Gynecomastia is a medical condition that can affect the normal appearance of breast tissue in men. This condition often arises as a result of normal hormonal fluctuations or as a side effect of particular prescription medication usage. The side effects of gynecomastia are extremely limited but can have a significant impact on the young and adult men affected by this condition.
Breast Tissue Enlargement
Normally, the breast tissue of males remains undeveloped, causing this tissue to appear flat against the body. During puberty, however, normal hormonal fluctuations cause up to 70 percent of young men to experience temporary breast tissue enlargement--called gynecomastia--explains Up To Date, a peer-reviewed medical information website for patients.
Tissue enlargement can occur in either one or both breasts and may cause the breast tissue to appear uneven. Approximately 65 percent of middle-aged and elderly men experience similar gynecomastia side effects due to changes in hormone levels as well as use of certain types of prescription medications, reports Up To Date.
Though breast tissue can appear abnormally enlarged in boys and men who are overweight, excessive fatty tissue is not considered to be a true cause of gynecomastia. Breast enlargement that occurs as a side effect of gynecomastia results from a hormonal shift that leads to the initiation of breast tissue growth.
The majority of young men experience only temporary breast tissue changes during puberty. Talk with your doctor if you are concerned by this condition or if breast enlargement side effects abnormally persist.
Nipple Tenderness
As the breast tissue swells and expands, certain men can experience nipple tenderness as a side effect of gynecomastia, warn health officials at The University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Initially, men with gynecomastia can develop a small mass or lump beneath the nipple. If a doctor presses his hand into the enlarged breast tissue, you can experience mild aching or painful sensations at the affected site.
These side effects of gynecomastia are typically temporary--especially in adolescent patients, explains Medline Plus, a health information website provided by the National Institutes of Health. Contact your doctor if nipple or breast tenderness progressively worsens, as these side effects can be indicative of male breast cancer.
Embarrassment or Self-consciousness
Patients who experience gynecomastia can be extremely embarrassed or self-conscious as a side effect of this condition, warns Up To Date. Breast enlargement is traditionally associated with female sexual development. Young men who experience unusual breast enlargement due to gynecomastia may be teased by classmates at school or in the locker room. Adult men with this condition may be unusually shy or reluctant to become intimate due to the physical appearance of the affected breast tissue. Talk with your doctor or pediatrician if you are concerned by any of the gynecomastia side effects that you experience.
