ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Male Breast Enlargement

What is male breast enlargement?

23 January 2026

This refers to the increase in volume of male breast tissue caused by hormonal changes that disrupt the balance between testosterone and estrogen, affecting one or both breasts simultaneously.

Although gynecomastia, which is the medical name for male breast enlargement, can affect males of any age, it tends to have a higher incidence in infants, adolescents, and older adults due to the hormonal changes they go through during these life stages.

Normally, this condition does not represent a major problem; it can be temporary and disappear without the need for treatment. However, it is often difficult to cope with due to emotional issues, as the sufferer may feel embarrassed and be subjected to ridicule.

In any case, gynecomastia can be treated pharmacologically with good results, or in more complicated cases, the problem can be resolved through corrective surgery.

There is also what is called pseudogynecomastia, which is due to an increase in fat in the area and not breast tissue.

In addition to developmental hormonal changes, other possible causes that can promote the appearance of gynecomastia include:

  • Antiandrogens and androgens.
  • Anabolic steroids.
  • Anxiolytics.
  • Antidepressants.
  • Antibiotics.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption.
  • Drugs (illicit substances).
  • Klinefelter syndrome.
  • Pituitary insufficiency.
  • Overweight and obesity.
  • Hyperthyroidism.
  • Liver and kidney failure.
  • Malnutrition.
  • Herbal products.

Signs and symptoms Male Breast Enlargement

  • Sore breasts, especially during adolescence.
  • Breast swelling.
  • Breast hypersensitivity/tenderness.
  • Irritated and sensitive nipples.
  • Nipple discharge.

Diagnosis and treatment Male Breast Enlargement

Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request a series of tests to rule out other disorders and confirm the diagnosis, including:

  • Blood tests.
  • Mammography.
  • Computed Tomography (CT) scan.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
  • Ultrasound.
  • Tissue biopsy.

Depending on whether the gynecomastia is a product of an underlying disease, it must be treated in parallel with that condition. But if it is only due to hormonal changes, periodic check-ups are recommended while it disappears on its own.

In cases where the symptoms are serious and do not spontaneously remit, medications may be prescribed or surgical procedures such as liposuction and mastectomy may be performed.

In the Internal Medicine Department at Centro Médico ABC, we provide medical care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies, including both chronic-degenerative conditions and acute cases, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Male Breast Enlargement

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Sources:

  • topdoctors.es
  • cun.es
  • elsevier.es
  • middlesexhealth.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medigraphic.com
  • Bonilla-Sepúlveda OA. Ginecomastia: aspectos generales y etiológicos. Medicina & Laboratorio. 2021;25(1):393-408.
  • Telich-Tarriba JE, Garza-Arriaga D, Leyva-Vázquez A, et al. La ginecomastia tuberosa, una entidad poco reconocida en la práctica quirúrgica actual. Acta Med. 2020;18(4):414-417. doi:10.35366/97270.
  • Jiménez AD, Casado MPR, Suárez CY, et al. Caracterización clínico-etiológica y bioquímica de pacientes con ginecomastia. Rev Cuba Endoc. 2020;31(1):.
  • Ramírez-Lara EJ, Mamani-Choque E, Méndez-Ortega I. Tratamiento quirúrgico de la ginecomastia puberal con anestesia local infiltrativa. Mediciego. 2019;25(2):62-71.

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