Before we start at all, please don't be afraid. The fact that your son has/is developing breasts doesn't mean he's turning a girl or going gay. Something else is involved, so you can put your mind at rest while you carefully go through this.
It is very obvious and which is what you know that it isn't only your son that is going through this same thing. It is estimated that about half (or a little more than) of all males during puberty (or going through puberty) experience this same thing to some degree. More reason why you shouldn't panic.
OKAY, WHAT, AND WHY IS THIS 'PROBLEM'?
This condition as it were, in medical term is known as GYNECOMASTIA, which is simply is the growth of breast tissue in males.
It is not a problem per se, it is normal for guys to experience this.
This condition is usually due to normal hormonal changes during puberty.
In a guy, hormones produced in the testicles are responsible for the physical changes that begin to take place during puberty — facial hair, muscle development, a deepening of the voice, and the lengthening of the penis, for example.
Guys and girls produce both androgens (hormones that help develop and maintain male characteristics) and estrogen (a hormone that is responsible for most female characteristics).
Guys have mostly androgens in their systems, but they also have small amounts of estrogen. In girls, breast growth is caused by high levels of estrogen.
Normally, when going through puberty, a guy's production of androgens increases significantly, whereas estrogen production remains low.
However, sometimes guys produce enough estrogen during puberty that some breast tissue develops. Breast tissue growth in guys can appear on one or both sides of the chest, and the breast area can feel tender.
WHAT OF MY BABY BOY THAT HASN'T REACHED PUBERTY?
Many very young male babies have some breast tissue due to estrogen hormone from their mothers (which is passed through the placenta), but this usually goes away within a few weeks, or months in some other babies.
SO WHEN DOES THIS BECOME A PROBLEM?
From what's been stated so far, you should understand that if your male child falls within the puberty age range (9 - 14), then you should have no cause for alarm. He's going about a normal process.
At age 19 - 21 maximum, the breast should have totally flattened out.
Anything outside this signals something else.
OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES
• Overweight guys can have 'man boobs'. In this case it is called PSEUDOGYNECOMASTIA (meaning false gynecomastia), in the sense that this isn't gynecomastia, but is caused due to fat deposits, not growth of breast tissue. What it seem on the outside is a breast, but it's just an accumulation of fat.
• Breast tissue growth in older males can also be caused by using some drugs such as anabolic steroids, other health problems, or by medicines that are needed to treat some other health problems.
• Gynecomastia can be a symptom of certain cancers and problems involving the testis, thyroid gland, liver, or kidneys.
In rare cases, it can be caused by:
• Drinking too much alcohol or marijuana abuse.
• Klinefelter’s syndrome (a rare genetic disorder).
• Lumps or infection in the testicles.
All these factors are not the cause of breast tissue growth for young men around puberty.
SO WHAT CAN I DO TO BRING HIS CHEST BACK TO NORMAL?
After eliminating all the exceptions; puberty, age. . ., the next thing you should examine is if your son is fat. If he is, then you don't have a problem. All you need do is engage him in weight loss programs to burn overall body excess fat deposits.
If he's someone who uses steroid drugs, takes too much alcohol or marijuana, then it's time he stopped.
But for anything outside this, it is best that you seek medical attention. The doctor will need to examine your son and make sure that there is no other reason for the growth of the breast tissue, and also help you with other things you need to know.
If you're concerned or have any questions about gynecomastia, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about it.
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