Diagnosis and Tests Done To Determine Gynecomastia

First of all, if a man visits his doctor regarding concerns about breast enlargement, which is what gynecomastia is all about, one of the first questions a doctor will ask is his medical history.

Gynecomastia can be hereditary, but it can also occur because of use of certain drugs, an illness, or hormonal imbalance. There is such a condition known as pseudo gynecomastia which occurs because of weight gain and excess chest fat, and not any of the above symptoms. It is also not gynecomastia, but it will manifest breast enlargement.

The doctor will also want to determine whether it is not, in fact, another condition like breast abscess or breast cancer.

To do this, he will request for a series of blood tests and a mammogram. If there is reason to be concerned, your doctor will also ask for a chest x-ray, MRor Magnetic Resonance Imaging, ultrasounds, and a CT scan.

There will also be a physical exam to check the breast tissue, genitals and abdomen. If you are taking anything unusual, even if it is supplements or vitamins, certain illegal drugs like heroine or marijuana, you will need to inform your doctor from the start. It will make the diagnosis easier to reach, and provide him valuable information. Too much alcoholic drinks is also a cause for breast enlargement, and a detailed account of the approximate amount of alcoholic beverages drank everyday would be required.

If your doctor is able to determine gynecomastia as your condition, then he will present options for you. If you are still at the young age or puberty age, then you can relax. This condition will generally disappear within the year, so need to worry.

On the other hand, if you are in the prime of your life between 20 and 50, and your breasts are growing unusually big, but you are not taking any drug that can induce gynecomastia, then one option would be gynecomastia surgery.

Gynecomastia surgery is a simple breast reduction surgery where the excess tissues are removed surgically. Within a couple of weeks, you are expected to be fully recovered and able to get back into the swing of things.

There will be some amount of scarring, which means you may be embarrassed to expose your chest in public. There is cosmetic surgery for men as a viable option if you want to fix the scarring and make your chest appear normal. The main objective of having breast reduction surgery is to improve your self-esteem, and make you feel better about yourself. Cosmetic surgery for men will be the last step in this process.

You can also reach out to other men in similar situations, talk to your family because they are a great source of strength and support, and arrange for private counseling if you feel the need to address the issue medically.