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Gynecomastia Causes

Gynecomastia Symptoms
Gynecomastia Treatment Options

Establishing Gynecomastia causes is often key to deciding upon the most effective course of treatment. If you are a man suffering from Gynecomastia (also known as ‘man boobs’ or ‘male breasts’), you probably want to know why you are affected by this condition. Unfortunately, in many cases of true Gynecomastia, a cause is not easy to determine.

What causes gynecomastia?

In the vast majority of cases of Gynecomastia there is no specific cause. This is known as Idiopathic Gynecomastia and it is normally down to the pattern of fat distribution in individuals. Such conditions often run in families, with fathers and sons having similar patterns of fat distribution in the chest area.

Try gynecomastia exercises

Initially, exercise treatment for gynecomastia to get your body mass index within the normal levels of 20-25 is usually recommended as the first stage. Following this, it is important to rule out other possible causes of gynecomastia. A visit to your GP is highly recommended as part of this process of elimination as many of these potential causes are medical and, whilst rare, could have serious implications if they go undiagnosed.

LIFESTYLE GYNECOMASTIA CAUSES:

  • Excessive alcohol consumption

  • Marijuana use

  • Steroid use

DISEASE GYNECOMASTIA CAUSES:

  • Hyperthyroidism

  • Hypogonadism

  • Kidney or liver failure

  • Liver disease

  • Medication side effects from hormone treatments, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and certain medications

  • Tumours of androgen-producing glands

  • Syndromes such as Klinefelter’s Syndrome

These causes account for approximately 10% of cases and it is important to rule them out. However, do not feel alarmed by the above-mentioned possibilities if you do suffer from Gynecomastia, as the vast majority of male breast cases are not caused by any of these and are mainly due to a genetic disposition to develop tissue in this area.

CAUSES OF EXCESS SKIN IN THE MALE CHEST AREA

Some men request Male Breast Reduction due to excess skin in their chest area. Although this is not strictly ‘true’ Gynecomastia, it can cause distress and embarrassment. If you suffer from this problem, you may respond well to certain Gynecomastia Surgery techniques. Common causes for excess skin in the chest region include loss of elasticity due to ageing or after dramatic weight loss.


If you would like to see how Gynecomastia Surgery is performed, please view some of our male breast reduction information videos on this procedure.

Many people find it helpful to look through Gynecomastia before and after photographs to get a good idea of the possible results from their surgery.

For more detailed information about Gynecomastia Surgery and what to expect if you opt for this treatment, please browse through our other FAQ pages using the navigation bar on the right.