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What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition where men develop enlarged breasts because of a hormonal imbalance between testosterone and estrogen. There are a variety of causes of true gynecomastia which results in breast enlargement in the glandular tissue (rather than pseudogynecomastia, which is caused by fat). Although many men might think of anabolic steroids when learning about drug induced gynecomastia, there are actually many different medications and nutritional supplements that have been linked to gynecomastia.
Reducing Gynecomastia with Pills – Does It Work?
Gynecomastia is often a combination of the development of glandular breast tissue and fat tissues behind and around the nipple. There are herbal supplements and other pills that are being marketed online as solutions for gynecomastia. Several gynecomastia pills are currently on the market, including Gynexin, Gynectrol, and GyneMax. Gynexin is by far the most popular. It is essentially a fat burner that specifically targets the excess fatty tissue in the male breast. While it may work to reduce that type of fat, it does not address the underlying cause – glandular breast tissue. Explore the Gynecomastia.org Forum to read about the experiences of men who have taken this drug and other gynecomastia oral medications.
Prescription Drugs That Can Cause Gynecomastia
Over the years, a variety of medications have been implicated in the development of gynecomastia. In some causes, male patients have been able to treat gynecomastia by adjusting medications. Some of the more common drugs that may induce gynecomastia are listed below. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication intake.
Antiandrogens | Bicalutamide, flutamide, finasteride, dutasteride |
Antihypertensive | Spironolactone |
Antiretroviral | Protease inhibitors (saquinavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, lopinavir), reverse transcriptase inhibitors (stavudine, zidovudine, lamivudine) |
Environmental Exposure | Phenothrin (antiparasitical) |
Exogenous Hormones | Oestrogens, prednisone (male teenagers) |
Gastrointestinal Drugs | H2 histamine receptor blockers (cimetidine) |
Antifungal | Ketoconazole (prolonged oral use) |
Antihypertensive | Calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, nifedipine, verapamil) |
Antipsychotic (first generation) | Haloperidol, olanzapine, paliperidone (high doses), risperidone (high doses), ziprasidone |
Antiretroviral | Efavirenz |
Chemotherapy Drugs | cisplatin, vincristine, procarbazine |
Exogenous Hormones | Androgens (athletes abuse) |
Gastrointestinal Drugs | Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole) |
Cardiovascular Drugs | Phytoestrogens (soya-based products, high quantity) |
Note that unlike what you may have read online, plastic surgeons confirm that tumors and the use of marijuana rarely cause gynecomastia.
Anti-Estrogen Drugs
Anti-estrogen drugs, which were popularized by bodybuilders, were often taken by people who developed gynecomastia. These estrogen blockers are purposed to prevent testosterone from converting to estrogen, but the effect isn’t guaranteed. Most importantly, these oral medications cannot remove breast tissue once it has been formed. They may decrease the amount of adipose tissue and if this is your only concern, your condition is actually called pseudogynecomastia and may be effectively treated with certain medicines.
Proper Diet & Exercise
Gimmicks found online can cause you to spend a lot of money and yield few results. To some degree, weight loss using proper nutrition and exercise for gynecomastia can help you reduce the size of fat tissues in the chest areas. However, individuals who are already on the thinner side will probably achieve better results through gynecomastia surgery.
Best Treatment for Gynecomastia
In such cases, it’s best for male patients to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss their treatment options, testosterone levels, hormonal imbalance, breast growth, and many other factors. Male breast reduction may be the best treatment to reduce one or both breasts through surgery. Gynecomastia surgery is often the most effective way to reduce breast tissue and adipose tissue. Dr. Miguel Delgado can recommend whether gynecomastia medication may help based on a male patient’s unique circumstances.
Learn More
If you’re interested in learning more about your treatment options for gynecomastia, consult Dr. Miguel Delgado by filling out our online contact form.
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The content on Gynecomastia.org is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice. It does not replace the need to meet with a physician who will accurately diagnose your condition and suggest treatment options.