Breast is an organ associated with women and other mammals. However, men sometimes develop breasts as a result of enlarged breast tissues. The condition, which is? known as gynecomastia, can be quite embarrassing. RALIAT AHMED writes
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In humans, both boys and girls develop breasts from the same embryological tissues.
But, at puberty, the female sex? hormones (estrogen) promots breast development, which does not occur in men because they have a higher amount of testosterone. As a result, a girl’s breasts become far more prominent than those of boys.
However, in some cases, there could be growth of abnormally large breasts in males due to the excess growth of breast tissues (gynecomastia).? This condition which can present itself at an early age or develop later in life is frequently associated with devastating social and emotional trauma.
According to medical research, 60 per cent of males worldwide have some degree of gynecomastia. It may occur in one or both breasts.
Medical studies also reveal that 60 percent of adolescent boys will develop male breast enlargement to one extent or another. Though it frequently goes away the condition may grow into adulthood in some others. This condition is undesirable because it makes men reluctant to take their shirts off. Some wear two shirts just to conceal it.
There are a number of factors that can cause gynecomastia. For instance, changes in the levels of hormones or in how the body uses or responds to hormones.
In men, androgens are the hormones responsible for male characteristics, such as hair growth, muscle size, and a deep voice. In females, estrogens are responsible for female characteristics. Both androgens and estrogens are present in men.
A number of researchers believe that in many cases, an altered androgen/estrogen ratio causes changes in cellular elements in breast tissue. This could be due to decrease in production of androgen, increase in estrogen formation or decrease in sensitivity of breast tissue to androgens.
According to medical experts, other causes of breast growth in men are: aging, cancer chemotherapy, chronic liver disease, Kidney failure and dialysis, deficiency of testosterone (male hormone),marijuana use, side effects of some medications such as (ketoconazole, spironolactone, metronidazole) ,anti-ulcer medications such as as ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), and omeprazole (Prilosec).
Most times, gynecomastia is mistaken for breast cancer which is very rare in males.
Lumps caused by cancer are usually not underneath the nipple like in the case of gynecomastia where breast tissue grows.
Pseudogynecomastia is another condition that could be confused with gynecomastia. In the former, there is an? appearance of breast? as a result of build up of fat in the chest area, most common in men that are obese while in the latter, it results from growth of the glandular, or breast tissue, which is much harder to cure and often times surgery is the only solution. Pseudogynecomastia can be cured through a natural means of diet and exercise.
“Gynecomastia is a condition that is common in men, explains Dr Salamat Aliyu, a surgeon”. According to Aliyu, the condition is a benign enlargement of the male breast which could be unilateral or bilateral.The cause is either physiologic (natural cause) or pathologic, she says.
Explaining further, Aliyu notes that? physiologic or natural cause could be neonatal? that is, as a result? transplacental maternal hormones (? when? maternal stress is? passed on from the mother to the fetus by transplacental transport of maternal stress hormones). Also pubertal (occurs in adolescents during puberty and senile (occurs in the elderly).
She pointed out that the pathological cause of the condition could be as a result of reuse of drugs. There are illegal drugs that cause fat to build up in men’s chest. Drugs containing the androgen compound commonly known as steroids can have this effect.Also, diseases such as hypogonadism, testicular tumour, liver and kidney diseases can result in this condition.
On the treatment options available, she says subcutaneous mastectomy is usually the way out.
Aliyu cautioned that this condition should not be mistaken for pseudogynecomastia which sometimes presents similar symptoms physically. It is basically chest fat and the causes are simple – poor diet,? lack of the right kind of exercise and a tendency in the body to store excess fat around the pectoral area.
There are specific areas of the body that accumulates fat faster and in greater quantities than others. In the case of pseudogynecomastia sufferers, the fat target is the chest (around the pectoral muscles). Once there is a substantial build up of fat there, it results in this condition, says Aliyu.