WHAT IS GYNECOMASTIA AND THE TREATMENT PROCESS?
- WHAT IS GYNECOMASTIA AND THE TREATMENT PROCESS?
- What is Gynecomastia (Breast Reduction in Men)?
- What Causes Gynecomastia?
- What are the Symptoms of Gynecomastia?
- How Is Gynecomastia Diagnosed?
- How is Gynecomastia Treated?
- Gynecomastia Surgery
What is Gynecomastia (Breast Reduction in Men)?
Gynecomastia is a health problem defined as excessive breast development in men. This discomfort, which is caused by various health problems, is the formation of female type breast tissue in men. According to studies in this field, gynecomastia is found in one out of every three men. Breast enlargement, which can also be seen in infants and older age groups, is most common in adolescence.
Gynecomastia is a disorder that harms both the psychology and health of the person. Individuals suffering from this condition prefer to stay away from social environments as much as possible because they are embarrassing and embarrassing themselves. Gynecomastia, which has existed for a long time, does not even regress spontaneously. In such cases, treatment or even surgical intervention may be required.
What Causes Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition caused by irregular or unbalanced estrogen and testosterone hormones. In other words, gynecomastia occurs when there is a decrease in the amount of testosterone in the body or an increase in the amount of estrogen. There are many reasons for this hormonal change. Some of these changes are natural and there is no other underlying medical condition.
It is difficult to give a simple answer to the question "Why does nipple enlargement occur in men?" Because there are other reasons that lead to gynecomastia. We can explain these reasons with the following headings:
Natural Hormone Changes
Natural hormone changes can cause gynecomastia. For example, men synthesize very little estrogen hormone. If this testosterone-estrogen balance in men shifts to the estrogen side, gynecomastia comes to the fore.
Gynecomastia in infants: 50% of male infants are born with large breasts due to the estrogen hormone passed from the mother. Breast tissue, which is seen as large, shrinks spontaneously within a period of two to three weeks after birth.
Gynecomastia during adolescence: Gynecomastia occurs during adolescence due to hormonal irregularities.
Gynecomastia in adults: The incidence of gynecomastia increases again in individuals aged 50-69 years. One out of every four men in this age group suffers from gynecomastia.
Drugs Causing Gynecomastia
Some drug groups can cause gynecomastia. We can briefly list these drug groups as follows:
Anabolic steroids and androgens
Anti-androgen drugs used to prevent prostate enlargement or for the treatment of prostate cancer
Tricyclic antidepressants
Some antibiotics and ulcer medications
Some antiretroviral drugs used to treat AIDS
some heart medications
Drugs and Alcohol Consumption
Drugs and alcohol consumption cause gynecomastia. Therefore, these substances should be avoided.
Various Health Problems
Some health problems can cause gynecomastia by disrupting the balance of hormones. We can roughly list these health problems as follows:
hypogonadism
hyperthyroidism
tumors
kidney failure
Liver failure and cirrhosis
Malnutrition (Malnutrition)
What are the Symptoms of Gynecomastia?
In the minds of individuals researching this ailment, question marks such as "How is gynecomastia understood?" are formed. The abnormally feminine appearance seen in the breast tissue in men may manifest itself with some symptoms such as growth and development. We can list the symptoms that may occur in individuals with gynecomastia as follows:
Swelling in breast tissue
Nipple discharge from one or both breasts
One breast is slightly larger than the other breast
Pain or tenderness in the breasts
Feeling of a lump in the lower part of the nipple
However, it should not be forgotten that breast cancer can occur in men as well as in women. Although some men do not have gynecomastia, breast cancer may develop and the above-mentioned symptoms may have arisen due to breast cancer. For this reason, if you complain of the symptoms written above, you should go to a health institution without wasting time and be examined.
How Is Gynecomastia Diagnosed?
Physical examination of both breasts is important for the diagnosis of gynecomastia. In the physical examination, a hard and walnut-sized mass is palpable behind the nipple. After the determination of the aforementioned finding, this determination is confirmed by applying breast obstetric USG to the patient. Physical examination and breast USG are guiding in terms of diagnosis and planning of the treatment process.
How is Gynecomastia Treated?
Before starting the gynecomastia treatment process, it should be determined by examination whether there is an underlying hormonal disorder. After that, if the presence of gynecomastia is suspected, an endocrinologist should be consulted without delay.
Planning for gynecomastia treatment is determined according to the type and size of gynecomastia. There are multiple types of gynecomastia. The course of gynecomastia in adolescents and the response to treatment are measured with the aid of the Nydick classification. In the Nydick classification, the type of gynecomastia is determined based on the size of the glandular tissue disc under the brown ring on the nipple. If the diameter of this tissue disc is less than 4 cm, it would of course be more appropriate to inform the patient about this and wait for the disease to go away on its own. However, if the patient's complaint continues for more than 4 years and there is an increase in the clinical findings that bother the patient, the treatment process can be started immediately. If the disc in the patient's tissue is between 4-6 cm, the result can be achieved with medical treatment. If this disc diameter exceeds 6 cm, surgical intervention is extremely important.
Gynecomastia Surgery
Surgery to be performed by a specialist physician is the most effective method in the treatment of gynecomastia. As a result of the examinations made by the surgeon, the type of intervention is determined. At this stage, different methods can be applied against different classifications of gynecomastia. We can specify these classifications and the methods offered as solutions as follows:
When it comes to mixed type gynecomastia, there is excess glandular tissue and adipose tissue. At this point, liposuction is applied together with the surgical operation.
In the case of glandular type gynecomastia, the hard breast tissue is dominant and this tissue must be surgically removed.
When it comes to fatty type gynecomastia, fat tissue is predominant and this condition can only be treated with liposuction.
In another classification, the size of the breast tissue and excess skin are evaluated. As a result of these evaluations, the type of surgical intervention is determined.
