Causes of Gynecomastia: Hormonal Imbalance, Steroid Use, Obesity, Puberty, Medications

Causative Factors of Gynecomastia: Hormonal Disbalance, Steroid Intake, Overweight, Puberty Stage, Healing drugs

Gynecomastia is a term that describes the condition of men having excessive breast tissue. Although it is known to occur in both males and females, it’s gynecomastia which is prevalent among males to a greater extent whereby it can affect one of the two breasts or both. There are various causes of gynecomastia, some of which are lifestyle related like obesity or the use of steroids, and some are medical like hormonal issues and metabolism concerns. This makes treating and preventing gynecomastia complex as one must figure out the different potential causes. Here in this article we discuss the basic causes of gynecomastia with special attention toward anabolic steroid uses, hormonal imbalance, obesity, puberty and medication.

1. Hormonal Imbalance

The aforementioned reason has to do with primarily being overweight or having excess body fat but having soft, feminine facial bone structure indicates conclusively that there is some underlying hormonal imbalance, particularly concerning and to do with the ratio of estrogen also known as the breast enhancing (female) hormone and testosterone responsible for synthesizing male features.

Some of the potential reasons of imbalance include:

– Old Age: The primary driver in loosing estrogen is old age and with it comes sluggish metabolism resulting in lowered testosterone levels. In some cases estrogen levels is seen to be a tiniest bit elevated or in verge of inflection. This often dominated hormonal balance sets a gynecomastia chain reaction.

• Medical Illnesses: Certain medical diseases such as obesity, liver cirrhosis or renal failure can modify hormone levels leading to the possibility of developing gynecomastia. To illustrate this point, liver cirrhosis can increase the standard body estrogen due to decreased ability to metabolize to estrogen.
• Hereditary Illnesses: Some of the genetic disorders are Klinefelters Syndrome which is associated with low testosterone and high estrogen is likely to develop gynecomastia.

2. Use of Steroids

Steroids aimed at improving physical appearance for athletic activities which increase the size of skeletal muscles can alter hormone levels within the body to a great extent. These anabolic agents are simply modified derivates of testosterone and their use increases the level of estrogen in the body because of compensatory mechanisms due to excess testosterone.

Injecting anabolic steroids into the body automatically entitles their conversion to estrogen in a process called aromatization. Amplifying estrogen levels leads to gynecomastia in men who use anabolic steroids at high doses for prolonged periods of time.

Use of steroids is extremely common in athletes and bodybuilders, significantly increasing the chances of developing gynaecomastia in the population. It is important for individuals contemplating the use of steroids to understand the serious repercussions and side effects that come with their use.

3. Obesity

Another fundamental cause of developing gynaecomastia is obesity. Having excess body fat, particularly in the belly and chest regions, also increases estrogen production. Fat tissue or adipose tissue has an enzyme called aromatase, which changes testosterone into estrogen. This means men with higher body fat tend to have higher levels of estrogen, thus increasing chances of developing breast tissue.

Additionally, obesity can worsen the appearance of gynecomastia in some patients, especially when the fat around the chest becomes more prominent leading to what is referred to as pseudo gynecomastia. Unlike true gynecomastia, which has an underlying cause of enlarged glandular breast tissue, pseudo gynecomastia is due to excess fat deposits, although the outcome may look very similar.

4. Puberty

Both boys and girls undergo considerable changes in their body during puberty, and gynecomastia is not an exception. There’s an increase in the secretion of reproductive hormones like estrogen and testosterone, and this occurs throughout puberty. An imbalance concerning the levels of these hormones can cause temporary breast enlargement amid boys.

Most data suggests that gynecomastia during puberty is self-limiting in nature, which indicates that it will subside as the hormone levels equilibrate. Research indicates that around 50-60 percent of adolescent boys go through some amount of gynecomastia during puberty, although the number does tend to level out within the first two years. Regardless, a percentage of boys are bound to retain breast tissue enlargement into adulthood and are subsequently bound to need treatment later on.

5. Medications

Certain gynecomastia cases can stem from the use of medications. Treatment with the following drugs is some of the leading causes of the issue:

• Anti-androgens: These tend to be the most common drugs linked with such cases. Finasteride and Flutamide fall under this category, both of which are usually used for prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate, as they inhibit testosterone action.
• Antipsychotic Medications: Drugs that treat mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, including risperidone and olanzapine, can disrupt the body’s hormonal equilibrium, resulting in gynecomastia.
• Heart Medications: Some drugs prescribed for heart diseases such as digoxin and spironolactone may cause hormonal alterations leading to gynecomastia.
• Antibiotics: Certain antibiotics, like ketoconazole and cimetidine, are known to cause gynecomastia as a side effect due to their hormonal influence.
• Chemotherapy Drugs: Treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, may alter hormonal balance in the body which, at times, causes gynecomastia.

6. Other Factors

In addition to the main causes listed, other lesser-known reasons for developing gynecomastia include:

• Alcohol Use: Excessive alcohol intake can disrupt estrogen metabolism by the liver, causing hormonal imbalance which leads to gynecomastia.
• Marijuana Use: Some research indicates that marijuana consumption can alter hormonal balances in the body, contributing to gynecomastia.
• Herbal Supplements: Some herbal supplements, like those which contain phytoestrogens, can lead to the formation of estrogen in the body, thereby causing gynecomastia.

Treatment Options for Gynecomastia

Most of the time gynecomastia doesn’t require treatment but in severe cases it might need extra attention. Some treatment options include:

• Medication: A doctor may recommend medicines like tamoxifen which is known to be an anti-estrogen, to help manage or lower breast tissue growth.
• Surgery: If medical treatment does not improve the condition, surgical treatment choices of liposuction or mastectomy might be done to allow a more masculine silhouette by getting rid of extra tissue.
• Lifestyle Changes: Dealing with secondary causes like obesity and steroid use can minimize the chances of developing gynecomastia. It is important to maintain a healthy weight as well as avoid anabolic steroids so that the condition doesn’t worsen.

Conclusion

Gynecomastia is a condition which is very common and still remains underappreciated. A man’s appearance and self-worth can be significantly impacted due to this condition. The causes of gynecomastia are diverse such as hormone related issues, steroid intake, and obesity, puberty and even some medication Intake. If you notice any signs of gynecomastia, it is very important to see a doctor so they can figure out the main issue and look for suitable treatment options. Recognizing the causes will allow steps to be taken that proactively minimize the condition and allow it to be dealt with promptly for effective management.