Men are susceptible to many pathologies that are characteristic mostly of the female sex. One of these diseases is true gynecomastia. This disease is characterized by an abnormal enlargement of the mammary glands. And such a pathological process arises against the background of proliferation of glandular and adipose tissue.
What is true gynecomastia in men, what contributes to its appearance and what signs it has - the answers to these questions should be well known to every member of the stronger sex.
general information
This pathology is an abnormal breast enlargement in men. The pathological process can arise at absolutely any age. The disease is almost always accompanied by pain and a feeling of heaviness in the chest area. You can get rid of the problem with the help of appropriate medicines, recipes of alternative medicine, and if these methods do not bring the desired effect, you need to resort to surgical intervention.
It is certainly not worth ignoring the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, since the prolonged progression of the disease can transform gynecomastia into a malignant neoplasm. And, as you know, such a phenomenon can be irreversible and lead to disastrous consequences.
Features
Doctors classify this pathology into several types, depending on certain criteria. Due to the fact that the mammary glands are formed on the basis of several types of tissues, according to their growth, the disease can be divided into false and true gynecomastia.
The first type is characterized by the spread of adipose and connective tissue. As a rule, this form occurs against the background of a sharp set of excess weight. As for true gynecomastia in men, it involves the proliferation of glandular tissue. It is this form of the disease that is most often considered by doctors and requires immediate treatment, since it is directly related to disorders in the endocrine system. This condition is considered truly dangerous for men.
Types of disease
If we are talking about the prevalence of pathology, then it can be classified into two types.
- Unilateral gynecomastia. Already from the name it is clear that the abnormal phenomena associated with the proliferation of tissues affect only one mammary gland. The second breast may remain completely normal. This type of defect arises, usually due to malfunctions or sudden changes in the hormonal background.
- Bilateral gynecomastia. Diagnosed with abnormal changes in both mammary glands. Of course, a false variety of the disease always falls into this category. But in general, bilateral gynecomastia is much more common than the one-sided type.
Classification
The disease is divided into types and age categories.
- Congenital malformations occur only in newborn boys. With the full development of the child, the problem passes independently over time.
- False and true gynecomastia in adolescents develops most often during puberty due to hormonal changes in the body. Since pathology is considered natural in this case, in most of all cases of the disease, it passes by itself.
- Senile defect, usually develops against the background of the extinction of hormones. Indeed, it is precisely in old age that men significantly lower their testosterone levels, but the amount of estrogen in this case, on the contrary, increases.
It should be said that gynecomastia, due to age-related changes in the body, is not pathological, therefore, it does not need treatment. If the disease arises in mature men, it is necessary to provide suitable therapy.
Causes
True gynecomastia in men can occur due to:
- various pathologies of the testicles;
- the occurrence of malignant and benign neoplasms in the area of the prostate gland;
- cancer related to the genitourinary system;
- hermaphrodism;
- the birth of serious infectious type defects;
- blood flow disorders in the genitals;
- reproductive system injuries;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- failures in the endocrine system;
- pituitary tumors;
- diffuse toxic goiter;
- cardiovascular or renal failure.
Another reason for the occurrence of pathological proliferation of tissues is called by doctors the prolonged use of powerful medicines, which also negatively affect the functioning of the mammary glands. Such drugs include: hormonal, diuretic, antibacterial, cardiac and antiulcer drugs. Of course, a variety of narcotic substances carry enormous harm in themselves.
Symptoms
The main sign of false and true gynecomastia is a significant breast enlargement. At the same time, her size may resemble the parameters of a teenage girl. In addition, true gynecomastia can be characterized by symptoms such as:
- discomfort in the chest area, especially at the time of palpation and contact with clothing;
- discoloration and enlargement of the nipples;
- on palpation, not only pain is felt, but also small seals;
- a liquid resembling breast milk may be released from the nipples;
- sudden mood swings, excessive irritability for no apparent reason;
- loss of interest in women of the opposite sex, in some cases even a violation of erectile function;
- a change in the timbre of the voice, which begins to resemble a female more
- thinning hair on the legs and chest.
In other words, over time, a woman with such a diagnosis becomes characterized by many female symptoms. At first, the clinical manifestations of gynecomastia are sluggish. But if you do not treat the disease in time, its symptoms will become much brighter.
