Have you ever seen a man with noticeably bigger breasts than the other men? It is very uncommon to find men who have big pair of breasts as big boobs are by nature distinctive to women. Many people think that man-boobs are only prevalent among overweight male. Apparently, it is not. Men with significantly bigger boobs than the rest are known to have a certain condition – Gynecomastia. Men with this condition develop pronounced breast tissues. This condition is different from pseudogynecomastia in which the unusual breast growth in male is caused by fats around the chest.

There is still no medically proven and recognized cause of this condition. It is said, however, to occur commonly during either puberty or old age as a result of hormonal changes in the male body. When this happens during puberty, it usually cures by itself without the need of surgery. Unlike when it occurs as part of aging; rarely does a man can get away with it without surgical treatment.

Abnormal growth of breasts in male during puberty is pretty ordinary. Normally, the growth takes place in one or both breasts. A small, tender lump usually develops underneath the nipple at the onset of the condition. There is really nothing to worry about, though, as this only lasts for about some months to a period of a few years and eventually disappears as hormonal balance normalizes.

The condition also takes place as a result of aging. Typically develops at the age 50 up. This is a common condition among older men due to hormonal regression.

Gynecomastia can also be caused by underlying medical conditions such as testicular problems, diseases affecting the liver, tumors, kidney failure, leprosy, leukemia, genetic disorders and many others. In rare cases, the condition is brought about by some medications and prohibited drugs like marijuana. Steroids are also often considered as the culprit.

Certain prescription drugs and over the counter medicines can affect the development of this condition. Some of the medications known to influence the abnormal growth of male breasts include corticosteroids, medicines for peptic ulcers, some anti cancer drugs, ketoconazole and tricyclic antidepressants. The mentioned drugs cause Gynecomastia as a side effect. However, the risk of acquiring the condition is said to be generally low.

Illegal drugs can also cause the said condition Marijuana was previously mentioned as a possible cause of Gynecomastia. Another proscribed drug that can cause this condition is heroin, which is one of the many widely used illegal drugs around. It is, in fact, being used as an ingredient in some pain killers due to its likeness to endorphin. Anabolic steroids are also said to cause Gynecomastia.

No matter what the cause is, this strange breast enlargement in men unquestionably causes embarrassment and can eventually result to low self-esteem. If the condition is caused by hormonal change, there is no need to worry. If the cause is the use of certain medication, there is no other way but to discontinue taking the drug that causes it. Otherwise, there are procedures for male breast reduction available to consider.