Things You Need to Know About Pubertal Gynecomastia

Growth of breast among boys or clinically known as pubertal gynecomastia is not a very pleasing situation. More often than not, boys who suffer such condition are teased by peers as the condition is not viewed as something normal. Typically, boys would shy from these peers and would always attempt to hide their condition. They feel scared to go swimming as that would mean they have to take their shirts off and, out of fear, will avoid similar activities. Boys suffering from gynecomastia find it difficult to open up to parents or friends and don’t like to discuss this with them. They feel that it is not important to talk about it because they feel that they will never be understood.

About 40 to 60% of males are reported to suffer from gynecomastia. Growing a male breast often occur during the adolescent stage and is caused by many different factors. The gynecomastia can appear under the areola or the skin around the nipple. As the mass grows, it usually becomes tender.

Boys who are affected by this condition are usually in their pubertal stage, around 14 years old. The breast tissue commonly measures about four centimeters. It usually disappears in two to three years; however, it is still advised to have it evaluated in the pediatrics. That would be more reassuring for the adolescent both clinically and emotionally.

Although gynecomastia disappears without treatment, there are still times when surgery is required especially if it has developed into a very large mass, if it does not grow smaller in size or if the child grows more and more anxious because of his condition. A breast growth that does not stop after three years has a tendency of staying with the teenager for good. If the situation worsens to this, it is best to have an expert do a plastic surgery to remove the breast tissue if really needed. Make sure that an expert would handle the case to avoid cooking up other problems.

Another thing that should be known about gynecomastia is its cause. It can be an adverse effect from the taking of certain medications. One of the most usual causes of breast growth is when a boy takes estrogen pills or if one of the family members does and has a lot of contact with him. Medications like antidepressants, medicine for high blood pressure or for chemotherapy can also cause breast development of teenage boys, too. Other drugs that can also possibly cause gynecomastia are alcohol, marijuana, heroin and anabolic steroids.

If gynecomastia occurs in your child before he reaches puberty that should set the warning that you need to consult your pediatrician about it. However, if your child is in the pubertal stage and he suddenly experiences breast development, you have to keep in mind that it is a normal stage he could go through. What you need to do is to give him assurance and support him as he goes through it. It would help him a lot if he knows that he can run to his pediatrician and his parents about his pubertal gynecomastia so be there for him.