Gynecomastia Treatment: What Are My Choices?
Enlargement of the breast in men, called gynecomastia, is most often a condition which is temporary. There are cases, however, in which it is not self-resolving. For those patients, there is a gynecomastia treatment that can help each one.
Gynecomastia can stem from a variety of causes. Some of the potential causes include hormonal imbalance, liver dysfunction which results in excess circulating estrogen and estrogen or steroid containing medications. Cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol abuse is often the cause of the organ dysfunction. In many cases, the gynecomastia is directly related to puberty and will resolve in a year or less.
There are cases, however, where the underlying cause is a tumor. In this case, it may be a testicular tumor or a hormone-secreting tumor. This is why it is so critical to get a diagnosis as to the cause of gynecomastia.
In many cases, it may be a drug that affects the balance of hormones that is at the root of the gynecomastia. It could be from cancer treatments. Chemotherapy or the estrogen used to fight cancer of the prostate can result in this condition. Anabolic steroid use is another potential cause. Certain ulcer medications or antibiotics can also cause gynecomastia.
Treatment of gynecomastia is also going to vary according to the cause. If it arose with puberty, simply watching and waiting will probably be enough. If believed to be a medication side effect, ceasing that medication is often enough to reverse the condition. If the gynecomastia is a result of another disease, then treating that root disease may treat the gynecomastia as well.
Gynecomastia that is benign does not need to be treated from a medical standpoint. If it is especially painful and tender, this can be enough for the patient to want treatment. In other cases, though, it is more the emotional disturbance and embarrassment that the condition creates that moves the seeking of treatment.
Treatment with medications can be attempted first. For example, Tamoxifen, an estrogen antagonist or Clomiphen, an antiestrogen, have both gotten some good results. Tamoxifen has had success with treatment early on in the condition and for gynecomastia with tenderness. Testolactone and Danazol are two other drugs that have achieved some success. All the medications do have some potential side effects, however, so be sure to discuss them with your doctor so you know what to expect.
Gynecomastia that is not resolved through use of medication, or which is a long-standing condition, may need to be resolved through surgery. Reduction mammoplasties can remove the excess tissue, improving the appearance and also the emotional well being of the patient.
The first and most important step with gynecomastia is to seek medical diagnosis of the cause to rule out underlying issues that need to be treated. But whatever the cause, you can rest easy that there is a gynecomastia treatment that will work for you.
Gynecomastia, or enlargement of the breast in men, is usually a temporary condition. However, in some cases, the patient will need to seek out gynecomastia treatment. get rid of gynecomastia now!
