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Gynaecomastia

Gynaecomastia · Gynekomastie

male only

What it is

Swelling of breast tissue in boys and men — normal in puberty and old age, otherwise from drugs, liver disease, anabolic steroids or a hormone imbalance.

Symptoms & signs

  • Rubbery disc of tissue under the nipple
  • tenderness
  • one or both sides
  • fatty chest without a disc (pseudogynaecomastia)

🚩 Get help if…

  • see a doctor soon A hard or fixed lump, or one on one side only
  • see a doctor soon Bloody nipple discharge or skin changes
  • see a doctor soon A lump in the testicle
  • see a doctor soon Fast growth with headache or tiredness

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Examination and hormone tests; testis examination
  • stop the culprit (spironolactone, anabolic steroids, cannabis, some antiandrogens)
  • tamoxifen for painful recent swelling
  • surgery for long-standing cases

Natural & lifestyle

  • Weight loss for fatty chest
  • limit alcohol
  • no anabolic steroids

Emerging & experimental

  • Aromatase inhibitors in selected cases
  • minimally invasive gland removal

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Chest exercises — build muscle, cannot shrink gland tissue anecdotal / traditional
  • Herbal 'anti-oestrogen' supplements — untested; some contain hidden drugs anecdotal / traditional
  • Weight loss — helps a fatty chest, not true gland early / small studies

ICD codes