Gynecomastia or ‘man boobs’ is an endocrinal condition where there is an imbalance in the hormonal levels of males. Enlargement of breast tissue occurs when there is higher level of estrogen than normal. Imbalance between estrogen and testosterone levels that leads to breast tissue growth is mostly caused by other abnormal body conditions.
Some of these conditions are congenital anorchia, testicular trauma, Klinefelter Syndrome, viral orchitis, Kallman Syndrome, hypersecretion or hyposecretion of LH caused by pituitary tumors or abnormaities, malignancies causing increased serum level of hCG, renal failure, malnutrition, hyperthyroidism, androgen insensitivity syndrome, aromatase excess syndrome, and environmental pollutants through estrogen binding and activation mechanism.
In relation to its effect to male fertility, man boobs per se do not cause infertility in males. It is an endocrinal system disorder that causes non-cancerous abnormal growth of breast tissue. It is a natural occurrence in males during infancy and puberty. Temporary breast tissue enlargement occurs due to excess levels of maternal hormones during infancy and hormonal changes during puberty. Non-physiologic cases also occur due to the use of medications.
However, there are conditions that cause gynecomastia which may be associated with male infertility. One of these is Klinefelter Syndrome. It is a chromosomal condition where there is an extra X chromosome in males. Males with this genetic condition cannot produce enough testosterone for their bodies to function normally. Since there is deficiency in testosterone level, males with Klinefelter Syndrome often develop man boobs and encounter fertility problems. But with the recent advancements in artificial reproductive technologies and developments in microsurgical techniques, patients with Klinefelter Syndrome are able to have their own children.
Another condition associated with the condition and causes infertility in males is hyperprolactinemia. Hyperprolactinemia occurs when there is an abnormally high level of prolactin, a peptide hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland, in the blood. It is most commonly caused by prolactinoma, the most common pituitary tumor. Hyperprolactinemia affects both genders. Its common symptoms in males are sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, breast tissue growth, and infertility.
Likewise, it is also not unusual for males who have renal disease and undergoing maintenance hemodialysis to have man boobs. Other complications experienced by chronic renal failure patients are acquired renal cystic disease and renal carcinoma, bladder and renal and/or perirenal infections, impotence and infertility. There is higher infertility rate as the renal region deteriorates. Renal failure causes increased levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, and lowers testosterone levels in male patients. This condition, as the disease progresses, may lead to impaired spermatogenesis and testicular damage. Erectile dysfunction also occurs in males at the end stage of this renal disease.
Gynecomastia alone has no effect on male fertility. Like infertility, man boobs is also just one of the symptoms or effects of some other medical conditions that mostly affect the hormonal balance in males. Conditions where breast tissue growth and infertility are present mostly include many factors leading to both medical concerns, but never did the former alone cause the latter.
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