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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffMost cases of gynecomastia regress over time without treatment. However, if gynecomastia is caused by an underlying condition, such as hypogonadism, malnutrition or cirrhosis, that condition may need treatment. If you're taking medications that can cause gynecomastia, your doctor may recommend stopping them or substituting another medication.
In adolescents with no apparent cause of gynecomastia, the doctor may recommend periodic re-evaluations every three to six months to see if the condition improves on its own. Gynecomastia often goes away without treatment in less than three years. However, treatment may be necessary if gynecomastia doesn't improve on its own, or if it causes significant pain, tenderness or embarrassment.
Medications
Medications used to treat breast cancer and other conditions, such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, may be helpful for some men with gynecomastia. Although these medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, they have not been approved specifically for this use.
Surgery to remove excess breast tissue
If you still have significant bothersome breast enlargement despite initial treatment or observation, your doctor may advise surgery. Two types of surgery are used to treat gynecomastia:
- Liposuction. This surgery removes breast fat, but not the breast gland tissue itself.
- Mastectomy. This type of surgery removes the breast gland tissue. The surgery is done on an endoscopic basis, meaning only small incisions are used. This less invasive type of surgery involves less recovery time.
- Braunstein GD. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of gynecomastia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
- Braunstein GD. Causes and evaluation of gynecomastia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
- Braunstein GD. Management of gynecomastia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
- Braunstein GD. Gynecomastia. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;357(12):1229-1237.
- Testicular Disorders. In: Kronenberg HM, et al. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. St. Louis, Mo. Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/111383897-2/0/1555/0.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2008.
- Fitzgerald PA. Gynecomastia. In: McPhee SJ et al. CURRENT Medical Diagnosis & Treatment. 48th ed. San Francisco, Calif.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=1. Accessed Nov. 24, 2008.
- Shalender B. Disorders of the Testes and Male Reproductive System. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. The Mc-Graw Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2900449. Accessed Nov. 24, 2008.
