Gynecomastia (sometimes colloquially called “man boobs”) happens when an individual grows breasts without the typical balance of hormones meant to grow functional mammary glands and the associated fat surrounding increased breast gland tissue.
Typically, the hormone testosterone inhibits the development of breast tissue, while estrogen has a stimulating effect. Imbalances between these hormones can lead to gynecomastia. Being overweight can lead to increased fat storage on your chest as well as throughout your entire body.
Studies have found that between
Keep reading as we take a deeper look at the possible causes and ways you can treat gynecomastia.
Many things can contribute to the development of gynecomastia, including lifestyle factors like drinking too much alcohol or exercising little, underlying disease, aging, and side effects of some medications.
The sex hormone testosterone has an
The following factors may lead to an imbalance of these hormones in people with penises who may not otherwise develop gynecomastia.
Aging
Testosterone naturally drops as you get older starting roughly at the age of 30. Studies of
Older people with penises are also more likely to be taking medications that may cause gynecomastia as a side effect.
Puberty
About
Gynecomastia resulting from changes that happen during puberty tends to resolve without treatment within three years.
High percentage of body fat
Having an overall high body fat percentage at any weight can lead to increased fat storage around the chest. Having a higher body fat percentage is also linked to higher estrogen levels.
Fat tissue is the major tissue where testosterone is converted into estrogen by the enzyme aromatase. About
Health conditions
Health conditions that cause changes to testosterone and estrogen levels can potentially lead to the development of excess breast tissue. Some of these conditions include:
- trauma, tumors, or disease of the testes
- hyperthyroidism
- kidney failure
- liver failure
- malnutrition
- tumors of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
- Klinefelter syndrome
Drugs and medications
About
Some drugs have estrogen-like properties, increase estrogen production, or supply your body with substances like testosterone that can be transformed into estrogen. Other types of drugs lead to the development of gynecomastia for unknown reasons.
Use of the following is linked to gynecomastia:
- alcohol
- drugs such as heroin, methadone, and amphetamines
- anabolic steroids
- some medications used to treat HIV
- some antihypertensive medications
- some psychoactive drugs such as antipsychotics
The most effective treatment for you depends on the underlying cause of your gynecomastia.
No supplements are proven to treat gynecomastia
No supplements, including Ayurveda herbs, have been scientifically proven to treat gynecomastia.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also hasn’t approved any medications for the treatment of gynecomastia.
The way you dress can also have an impact on how noticeable your gynecomastia is.
Clothing for gynecomastia
Here are some tips on how to make your gynecomastia less noticeable.
Avoid
- compression shirts
- tight-fitting tops
- white tops
Wear
- tops with patterns
- layers or thicker tops
- minimally contrasting colors between your top and pants
- suits with pinstripes
Improve your lifestyle habits, as needed
Some lifestyle habits can contribute to increased body fat. People who are overweight can often have more fat throughout the body, including around their chest, than people who are not overweight. Increased body fat can also contribute to lower testosterone levels by increasing aromatase activity.
Some lifestyle habits you can make to improve your hormone levels include:
- minimize alcohol consumption
- try to avoid sources of stress in your life
- aim for at least 7 hours of sleep a night
- perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week
- aim to strength train all major muscle groups at least twice per week
- eat a balanced diet with an emphasis on minimally processed foods
Eating an overall balanced diet can help you make sure your body has all the nutrients it has to maximize its testosterone production and help you lower your body fat percentage.
Nutrients that are particularly important for the production of testosterone include protein, vitamin D, and zinc. Just a few potential testosterone-boosting foods include egg yolks, oysters, and tuna.
Some foods produce chemicals called phytoestrogens that mimic estrogen in the body.
More research is needed to fully understand the effects of these chemicals in your body, but minimizing your consumption of foods that contain phytoestrogens may help improve your testosterone to estrogen ratio. Soy, legumes, and licorice root are three common sources of phytoestrogen.
Try the Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is one of the most research-backed types of diet for improving overall health. It promotes eating mostly fresh and unprocessed foods and may help you lose weight.
It can take roughly 8 weeks to see significant changes in your body after starting a new exercise and diet plan.
It’s a myth that exercising a certain part of your body causes you to lose more fat in that area than other parts of your body.
For example, if you do pushups, you won’t lose more fat from your chest than if you burn the same number of calories doing squats.
Including more aerobic exercise in your workout program can help you lower your overall body fat percentage. The type of exercise you do isn’t as important as the length, intensity, or duration.
Some ideas include:
- brisk walking
- jogging
- swimming
- skating
- dancing
- rowing
- skipping
Pushups are a great equipment-free exercise you can do to build muscle in your chest. You can increase your reps, sets, or add weight to make them more difficult over time.
Gynecomastia doesn’t typically cause any symptoms other than tenderness around the breast, but it can be a cause of mental distress. It’s a good idea to visit a medical professional if you experience discharge from your nipples, have swelling, or have a significant amount of pain.
If you think you could have a medical condition such as a tumor in your testes or hyperthyroidism, it’s also important to see a doctor.
A doctor may be able to help you find the underlying cause of your gynecomastia and help you find the best treatment.
Treatment for gynecomastia usually consists of targeting the underlying condition.
Some nonsurgical treatments a doctor may recommend include:
- Off-label medications. Your doctor may prescribe the breast cancer drugs raloxifene or tamoxifen as off-label treatments for gynecomastia.
- Switching medications. If a doctor suspects that a drug you’re taking may be causing your gynecomastia, they may switch your medication or lower your dose.
- Testosterone therapy. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in the form of injections, skin gels, or patches can boost your testosterone levels.
- Treating underlying health conditions. Treating an underlying health condition like hyperthyroidism or malnutrition may improve symptoms of gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia is often caused by a hormonal imbalance between testosterone and estrogen.
Many factors can contribute to the development of gynecomastia, including poor lifestyle habits, underlying medical conditions, the natural aging process, and certain medications. Treatment for gynecomastia involves targeting the underlying cause. Often, improving exercise and diet habits can help.
If you think you may have an underlying medical condition, see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.