Gynecomastia- -Male Breast Enlargement

Gynecomastia is breast development that occurs in males. It can happen at any age and for a number of different reasons.

Breast growth in infants
Breast growth (one or both),is very common in newborns and is, in most cases, the result of exposure to the mother's hormones via breast milk. Gynecomastia lasts for a few days or a couple of weeks. Sometimes, in rare cases it can continue up until the child is 2 years old.

The care of a health care professional should be sought as you would with any abnormal changes in the very young. They will be able to offer information and advice and monitor the situation. If the condition persists medical investigation will be required.

Breast growth in male teens
During the teen years when one or both breasts can become enlarged and the breast or breasts can be tender and grow unevenly. Hormonal changes of puberty are the usual cause of what can be a very embarrassing problem. The condition will usually disappear after a few months.

As with the very young you should involve your family doctor who will make a firm diagnosis and monitor progress. In very rare cases surgery can be used to remove breast tissue if the breast are abnormally big and causing psychological problems.

Male adult breast growth
Increasing breast size in adult males is almost always due to overeating which results in fat laying down fat over the pectoral region. If male breasts suddenly increase in size and/or become painful, then medical intervention is required. In old age hormonal imbalances may be the cause.

There are a few conditions, some of them requiring medical intervention, that can cause gynecomastia so an accurate diagnosis will tell you and your doctor if you need to treat an underlying condition.

Diseases that cause adult male breast growth
Possible causes of male adult breast growth include kidney failure, chronic liver disease, tumors, genetic disorders such as Klinefelter's syndrome, as well as side effects of some therapeutic drugs, exposure to androgen hormones taken by some body builders.

Treatment
Most cases of gynecomastia will resolve itself especially in infant and teenagers. Older men may have an underlying medical condition that requires investigation and treatment. Surgery to remove excessive breast tissue may also be considered.