A disease such as gynecomastia is familiar to many men. Her characteristic symptom is breast growth. Moreover, the pathology is manifested not only externally, but also causes great psychological discomfort. Due to gynecomastia, men develop huge complexes. It is possible to treat it without surgery only if the disease is not started.
What is this pathology?
Gynecomastia in men, the treatment without surgery of which is carried out by various drugs and folk remedies, is the growth of breast tissue, accompanied by a change in fat structures and volume of glands. This pathology has other names: tissue deformation, breast enlargement, breast hypertrophy .
The diameter of the breast with such a disease can reach 10 cm, although in most cases this figure ranges from 3-4 cm. If nothing is done, then gynecomastia can lead to the appearance of a malignant formation in the mammary gland.
Breast enlargement occurs in the stronger sex of all ages. For example, about 60% of men are prone to gynecomastia over 45 years of age, under the age of 14, 50-70% of children suffer from this disease, and up to 45 only 40% of people.
Sometimes it turns out to be quite effective when gynecomastia is detected in men, treatment without surgery. The photo below allows you to see how the breast looks with this disease.
Gynecomastia Forms
It is customary to classify this disease in medicine into several forms: single and double-sided. In the first case, pathology affects only one mammary gland, and in the second, both.
But most often, patients with a similar problem have bilateral gynecomastia. With this form, an increase in both glands occurs at once. In addition to this, the disease is divided into the following forms:
- False. Fatty tissue is deposited in the chest, which contributes, as a rule, to obesity. That is, the gland tissue does not grow.
- True. With this form, the pathology grows, and sometimes hypertrophy of the glandular or connective tissue of the breast occurs, in other words, the stoma.
True gynecomastia can still be physiological and pathological. With a physiological form, an increase in tissue does not go beyond the norm established in medicine. But with pathological gynecomastia, on the contrary, tissues subjected to hypertrophy go beyond normal limits. This form of pathology is treated exclusively by surgery.
The development of gynecomastia in men
The mammary glands of the stronger sex in the normal state are underdeveloped. This rudimentary organ consists of short ducts, adipose and glandular tissue, as well as the nipple. Its normal functioning and development depends on the effects of female hormones such as prolactin and estrogens.
The content of the latter in the body of a man should not be more than 0.001% of the total amount of androgens. Sometimes, for some reason, there is an increase in estrogen or a decrease in the sensitivity of tissues to testosterone. Under the influence of female hormones, the growth of male mammary glands begins with the enhanced development of glandular tissue. Gynecomastia leads to breast growth and tightening.
Causes of Breast Hypertrophy
True gynecomastia in men, the treatment without surgery of which is carried out in various ways, occurs due to disorders in the body. Such a pathology may result from an increase in prolactin secretion. This happens, as a rule, with hypothyroidism and pituitary tumors.
But the most common cause of gynecomastia in men is a malfunction in the body of the ratio of estrogen to testosterone. A similar condition is observed with inflammation in the testicles, Addison's disease, prostate adenoma, as well as with hormone-active tumors or age-related hypogonadism.
Non-endocrine pathologies can also lead to breast enlargement in men: trauma or herpetic damage to the chest, cardiovascular or renal failure, HIV infection, cirrhosis.
Often, the cause of gynecomastia is caused by diseases that are accompanied by metabolic disorders, such as pulmonary tuberculosis, overweight or diabetes mellitus.
Gynecomastia in the stronger sex often occurs due to the use of certain drugs that negatively affect breast tissue receptors. In addition, they enhance the production of prolactin and estrogen, and are also able to have a toxic effect on the body. These drugs include Amiodarone, Cimetidine, anabolic steroids, Theophylline, antidepressants, corticosteroids or creams containing hormones.
Breast hypertrophy in some situations appears due to alcohol abuse or drug use.
At the same time, many are interested in if gynecomastia is diagnosed in men, treatment without surgery in young men, adolescents is possible or not. It should be understood that surgical intervention will be avoided only in the early stages of the disease.
Symptoms of pathology
Gynecomastia in men, treatment without surgery of which is carried out by different methods, can manifest itself as a violation of libido, weakness, fatigue, and even impotence.
In children with this disease, there is swelling in the chest area, and sometimes colostrum is possible. Adults with this diagnosis face a growth of up to 10 cm of the mammary glands, whose weight reaches 150 g. In addition to everything, a darkening of the areola and swelling of the nipples can be observed, this phenomenon is characteristic of the weaker sex during lactation.
Stages of the disease
This unpleasant disease has three stages of development:
- Developing. It is also called a proliferating form. At this stage, you can do without surgery. For treatment, drug therapy will suffice.
- Intermediate. At this stage, the glandular tissue begins to ripen, this stage lasts about a year.
