What is gynecomastia? It came from two Greek words, “gyne” which means woman and “mastos” which means breast. In layman’s term, it is “man boobs”. It is characterized by the enlargement of the breast tissue in males. The condition may manifest any time. There are a few known causes of the medical condition. There are physiological and pathological causes that indicate the presence of such condition in men. This article will try to find out what is physiologic gynecomastia.
The medical condition is quite common and studies indicate that a little over 30% of men have “man boobs”. The percentage increases for men who are more than 70 years old. While this may be alarming, it is notable that only about 1% of men who have “man boobs” contract breast cancer. Studies further indicate that about 65% to 90% of male newborns have this condition as a result of the transfer of the mother’s estrogen and progesterone.
What is Physiologic Gynecomastia?
The physiological causes of gynecomastia have been identified as: newborn, adolescence, and old age. Patients who have physiologic symptoms do not need further evaluation. As a general rule, no treatment is needed for them as well.
Newborn
As mentioned earlier, it is common for newborn males to have this condition because of the maternal estrogen that was passed on to them. No treatment is necessary since breast enlargement is resolved in a matter of weeks.
Adolescence
This condition usually occurs during mid to late puberty. They are observed to have asymmetric breast and they feel tenderness on their breasts. Again, no treatment is needed as the enlargement disappears in about 1 to 2 weeks. This is common because of the changes in hormonal levels during puberty. If the condition persists, that is when doctors will recommend treatment.
Old Age
Men over the age of 65 years are likely to have “man boobs”, this is due to the decrease in the levels of testosterone compared to estrogens.
Management and Treatment
Physiological symptoms do not generally require treatment since the condition normally subsides by itself after a few weeks.
In case of puberty, enlargement lasts from several weeks to 3 years. Breasts appear to be larger than 4 centimeters in diameter and it may not completely regress.
Doctors aim to identify any underlying disorder to properly manage the condition thus alleviating the enlargement.
If a patient is diagnosed to have chronic condition, surgical removal of the breast tissue might be needed. Treatments might include subcutaneous mastectomy, laser-assisted liposuction, liposuction-assisted mastectomy, and laser-lipolysis. Complications might result, including hematoma, necrosis of the areola or nipple, and breast asymmetry.
Radiation therapy has been found to prevent “man boobs” from developing in patients with prostate cancer who need to be treated with testosterone deprivation therapy.
Prognosis
Basically, this medical condition is now physically harmful. There are cases, however, that the condition is caused by more serious illnesses like testicular cancer. Pain often accompanies the growth of glandular tissues which arise from hormonal stimulation.
Knowing the answer to the question, what is physiologic gynecomastia will help you address the medical condition should you or your loved ones might contract show signs.
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