Swelling of the breast tissue in boys or men is what is meant by gynecomastia. When the hormone level such as testosterone and estrogen fluctuate, causing an imbalance in the body, you may experience gynecomastia. The sad part is, it can affect the breasts unevenly sometimes, or you could also see this on both your breasts. However, this is a common phenomenon for the boys who are hitting puberty and a result of normal hormonal changes among the older men.

Gynecomastia is not a serious condition though. But typically, men and boys are also seen to complain of pain and swellings in the breast that make them feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, it could also be downright embarrassing to probably discuss with any other member of the family.

Causes of Gynecomastia:

Gynecomastia can affect men at all their stages, starting from birth.

• Infants: As babies, many men are naturally born with enlarged breasts because of the estrogen levels of the mother. However, the swollen tissue that comes with it is seen to go away in a week or two.
• Puberty: The next stage is having a breast enlargement during your puberty. The breast enlargement during this period is however common and natural. The swollen tissue will go away within six months or sometimes within two years naturally, without having to undergo any treatment.
• In Men: You will see the growth of breast in men between the age of 50 to 69 and the growth is seen to touch peaks during this period.

Gynecomastia Symptoms:

So, how you can you be sure that this is a condition of gynecomastia? Before you start to worry, here are symptoms you could check for.

1. The enlargement of the glandular tissue usually occurs in both or either of the breasts. Sometimes it can be unilateral too. This breast growth tends to be uneven or uniform with respect to the nipple. You may feel the area to be rubbery.
2. You may start to experience pain in the breast when touched.
3. In rare cases, you will find the swelling to be extremely painful and the area will be hot. The swelling will look red in colour and the individual may also have fever. This is a condition known as breast abscess.
4. In some cases, you may also see a nipple discharge from either of the breast.

Remember to see a doctor if you have a nipple discharge, a tender breast and pain in the area. Things might be severe in such cases.