It is enlargement of breasts in males.

Symptoms

• Enlargement of breast.
• Pain in the breast.
• Breast tenderness.

Causes of Gynecomastia

It usually occurs due to decrease in the amount of the hormone testosterone compared to estrogen.

• It can occur due to natural hormone changes.
• Medications.
• Certain health conditions.

Natural hormone changes

• In infants: In male infants gynecomastia can occur due to the effect of mother’s estrogen. It usually disappears with in twp to three weeks after birth.
• During puberty: Due to hormonal changes in the body, Gynecomastia can occur with out treatment with in six months to two years or three years.
• Gynecomastia in men:  It usually occurs in the ages of 50 and 80.

Medications

• Anti-androgens which are used to treat prostate enlargement or cancer like cyproterone, flutamide, finasteride and spironolactone.
• AIDS medication like efavirenz.
• Anti anxiety medications like diazepam.
• Tricyclic antidepressants.
• Antibiotics.
• Ulcer medications like cimetidine.
• Chemotherapy.
• Heart medications like digitalis and calcium channel blockers.
• Street drugs like marijuana, heroin, amphetamines, alcohol, anabolic steroids, androgens.
• Health conditions: Hypogonadism, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, liver failure, malnutrition, starvation.
• Tumors of adrenal glands or pituitary glands.

Risk factors of gynecomastia

• Adolescence.
• Older age.
• Use of anabolic steroids, androgens.
• Health conditions like kidney failure, liver failure, tumors, thyroid disease.

Test and diagnosis

• Blood tests.
• Mammograms.
• Chest x-rays.
• CT scan chest.

Treatment

• Medications like Tamoxifen, raloxifen.
• Mastectomy: In this the breast is removed.