused by changes in the balance of 2 hormones, estrogen and testosterone. In rare cases, gynecomastia is caused by prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, illegal drugs, tumors or disease. Gynecomastia is common in teenage boys. As many as 65% of 14-year-old boys have gynecomastia. The breast enlargement usually goes away on its own in 2 or 3 years. However, younger boys and adult men with gynecomastia may need to have some tests, because it is more possible that some kind of disease is causing the problem. In most cases, no treatment is needed. In 90% of teenage boys, gynecomastia goes away in less than 3 years. Sometimes the problem can be solved if you stop taking a medicine that is causing gynecomastia or stop using an illegal drug that is causing the problem. Occasionally, medicines may be used to treat gynecomastia, especially if tenderness is a problem. The medicine will make the extra breast tissue go away. Rarely, surgery may be necessary to remove the extra breast tissue. Treatment is necessary if gynecomastia is caused by a disease or a tumor. If it is caused by a disease, the disease itself will need to be treated.
There are two types of gynecomastia; Pubertal Gynecomastia and Adult Gynecomastia.
PUBERTAL
GYNECOMASTIA :-
Pubertal gynecomastia is very common in young boys of age ten to sixteen, with
as many as 30% of normal boys experiencing this problem to some degree. The
condition usually remedies itself without any kind for treatment but some doctors
may elect to perform a surgical breast reduction, if the breasts are judged
to be too large. It is very important to note that obese teenagers may seems
to have gynecomastia due to the extra fat deposits which collect in the breast
area. However, this pseudo gynecomastia or false gynecomastia is composed purely
of fat and contains no breast tissue as does true gynecomastia will go away
with herbal medication and is not a concern for developing as breast cancer.
ADULT
GYNECOMASTIA: -
The other type of gynecomastia is adult gynecomastia, is of typical drug induced.
Some allopathic medications such as digitalis, spironolactone or cimtidine cause
this disease. Men, who are under these medications for considerable period of
time, have been known to experience gynecomastia. However, if the patient can
stop the medication, them the breast enlargement usually decreases. This gynecomastia
can also occur to men with moderate to severe liver diseases. Some other condition
which causes this disease are "kleinfetter's syndrome" some testicular tumors,
some lung tumors, thyrotocicosis (a severe form of hyper thyrodism) and renal
failure. The condition is also seen in body builders who use anabolic steroids.
Even though gynecomastia is a benign condition, it may often be mistaken for
a breast tvalignancy or cancer
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