When an excess of tissue builds up on the chest of a male causing him to take on the appearance of having breasts, this is gynecomastia, or you would probably know it as man boobs. Man boobs can be caused by two main factors: either there is an underlying hormonal imbalance in the body, or there is simply an excess of fatty tissue around the breast. Either case is absolutely treatable so don’t just dream about getting rid of man boobs – put in the effort and they will go.

There are times when gynecomastia can occur naturally in the body and go away again without treatment. For a couple of weeks after birth some newborns have ‘little-man’ boobs from all the excess estrogen that is left over from their mothers. Gynecomastia can occur again in the hormonal whirlwind that is adolescence and around 33% of teenage boys will see some breast development however these almost-man boobs usually disappear again when normal hormone levels are re-established. For adults gynecomastia is not quite as common and can be a lot harder to eliminate.

Gynecomastia in grown men can have various different reasons for developing. Being obese of overweight is one reason and is actually the simplest do deal with. Because everyone’s body is unique everyone also stores fat differently, so one man may store fat evenly across the body, another may store it in the upper torso, and hence he gains the appearance of breasts.

Gyencomastia can also be the result of taking different types of medication. Some such drugs are epilepsy drugs, ulcer drugs, anti-androgens and even chemotherapy. Common prescription drugs for depression, anxiety and even some heart medications are also known to have gynecomastia as a side effect. Pharmaceutical drugs are not the only culprit.

Anabolic steroid use is a huge and growing cause of man boobs. Steroid use is of course done to gain that buffed up rock hard physique which some men seem to be crazy for, but down the track that may all turn upside down and result in a more feminine figure than before. The natural production of testosterone is suppressed by steroids and so while testosterone’s away, estrogen comes out to play, the result – man boobs.

On top of this other drugs can have similar affects on the body. Methamphetamines, marijuana and heroin can all lead to man boobs because of their effects on the hormonal balance in your body. Unfortunately beer (man’s favourite drink!) is a big no-no for man boobs. More serious diseases like lung and liver cancer or pituitary cancer can all have gynecomastia as a symptom.

Gynecomastia is totally treatable, so you don’t have to feel helpless or like you will have to live with the condition for ever. You may find that your man boobs clear up of their own accord, but some men opt for surgery which can be very costly and not free of risks, so should be considered only in dire circumstances.

If you have discovered that a medication you are taking is the cause of your man boobs, then it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about finding a suitable alternative to the current medications – often the man boobs will go by themselves after the switch. Gynecomastia from steroid use can be more difficult to treat. Budding man boobs can be stopped with the use of estrogen blockers if you are using steroids, of course stopping the steroid use is essential. Bodybuilders usually have estrogen blockers handy just in case. If steroid induced man boobs are left for a long time untreated they may only be able to be removed with a male mamoplasty, so don’t ignore the problem.

There is no overnight miracle for getting rid of man boobs, though it is possible to do so with a little time and effort. Find out the reason behind your man boobs and then you can find a natural treatment for the condition – feeling depressed and helpless is not an option!

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