Gynecomastia: Causes And Contributing Factors

Gynecomastia: Causes And Contributing Factors

This afflication of the male body, taking on the female characteristics of the breast (look, even function), or as it is also known physiologic gynecomastia, occurs in little boys, and before or during puberty, in adult males  and even onset with aging and during the later stages of life have also been documented. 

Many cases of gynecomastia are idiopathic, which means that in terms of casuality it is more complex than what simply meets the eye or that there is no clear attributable reason or underlying cause for it. Here are some of the potential contributing or causal factors that leads to Gynecomastia: 

–    androgen receptor defects
–    chronic illness, kidney disease, liver disease
–    decreased testosterone production
–    Immune deficiencies – HIV
–    increased serum estrogen
–    medications including hormones
–    refeeding after starvation
–    spinal cord injury

Up to around one quarter of all cases do not have any attributable cause or underlying reason for this to occur.

Medicines that are most likely and proven/documented to cause gynecomastia are:

–    Cimetidine
–    Finasteride
–    Imatinib Mesylate
–    Omeprazole
–    Some antipsychotics
–    Spironolactone

The problems and issues experienced by gynecomastia sufferers go beyond the concern and self-consciousness of physical breasts per se,  having them look like female breasts. There is more at play here than just simply enlarged breast tissue,  like the secretion of prolactin (like breast-milk), taking on not only the look, feel, but also the intended function of the women’s breast.

Here are some other causes and contributory factors to gynecomastia (female type breasts in men):

–    Androstenedione, ( a known food supplement) heightens estrogen levels, which can also lead to or trigger larger breasts.
–    Some prostate cancer treatments and drugs administered in the process, such as antiandrogens and GnRH analogs can also cause, trigger or contribute to gynecomastia.
–    Decreased testosterone production, Klinefelter Syndrome. hypothalamus or pituitary under-performance, imbalance or issues can all also lead to low testosterone, in turn higher estrogen levels, again throwing off the internal equilibrium of the male body and in this case particularly the breasts.
–   Over-use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and Kennedy disease have also been identified as problematic and contributing to gynecomastia.
–    Exposure to substances that have estrogenic and antiandrogenic qualities like lavender and tea tree oil can also lead to these types of enlarged breasts, feminine features.
–    It there are cases of testicular tumors, hyperthyroidism, adrenal tumors a form of estrogen is a by-product of sorts, which can also lead to these types of complications. Liver disease and obesity can also lead to higher estrogen level – although not a direct cause-effect type relationship is could/might contribute to the physical enlargement of breast areas.
–    Research has shown that this occurs due to hormonal activity and actually the dynamics of this process involves the blockage of dopamine (prolactin-inhibiting factor/PIF) on the lactotrope cell groups in the anterior pituitary gland.

In extreme, persistent or more permanent cases surgery is sometimes necessary to eliminate the condition.