Other symptoms | Gynecomastia

Other symptoms

Gynecomastia can affect one or both sides, with swelling of the mammary glands. In some cases there is also increased fatty tissue in the breast, which makes the tissue soft and can hang down (“male breasts”). Enlarged mammary glands can be very sensitive to touch, but only in rare cases do they cause pain to those affected.

The breast may feel tight and tense. Especially the area around the nipple is often extremely sensitive and fluid may leak out. Gynecomastia is a symptom and not an actual disease, so the accompanying symptoms vary according to the cause of the enlarged breast.

Gynecomastia is not dangerous and therefore does not need to be treated. However, since very similar symptoms of breast cancer occur in men, a doctor should always be consulted if the breast grows excessively. The doctor will diagnose gynecomastia and can rule out a pathological finding by means of high-resolution ultrasound of the breast and possibly also mammography (special X-ray examination for early detection of breast cancer).

In addition, the enlarged breast can be a heavy psychological burden. Many affected persons are afraid of ridicule and avoid certain situations, e.g. swimming or sports. This can lead to inferiority complexes and even depression.

It is therefore important that men who suffer greatly from gynecomastia confide in their doctor and that a therapy can be found together. In gynecomastia, the enlarged mammary gland and especially the nipple are more sensitive to touch than normal. A touch in the area of the breast can also cause pain for those affected, but this is very rarely the case.

Normally a gynecomastia does not cause pain. Cirrhosis of the liver is caused by inflammation of the liver or chronic alcohol consumption. As a result, the liver tissue is destroyed and transformed into binge-tissue structures.

As a result, the liver can no longer fulfill its many functions, including the breakdown of sex hormones. All sex hormones are steroid hormones, i.e. they are not water-soluble but only fat-soluble and must be broken down in the liver and excreted through the bile. In cirrhosis of the liver, estrogen, which also occurs in men, accumulates and testosterone is increasingly converted into female sex hormones.

As a result, the effects of estrogen predominate: the man “feminizes” and the mammary gland begins to grow. Men who notice that their breasts are growing should definitely see a doctor who will examine the breast and can rule out a malignant disease. Gynecomastia is a pathological proliferation of mammary gland tissue.

The excess tissue can be palpated and is noticeable as a nodular thickening under the nipple. Palpable lumps in the breast are therefore normal and harmless in a gynecomastia. Nevertheless, a doctor must be consulted for clarification, as men can also develop breast cancer.