Gynaecomastia / Man boobs: A Guide for Men

Gynaecomastia, or ‘man boobs’, can be extremely embarrassing for any male.

Derived from ancient Greek words literally meaning ‘woman’ and ‘breast’ there is no single cause of the problem and therefore no single solution either.  Man boobs occur due to hormonal imbalances, but the actual causes of these imbalances may be variable.

Treating gynaecomastia

Man boobs can cause considerable distress for men however there is no single cause of the hormonal imbalances that can cause them, and therefore no single treatment works in all instances. Man boobs can be caused by a variety of issues including:

• The use of steroids by body builders can result in puffy nipples and man boobs. Steroids can play havoc with the natural hormonal balance
• The onset of puberty can create hormonal imbalances which in turn can result in the development of man boobs. Usually the problem resolves of its own accord given a little time if this is the cause
• Man boobs can also be caused as a result of obesity. If the weight is lost the fatty tissue may also disappear, but one problem left will be the excess skin which usually won’t adjust especially well to the new body shape.
• Droopy skin can be every bit as worrisome for men as man boobs are
• A tendency towards man boobs can also be a congenital condition, once again linked to hormone imbalances

So given there can be a wide range of reasons for the development of man boobs, what can some one suffers from them do? The first thing to do is to consult a doctor, because the solution may be simple or more complex. Treatments for man boobs may include:

• Using a oestrogen (female hormone) inhibiting drug
• Weight loss and a balanced diet and exercise routine
• Allowing nature to take its course during early puberty
• Surgery to remove excess tissue.
• The surgical option will also include a component of  having to tighten up the loose skin left over after the fatty tissue is removed
• This is a fairly major operation, so it is important to ensure that all other options have been properly investigated

The main thing to be aware of is that many men suffer from this problem, and there are a range of approaches to dealing with it, depending on the underlying causes.

Deciding on a treatment for gynaecomastia or ‘man boobs’

It is important that you consult a doctor if you are worried about man boobs. They will be able to help diagnose the underlying causes, which in many cases can be dealt with utilising a drug that inhibits oestrogen. If this won’t work in your case, surgery can help solve the problem, but as with all surgical procedures this should never be treated lightly and you should do a lot of research and make sure the surgeon you choose is suitably qualified and has a strong history of successful operations. Generally if you go down this path the results are very good and there is very minimal scarring.