What is gynecomastia? How is it understood?

A wide variety of biochemical and physiological events occur in our body, which is responsible for regulating our health. Especially when we evaluate the health of men and women separately, it is indispensable for a healthy life that some hormones act in a certain balance. Some health problems that cause disruptions and disruptions in the hormonal balance negatively affect our health and result in various disorders. One of these disorders is gynecomastia.

What is Gynecomastia?

Although breast tissue of both sexes is present in a healthy person; Compared to men, some cells and tissues responsible for producing and carrying the milk secretion in the breast tissue are more developed in women. Again, the ratio of fat and mammary glands in the breast with the effect of various hormones prevailing in women; different from men. The development of female-type breast tissue in men due to various health problems is called gynecomastia. that it is different. Although the increase in the fat ratio in the breast tissue may return after weight loss; The development of the glands in the breast tissue is often irreversible or may require medical treatment. Examinations by a specialist physician will be more beneficial in this direction.

How Gynecomastia Develops?

In both sexes, some changes begin to develop in the body with the puberty period. In addition to changes such as increase in body hair, change in voice, increase in height, the organs of the reproductive system in the body begin to function. This process is completed with the appearance of bleeding (menarche).

In men, the increase in testicular volume, increase in hair growth and finally the start of sperm production are the summary of this process.

In both sexes, all these functional changes occur thanks to hormones. While the dominant hormones in women are estrogen and progesterone; testosterone in men. However, both sexes can produce these hormones together at a certain level. These hormones act in a balance and fulfill their duties.

If the balance between hormones is disturbed and the amount of estrogen increases in men; The thelarche process, which occurs in women, begins to develop in men. As a result, the mammary glands sensitive to the presence of estrogen develop and ultimately the breast tissue becomes feminine. In relation to the other body characteristics of the person, the breast tissue experiences a certain volumetric increase.
Since the problem is not only related to the increase in the amount of fat in the breast, sports activities and intense exercise programs, which are often used to solve the problem, cannot correct the appearance of breast enlargement. In this sense, it is important for patients to be evaluated by a physician in terms of gynecomastia.

What are the Causes of Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia mainly occurs as a result of diseases that affect the hormone balance and cause an increase in the amount of estrogen. In this direction, gynecomastia may develop in the process of the following diseases:

• Andropause: In older men, similar to menopause in women, the production of testosterone, the male hormone, decreases over time. As a result, the amount of estrogen in the body increases relatively and the hormonal balance becomes impaired. As a result, gynecomastia may develop.
• Adolescence: In some people, during the increase in hormone secretion during puberty, estrogen secretion can occur intensely, causing temporary gynecomastia.
• Lactation period: During breastfeeding of male babies, together with breast milk intense estrogen. As a result, temporary gynecomastia-like breast development may occur.
• Cancer: In some testicular cancers, gynecomastia occurs due to the production of estrogen by tumor cells.
• Cirrhosis: The last stage of liver failure. In cirrhosis, the level of estrogen in the blood may increase relatively, since the production of certain proteins responsible for the transport of hormones in the blood is disrupted. As a result, gynecomastia may develop.
• Hyperthyroidism: The increase in thyroid hormones affects the level of protein responsible for the transport of hormones, leading to an increase in the estrogen ratio and the development of gynecomastia.
• Some genetic syndromes: Gynecomastia is a common finding in various genetic diseases that affect the estrogen level such as Kleinfelter syndrome. Drugs can cause gynecomastia as a side effect.
• Some chemicals: Various habits such as smoking, alcohol or drugs, or consumption of some estrogen-containing additives may result in gynecomastia.

What are the Symptoms of Gynecomastia?

Experiencing abnormal breast tissue growth and development in men can be seen with various complaints. The following symptoms summarize the conditions that can occur in case of gynecomastia:

• Swelling in the breast tissue
• One breast is larger than the other
• Nipple discharge from one breast or both
• Pain or tenderness in the breast
• The feeling of a lump under the nipple

The point to be noted here is that breast cancer can be seen in men as well as in women. Since breast cancer can develop in men, regardless of gynecomastia, the symptoms mentioned can also occur with breast cancer. In this sense, it is very important for people showing the above symptoms to apply to the nearest health institution and seek professional help.

How to Handle Gynecomastia?

One of the important questions asked by patients is “How to understand gynecomastia?” is the question. The basic approach in gynecomastia examination is to feel the glands that develop due to estrogen secretion by hand. In this sense, in breast growth due to the increase in oil production; While hard and lumpy tissue is not felt, especially under the nipple; In patients who develop gynecomastia, a feeling of dense, hard, rubbery, lump-shaped tissue under the nipple may be felt.

What to Do in the Treatment of Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia The correct treatment of tinnitus primarily depends on determining which type of breast enlargement is involved and correctly diagnosing the underlying disease. After taking a detailed disease history and performing a detailed physical examination by a specialist physician, additional imaging and laboratory tests are performed if deemed necessary. Finally, in the light of all the obtained data, the underlying disease is diagnosed and appropriate treatment is planned. However, conditions that cause gynecomastia and increase estrogen increase the risk of developing breast cancer in men. In this respect, it is necessary to identify and treat the conditions that may lead to gynecomastia. In this context, specific treatment of diseases such as underlying testicular tumor, cirrhosis, kidney failure, and hyperthyroidism is applied.
Although gynecomastia itself does not pose a direct health problem; Due to the symptoms and social reasons it causes, treatment methods are frequently used. There are different treatment methods for gynecomastia. In this direction, the following methods are frequently used in the treatment of gynecomastia:

• Drug therapy: Drugs such as raloxifene and tamoxifen, which inhibit estrogen receptors, are often used within the scope of drug treatment in gynecomastia.
• Surgery: Gynecomastia surgery, which is another frequently applied method It is aimed to surgically remove the fat and glands in the breast tissue. This procedure, called mastectomy, is often performed with a closed method (laparoscopic), with a small incision, and the cosmetic results are quite satisfactory. some interventional methods can be applied.
• Appliances: It is recommended to use various apparatus such as gynecomastia corset and gynecomastia athlete, especially after gynecomastia surgery. Corsets that are required to be used continuously for about 3 weeks after the surgery; It continues to be used in people who do heavy exercise for up to 6 weeks. You can ask questions and ask for suggestions about your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
  

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