- Fibrous During this stage, the growth and development of adipose and connective tissue occurs. To get rid of gynecomastia at this stage with the help of drugs is too difficult, almost impossible.
Complications of gynecomastia in men
This pathology can cause an inferiority complex in a patient and leave serious psychological consequences. But the most dangerous consequence is if it degenerates into a malignant tumor. According to statistics, 20-60% of cases of developing breast cancer in the stronger sex occur precisely against the background of gynecomastia.
If the disease was treated surgically, then after the operation, infectious complications, tearing of the skin, scars or asymmetry of the breast may appear. In adult obese men, after removal of too much tissue, a circulatory failure may occur. Because of this, necrosis of the nipple occurs, the sensitivity of which as a result, when changing the usual position, will decrease or completely disappear.
Methods for determining gynecomastia in men
First of all, the doctor examines the patient, conducts palpation of the testicles and mammary glands, finds out a family history. In addition, he assesses the severity of secondary sexual characteristics, learns about existing diseases, drug and alcohol addiction.
With symptoms of breast enlargement in men, the female type of the stronger sex is referred to an endocrinologist. Diagnostic equipment helps detect hormonal abnormalities in the patient. Laboratory tests can determine the blood levels of nitrogen, estradiol, prolactin, testosterone, urea, creatinine and hCG.
To exclude tumor processes, the patient is sent for computed tomography of the adrenal glands and brain, as well as for chest radiography. If the doctor suspected testicular cancer with an increase in the content of testosterone and chorionic gonadotropin, then an ultrasound of the scrotum organs is performed. In addition, a breast biopsy and mammography are done.
Gynecomastia in men: treatment without surgery
Reviews of drug therapy for breast enlargement are mostly positive. To eliminate this problem, different means are used, depending on the reasons for the development of gynecomastia in men. Treatment without surgery on a course of drugs helps to completely get rid of this disease.
If breast growth has occurred due to hypogonadism, then the patient is prescribed male hormones:
- Androgel
- Omnadren
- Sustanon;
- "Chorionic gonadotropin."
Use the listed drugs intramuscularly. The last remedy must be taken once every 5 days. And Androgel containing testosterone is used as an ointment, applying it every day to the skin. The effectiveness of such therapy is quite high.
For the treatment of gynecomastia, it is additionally recommended to take biological substances. True, they are allowed to be used only in combination with the main therapy.
In the case when it is not possible to reduce estrogen, the following drugs are prescribed: Tamoxifen and Clomiphene. They are able to suppress the production of this female hormone, however, when they are consumed, salty foods, alcohol and fatty foods should be excluded from the diet.
Remember that if gynecomastia in men is detected in the early stages, treatment without surgery is quite effective. The duration of therapy is at least 2 months if treatment with male hormones and biological additives is prescribed. In the case of taking medications, in order to suppress the production of female hormones, the disease is eliminated with stimulant drugs. The course of such treatment lasts more than six months until the symptoms of gynecomastia disappear completely.
Gynecomastia in men: treatment without surgery
How to treat this ailment with weaker drugs? When surgical intervention is not required or has already been completed, folk remedies can be used to eliminate this disease: trepang extract or beehive.
In some cases, it helps if gynecomastia is detected in men, treatment without surgery. How to treat additional breast enlargement is of interest to many. For these purposes, folk remedies such as tincture of peony, motherwort and valerian extract are suitable.
Moreover, the doctor may recommend performing physical exercises at home when gynecomastia in men is detected. Treatment without surgery on a course of steroids in this case is impossible, because it is because of them that the disease can develop.
Gynecomastia Therapy with Tamoxifen
Such a drug is in great demand, since it is able to block the production of estrogen. Moreover, in some cases it is much more effective if gynecomastia is found in men, treatment without surgery. Tamoxifen is also good because it is an antitumor agent.
How to get rid of this disease at home?
When gynecomastia is detected in men, treatment without surgery at home helps only if the mammary gland is not too large in size.
Cold compresses that help reduce and reduce fatty tissues will help in the fight against this pathology. To do this, ice cubes should be wrapped in tissue, and then attach them to the chest for several minutes.
Another excellent result is obtained if gynecomastia in men has been diagnosed, treatment without surgery. Reviews with this therapy are positive about turmeric, because this plant increases testosterone and actively burns subcutaneous fat. Therefore, people with this diagnosis will benefit from a drink from this spice.
Last tip
If gynecomastia is not treated, then the disease will cause a lot of trouble. Indeed, the growth of the mammary glands brings both physical and psychological discomfort to a man. In addition, it must be understood that a violation of the structure of the organ can provoke the development of tumors. Therefore, to avoid serious consequences, it is necessary to consult a specialist at the first suspicion of an illness.