Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Understanding Gynecomastia

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Gynecomastia comes from two Greek words; one, gyne which means “woman”, two, mastos which means “breast”. In practical terms, this means the abnormal enlargement of the breasts of men. This “man boobs” result from the increased enlargement of the glandular component of the breast. It is clinically defined by the presence of a firm mass that extends to a man’s nipples.

The condition of breast enlargement among men is common in adolescent boys. Around 90% of the time, the symptoms disappear in a few months or a few years. The remaining 10% of those who experience the condition remain burdened with their enlarged breasts and experience social handicap that leads to a complex shame and a disorganized relationship between oneself and his body.

The common cause of “man boobs” is puberty itself. This condition arises at or before puberty and may occur along with aging. A lot of cases of this condition are idiopathic, having no clear cause. It is believed that the causes of gynecomastia are medications that include hormones, increased estrogen in serum and decrease in the production of testosterone. Chronic liver and kidney diseases, HIV treatment and other chronic health conditions may also cause the disease. In 25% of the cases of “man boobs,” the true causes of the disease come unknown.

Gynecomastia can be emotionally daunting to men who have the condition. Men feel ashamed, embarrassed and humiliated for having enlarged breasts. The psychological effects of this condition involve self-hate and anxiety disorder.

For most men, the best solution for their condition is surgery. This is the initial step of the healing process for men. The second step is psychological redress. It is not enough that the enlarged breast is reduced because a man with such condition may have hated his chest from his childhood to the rest of his lifetime. Men almost always find it hard to talk about their breasts to anyone, but they should realize that this is the first step toward relief. Knowing that they aren’t alone gives them solution for the shame and embarrassment. This, too, is a big step toward emotional healing.

The treatment of “man boobs” entails the treating of the underlying causes to improve the condition. Medications that are found to be causes of gynecomastia should be revised with the help of a patient’s doctor. It is possible to find alternative medications that do not have side-effects. The use of endorcrinal attention may help during the first 3 years of the condition, but after this period, the breast tissue remains and hardens. The only options available to men then are liposuction, skin sculpture, gland excision and reduction mammoplasty or breast reduction. A combination of these techniques may be used.

Patients with prostate cancer undergo radiation therapy prior to estrogen therapy to prevent the occurrence of gynecomastia in them. Some men choose to wear compression garments to camouflage the deformity of their chests. These make them feel better about themselves. A few men who have the condition just choose to live with it.