What Causes Swollen Breasts? (gynecomastia)

Newborn boys, young men going through puberty, and men over age 50 sometimes share something in common — a puffy chest. Known as gynecomastia, this condition increases the breast and glandular tissues and produces soft, swollen breasts. It can affect one or both of your breasts and may involve a bit of tenderness as well. The condition occurs due to an imbalance of hormones.

Although typically not considered a serious medical condition, the underlying cause may require treatment. If you have symptoms that are causing you embarrassment, discomfort, or pain, Frederick H. Watkins, MD, can get to the bottom of your gynecomastia and develop a personalized treatment plan to reduce your swollen breast tissue. 

Although all cases of gynecomastia stem from imbalanced hormones, uncovering the condition that’s triggering the imbalance is key. You could have:

• Low testosterone
• Too much estrogen
• Something blocking the effects of testosterone

Here are the reasons your hormones may be out of whack, and why you may have gynecomastia.

Natural causes of gynecomastia

Throughout your life, you’ll experience fluctuations in your hormone levels. Although men don’t typically suffer through frequent and extreme dips and spikes like women, there are a few predictable stages of life when you can expect some hormonal changes.

Infancy

At birth, the mother’s estrogen is still coursing through the baby’s body, which may cause the breasts to appear swollen for a few weeks.

Puberty

Young boys transitioning into adolescence may notice temporary swollen breast tissue due to the hormonal shifts. This can last up to two years.

Men past age 50

Testosterone ebbs and flows, but it begins a steady decline at age 30, dropping 1% every year. After their 50th birthday, 25% of men experience some degree of gynecomastia. 

Health conditions that can cause gynecomastia

If your gynecomastia isn’t related to your age or stage of life, it may be caused by an underlying medical condition, as there are several that can infer with a man’s hormones, including:

• Hyperthyroidism, which floods the body with too much thyroxine
• Liver failure (cirrhosis), which impairs the regulation of estrogen
• Hypogonadism, which interferes with testosterone production
• Tumors in your testicles, adrenal glands, or pituitary glands
• Kidney failure, as about half of men on dialysis have gynecomastia
• Malnutrition, as diet affects hormone production

If any of these conditions are causing your gynecomastia, it’s important to get treatment for the primary cause. Once your condition is under control, your gynecomastia should resolve as well.

Drugs, substances, and supplements that can cause gynecomastia

Your lifestyle may be the culprit of your gynecomastia. Using or consuming harmful substances can interfere with your hormone production and your body’s ability to respond to hormones. Specifically, the following substances can trigger the development of gynecomastia:

• Alcohol
• Marijauna
• Amphetamines
• Heroin
• Methadone

Some prescription medications and treatments can also cause gynecomastia, including:

• Antimicrobials
• Cardiovascular drugs
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Antidepressants
• Anabolic steroids
• Anti-androgens (for enlarged prostate)
• AIDS drugs
• Ulcer medications

It’s even possible to experience gynecomastia after using products with herbal ingredients, such as lavender or tea tree oil.

Male breast reduction surgery

If you have excess breast tissue that won’t go away, Dr. Watkins can recontour your chest with male breast reduction surgery. In most cases, liposuction is the best solution. With liposuction, he puts you under general anesthesia and makes a couple of small incisions. Then he inserts a cannula, which is a slender hollow instrument, and suctions out the unwanted fat and tissue from the area. 

In some cases, Dr. Watkins may discover that glandular tissue is responsible for the enlarged breasts. In this case, surgery, not liposuction, is the answer. With surgery, he makes a small incision under your areola and removes the glandular tissue. 

In either case, you’ll wear a compression garment over your chest for a couple of weeks as the skin and inner tissues heal. You’ll need to take about a week off work to recuperate. In 7-10 days, you’ll be able to resume light activity. Once the swelling subsides, you should see a flatter, firmer chest.

If you suffer from gynecomastia and want to know what’s causing it and what your treatment options are, Dr. Watkins can help. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with the practice of Frederick H. Watkins, MD, today.