Patient education: Gynecomastia (male breast development) (The Basics)

What is gynecomastia? — Gynecomastia is the medical term for when boys or men develop breasts. Some growth of the breasts is normal when boys go through puberty and as men get older. But in some cases, this can be embarrassing and even painful. Luckily, it often goes away on its own. If it doesn't go away, or if it is very uncomfortable, there are treatments that can help.

What are the symptoms of male breast development? — You might have growth in both breasts or just 1. Sometimes, the breasts are tender and hurt when they are touched.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — See a doctor or nurse if your breast or breasts:

●Are growing very fast

●Have grown a lot (more than 2 to 3 inches of tissue under the nipple)

●Are very painful

●Worry or embarrass you a lot

●Have grown, and you also have a lump on 1 of your testicles or think that you might have another illness

You should also see a doctor if you are an adult male and you have a lump in your breast that is off to the side instead of under the nipple. This could be a sign of breast cancer. It is very rare, but males can sometimes get breast cancer.

Is there a test for male breast development? — Yes and no. If you are male and have what look like breasts, your doctor or nurse will feel them. This is to check if what you have is really breast tissue or if it is fat, which are different things. Doctors and nurses can usually tell the difference just by feeling the breasts (figure 1). But sometimes, they need to order a special kind of X-ray of the breast called a mammogram. They might also order blood tests to check your hormone levels.

How is male breast development treated? — There are a number of treatments. But treatment is often not needed. The best choice for you will depend on the cause of your condition, how long it has lasted, how severe it is, and how much it hurts or bothers you.

●In teen boys, breast development is usually caused by normal hormone changes that happen at that age. In these cases, breasts usually go away on their own without treatment. Still, doctors sometimes give a medicine called tamoxifen to boys with very large or painful breasts.

●In adult men, breast development can be caused by a health problem or by taking certain medicines or drugs. In these cases, treating the health problem or stopping the medicine or drug usually makes the breasts go away. But if the doctor can't figure out the cause of breast development, they might prescribe a medicine called tamoxifen.

●In adult men whose breasts are large and have been there for more than a year, medicine does not usually help. These men can instead have surgery to make their breasts smaller.

●Men with prostate cancer whose get treatment with certain types of hormone therapy sometimes develop breasts. They can take tamoxifen or have radiation treatment before getting the hormone therapy to reduce the chances that this will happen.

More on this topic

Patient education: Androgen replacement in men (The Basics)

Patient education: Gynecomastia (breast enlargement in males) (Beyond the Basics)