Gynecomastia is a common condition in which female-like breasts develop in men affecting millions of men of different ages and backgrounds. It is thought to be caused by an imbalance of testosterone and estrogen and generally harmless, but the mental consequences can be devastating. The underlying hormonal imbalance may be due to puberty or developed use of substances in bodybuilding, fitness, or anti-aging.
Pain is not a common feature of gynecomastia. What does gynecomastia pain indicate? Is this something to worry about? Does it mean you may have cancer? How is it treated? What should you do if you have painful gynecomastia? Is this pain treated by removal of the tissue?
Pressure or rubbing of chest can cause painful gynecomastia which indicates that the tissue behind your nipples is inflamed. There may be many triggers for this inflammation such as your own natural body hormones or substances that you are taking for various purposes including prescription medications, but the most common cause are prohormones or hormones used for enhanced fitness. Gynecomastia pain can be on unilateral or bilateral. The onset of pain or tenderness may be gradual and progressively worsening over many years and then subsides over month.
The treatment of painful gynecomastia at Boston Gynecomastia Specialists involves the removal of the entire breast gland tissue. The inflammation of this tissue is responsible for the pain and once it is removed there will no longer be pain. Treatment of painful gynecomastia with an anti-estrogen medication is possible as it relieves the pain, but it will not resolve the problem.
Breast cancer in males is quite uncommon and it is not associated with gynecomastia. Breast cancer is typically not painful. Special lab studies or radiology scans are not helpful in the diagnosis or treatment of painful gynecomastia as the diagnosis is made clinically and the treatment is surgery or waiting long enough for the pain to subside naturally over time.
In summary, painful gynecomastia is not common or prolonged in duration. It is related to substances taken or hormonal imbalance and is cured with surgical removal of the entire breast gland tissue.