Diagnostics
True gynecomastia in men, just like its false form, can be detected even with a simple visual examination of the patient and his detailed examination. A specialist should be consulted when the first signs of pathology appear on the part of the mammary glands. This recommendation is especially important for guys whose puberty has already ended, but abnormal changes in the chest remain.
Differential diagnosis of this disease involves a survey and a thorough examination of a man with palpation of both mammary glands. If abnormal seals are detected, the young man is usually referred for additional examinations. Laboratory diagnosis of gynecomastia involves several studies.
- Hormonal blood test for estradiol and testosterone. If the information in this test does not make the picture clear, ancillary studies are prescribed for the man: for thyroid hormones, LH, hCG, FSH and a kidney test.
- Ultrasound Pictures with diffuse true gynecomastia can become a reason for mammography, since tumors are clearly visible in such images. In general, during an ultrasound, the axillaries, chest and thyroid gland are examined in detail.
- Computed tomography of the brain. It is prescribed not to all patients. CT is necessary in cases where other diagnostic methods are uninformative.
- Ultrasound of the gonads. This study is required for elevated levels of testosterone in the body.
Based on the results of all the examinations passed, the specialist confirms or refutes the diagnosis, and only after that prescribes a therapeutic regimen taking into account the reasons that provoked the appearance of the pathology.
Treatment of true gynecomastia in men
The false form of pathology passes independently, without specific therapy. But the treatment of true gynecomastia is actually necessary for every man with such a diagnosis. The appropriate therapeutic regimen is selected depending on the causes of the disease and its severity.
Drug and folk treatments
The use of pharmacy drugs in this situation is necessary to stabilize the hormonal background. To achieve this goal, most often doctors prescribe: "Nolvadex", "Testosterone", "Danazol", "Tamoxifen", "Clomiphene" and their analogues. Their action is to normalize the level of male hormone in the body.
As for alternative methods of treatment, they are also aimed at eliminating hormonal disruptions. Medicinal plants that can increase testosterone include:
The patient needs to prepare all kinds of tinctures and decoctions of these herbs.
During treatment, a man should adhere to certain rules:
- refuse to take medications that cause breast growth;
- follow a special diet when detecting a false form of the disease;
- attend physiotherapy.
In a disease with a mild course, a man has every chance to get rid of the problem with the help of medications alone.
However, it is worth saying that the treatment of true gynecomastia in boys and adolescents has certain features:
- expectant tactics - usually, a few years after puberty, the problem recedes on its own;
- operative solution - involves the diagnosis and use of hormonal medications.
Physical Education
How to build chest muscles with true gynecomastia? This question worries almost all patients with this diagnosis. And the answer to it is quite simple: physical exercises will not only allow the man to solve the aesthetic problem, but also significantly accelerate the healing process. Physical education is not able to completely eliminate the consequences of pathology, however, in combination with other therapeutic methods will bring excellent results.
The following exercises are considered the most useful in this situation:
- push ups;
- run;
- swimming;
- cycling.
Surgical intervention
If conservative methods of treatment did not bring the desired result to the patient, surgery is recommended for the man. Surgical intervention is advisable when:
- long course of the disease, more than a year;
- pronounced aesthetic disadvantage;
- impressive size of the mammary glands.
The essence of the operation is to eliminate overgrown breast tissue.
There are several options for surgical intervention.
- Plain. This type of operation is used only in extreme cases, since after it a man may have significant cosmetic defects. Surgical intervention involves the removal of glandular and adipose tissue in parallel with the nipple.
- Subcutaneous. During this operation, an incision is made on the chest through which all excess tissue is removed. Often this surgical method is combined with liposuction.
- Endoscopic. This operation is carried out using a special device - an endoscope. It is used, as a rule, in the early stages of gynecomastia, when a man still has a small size of the mammary glands.
On average, the duration of the surgical intervention ranges from 1.5-2 hours.
Prevention
In general, not a single representative of the stronger sex is safe from the occurrence of gynecomastia. But to prevent breast pathology, a man must deal with the timely treatment of diseases associated with disorders in the production of hormones. In addition, it is very important to get rid of problems in the functioning of the endocrine system in time.
In addition, it will not be superfluous to eat balanced. So a man can avoid the appearance of extra pounds and obesity, which actually leads to the development of false gynecomastia.
Since prolonged use of certain medications can cause breast growth, you should carefully select these funds.