How to get rid of gynecomastia

You may have heard of this condition before. You may have seen it or experienced it yourself. You might be one of the hundreds of people each week who search online for “how to get rid of man boobs.” 

The scientific term for this condition is gynecomastia. It might be uncomfortable to address, but it may help to know that it’s a relatively common phenomenon that’s particularly prevalent during puberty. While gynecomastia usually resolves on its own, if it persists, it may be the result of a medication or underlying health condition.

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Gynecomastia is an enlargement of one or both breasts in a biological male. It often occurs when hormone levels change, making it common in infants right after they’re born, in adolescents during puberty, and in older age as testosterone levels naturally drop (Sansone, 2017). 

The structure of breast tissue is the same in men and women. There’s glandular tissue and fat tissue. Typically, biological males don’t experience the same hormonal stimulation that causes a woman's breasts to grow. 

However, if there’s a shift in those hormones, males can experience glandular tissue growth as well. It’s sometimes slightly painful or uncomfortable but is usually harmless––although it can certainly cause emotional distress. That said, it's important to know when to talk to a healthcare professional about gynecomastia to see if treatment is required. 

First, it’s helpful to figure out if you really have gynecomastia. This might sound like a silly question––if you see breast enlargement, then you have gynecomastia, right? But that’s not always the case. 

A buildup of fat tissue in the breast can look very much like glandular tissue, but it isn’t classified as gynecomastia. This condition has an even longer scientific name (pseudogynecomastia) and is usually the result of carrying extra weight.

You can distinguish between body fat and glandular tissue by examining your own breasts. Start by lying on your back and gently squeezing the tissue below and around the nipple. Soft, squishy tissue with no swelling or lumps is more likely pseudogynecomastia, while firm, rubbery round swelling near the nipple is often gynecomastia (Braunstein, 2007). 

There are a number of things that can cause gynecomastia, some more common than others. In most cases the cause is unknown. While weight gain causes fat to distribute in different areas including the chest (like in pseudogynecomastia), the fat tissue itself produces increased estrogen, which then triggers gynecomastia.

Less commonly, gynecomastia can be a sign of an underlying medical condition like liver disease, thyroid disease, kidney disease, testicular tumors, or breast cancer. It can also result from a condition called hypogonadism, in which your body does not make enough testosterone (Sansone, 2017). 

Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and recreational substances are the most common causes of gynecomastia. Let’s review a few of the more common ones: 

• Acid blockers: Medications for acid reflux, such as H2-blockers (like cimetidine) and proton pump inhibitors (like omeprazole) can cause side effects including gynecomastia. 

• Cholesterol medications: Prescription medications called statins can lower your cholesterol levels. Since your body uses cholesterol to make testosterone, statins can cause hormonal imbalances and gynecomastia. 

• Finasteride: Also known under the brand name Propecia, finasteride is a drug used to treat hair loss. Finasteride affects sex hormone levels, which can result in gynecomastia in one or both breasts. 

• HIV medications: Some people take medications called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV infections. Certain HAART medications like efavirenz cause gynecomastia, though scientists aren’t exactly sure why (Mira, 2004). 

• Recreational substances: Anabolic steroids are one of the most common recreational drugs linked to gynecomastia. Marijuana may also cause breast enlargement. Opioids (including heroin and methadone) and alcohol can also modify hormone levels, triggering gynecomastia. 

Gynecomastia often goes away on its own. Lifestyle modifications like weight loss, adhering to a healthy diet, reducing alcohol intake, and getting regular exercise can help––although those won’t always solve the problem. 

Gynecomastia that appears during puberty usually disappears on its own within six months or less. If symptoms last longer than 12 months, it may require medical evaluation. 

Switch your medication

If you have gynecomastia caused by a medication you’re taking, speak with a healthcare provider about other options. While not every drug has an alternative, many do. It’s important that you don’t stop any medications before consulting with a healthcare provider. 

Testosterone

If hypogonadism or low levels of sex hormones is the source of your gynecomastia, testosterone replacement therapy can help. Keep in mind this treatment isn’t useful for other types of gynecomastia and in some cases can make the condition worse. 

Estrogen blockers

Since high estrogen levels can cause gynecomastia, healthcare providers sometimes treat it with drugs like tamoxifen, a drug that blocks estrogen and is commonly used to treat breast cancer (Johnson, 2009). One small study done in the '80s showed that tamoxifen reversed gynecomastia in 84% of study participants (Alagaratnam, 1987).

Gynecomastia surgery

Sometimes gynecomastia doesn’t resolve on its own or respond to medications. If this happens, you still have another option: male breast reduction surgery. 

A surgeon can perform several different procedures. One uses a type of liposuction to remove excess fatty and glandular tissue with minimal incisions and scars (Baumann, 2018).

Gynecomastia itself usually isn’t dangerous. However, many conditions can cause it that may need addressing. If you’re unsure of the source, it’s extremely painful, or you have large, hard, or irregular lumps or discharge from your nipples, talk to a healthcare provider who can help figure out the source. 

Gynecomastia can be frustrating, but it can be fixed. Often times it just goes away on its own. Your healthcare provider can help you identify the cause of your gynecomastia and decide on the best strategy to manage it. 

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

September 10, 2021

Written by

Gina Allegretti, MD

Fact checked by

Yael Cooperman, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro

Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.