The medical term for man boobs, puffy nipples, ‘bitch tits’, or abnormally large breasts in males is called gynecomastia. The condition may not be a disease, but having it can be a depressing and embarrassing experience and it affects all race, color and creed. Research and recent studies aimed to determine how long gynecomastia last and what are its potential complications. Scientists today are up and about working to find alternative cure for the condition aside from corrective surgery.
Gynecomastia is generally caused by imbalance in the production of sex hormones. The two major hormones that have something to do with the condition are testosterone and estrogen. Each person has certain serum levels of the hormones. Testosterone is normally produced more than estrogen in men, and estrogen in normal cases has higher levels in women than men.
The thing about gynecomastia is that estrogen is slightly elevated in a male body more than the dominant masculine hormone testosterone. Estrogen is responsible for initiating menarche that signals the start of a woman’s child-bearing years, and it stimulates the development of mammary glands as well. So if the estrogen level in a man’s body is higher than testosterone, the first physical sign of the imbalance is having man boobs. Depending on the severity of the imbalance, gynecomastia can affect both breasts and or just one of them.
The question as to how long gynecomastia last is still unanswerable as of today’s scientific and medical breakthroughs. No one can determine yet as to how long the condition can last without cure or surgery. So far, the condition is not detrimental to one’s health, although it can damage one’s self-esteem. Gynecomastia is benign breast enlargement and the growth of the mammary glands is even on all parts of each affected breasts. This is a far cry from the telltale signs of breast cancer wherein a lump, node, or orange peel appearance can be palpated and inspected on the breasts.
How long gynecomastia last is one of the most speculated topics in endocrinology these days. The condition can be caused by hormonal fluctuations or the long-term consumption of steroids. The largest groups of people who use steroids are athletes and those with rheumatic heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain respiratory tract problems like lung cancer and bronchiolitis.
Chronic use of steroids contributes to enhanced production of the female hormone estrogen in a male body, thus suppressing the production of testosterone. To help minimize the gross effects of steroid use like gynecomastia, athletes usually take estrogen inhibitors or antagonists like Nolvadex to suppress estrogen production. This solution may be good news at first but these non-steroidal remedies can damage the kidneys and liver with long-term use.
Surgery is by far the most effective solution to correct the unsightly effects of abnormal estrogen production. The excess mammary tissue is usually extracted through a small incision made on the affected breast and then afterwards, a protective vest is worn while the operative site heals for several weeks. You will also be given medications to help ease the pain, counteract infection, and restore balance to your endocrine system.
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