Gynecomastia is the swelling of the breast tissue or enlargement of breasts in men caused by a hormone imbalance of the estrogen and testosterone. It can affect one or both breasts, sometimes unevenly. Gynecomastia can be developed at any age among men due to the changes in hormone levels, though there might be other possible causes.
While gynecomastia isn’t a severe condition, it can affect one’s psychological health especially when it comes to self-esteem. Sometimes, gynecomastia might cause pain in the breasts and having enlarged breasts can be unflattering to a man’s appearance. It’s possible that gynecomastia may go away on its own, but if it persists, medication or surgery may be the solution to your problem.
Symptoms of gynecomastia include swollen breast gland tissue and breast tenderness. Consider consulting with a doctor or a plastic surgeon in Dubai if you experience a swelling pain, tenderness, or nipple discharge in breasts.
Men develop gynecomastia if there is a decrease in the testosterone as compared with estrogen. Both testosterone and estrogen control the sex characteristics in both men and women. The hormone testosterone controls male traits, such as the development of muscle mass and the growth of body hair. On the other hand, female traits are controlled by estrogen which includes the growth of breasts.
People have this common misconception that estrogen is a hormone exclusively present in women, but men can actually also produce it, normally in small amounts. However, if the male estrogen levels are too high or are imbalanced with testosterone levels, it can result in gynecomastia.
Visiting your doctor will involve questions about your medical and drug history. A physical examination will involve a careful evaluation of your breast tissue, abdomen, and genitals. Initial tests may include blood tests and mammograms.
You may need further testing depending on your initial test results, including:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
- Testicular ultrasounds
- Tissue biopsies