Man boobs or moobs is a colloquial term for gynecomastia, a condition where men develop breasts. Quite naturally, it can cause embarrassment to men who suffer from it like 30-year-old Wayne Mann from Detroit, Michigan in the US. The father of two has been living a nightmare ever since he developed breasts due to a hormonal imbalance. He grew C-cup-sized breasts in his early adulthood and ever since then; he has been repeatedly subjected to bullying. Eventually, he even had to drop out of high school when the teasing got out of hand, and his classmates started calling him a hermaphrodite. In a desperate attempt to hide his breasts, Wayne duct tapes them to his chest for a flatter appearance. He now looks forward to corrective surgery as a solution to his embarrassing problem. He opens up to Daily Mail about his travails, recollecting how traumatic high school was. “I was teased so much I quit in the tenth grade because the bullying had gotten so bad. They called me a hermaphrodite and a shemale and would tell me I had to use the female changing room.”

Wayne who suffered from anxiety and depression due to his condition even withdrew from social life. A football enthusiast, he also had to quit his school football team because he couldn’t bear the locker room teasing. He is in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend Jasmine Jackson, but Wayne is not confident showing off his body even to her and confesses that he wears a t-shirt during sex. The two have been in a relationship for 11 years. He says, “'I feel like no woman wants to be with a man with a chest bigger than hers.” The corrective surgery, which he believes will solve his problem, may cost $7,500. But after years of hiding from the world, Wayne will finally get a chance to live a life he always wanted -- free from the stigma of man boobs.

What is Gynaecomastia?

Many men like Wayne suffer from a hormonal condition known as gynecomastia, a benign enlargement of the male breast tissue and the most prevalent breast condition in men. At least 30 per cent of men may be affected by it during their lifetime, who may experience social anxiety and embarrassment as a result. Commonly known as moobs or man boobs, gynaecomastia is reportedly caused when oestrogen in the male body exceeds androgen, or there is decreased androgen production in the body. Not to be confused with 'pseudogynecomastia' that are man boobs too but have a different composition. A study differentiates the two by saying, ' Gynecomastia is defined clinically as generalised enlargement of male breast tissue, with the presence of a rubbery or firm mass extending concentrically and symmetrically from the nipple, accompanied by a histopathologically benign proliferation of glandular male breast tissue. It usually occurs bilaterally and is the most common breast condition in males. A related condition, pseudogynecomastia, manifests as fat deposition without glandular proliferation and occurs most frequently in obese men. Eat Dinner Before 9 PM to Reduce Breast and Prostate Cancer Risk, Says Study

What Causes Gynaecomastia?

Gynaecomastia is a health issue that is caused by hormonal imbalances. Usually, an imbalance between the female hormone estrogen and male hormone androgen causes Gynaecomastia. Here's how a study describes the causes of Gynecomastia 'The major cause of gynecomastia is thought to be an altered imbalance between estrogen and androgen effects due to an absolute increase in estrogen production, relative decrease in androgen production or a combination of both.' The study further describes the function of the hormones involved. It says,'Estrogen act as a growth hormone of the breast and therefore an excess of estradiol in men leads to breast enlargement by inducing ductal epithelial hyperplasia, ductal elongation and branching, the proliferation of periductal fibroblasts and vascularity. The exposure to estrogen has similar histological results in males and females, except that luteal phase progesterone in females leads to acinar development, which does not occur in males.' Can Lavender and Tea Tree Oil Make Men’s Breasts Grow? 5 Everyday Things That Can Cause Man Boobs!

What Are The Risks of Gynaecomastia?

Although gynecomastia is a benign condition, it may present some concomitant health problems. Health conditions associated with true gynaecomastia are quite a few.

  • Hypogonadism. Conditions such as Klinefelter's syndrome or pituitary insufficiency or any other disease that interferes with the regular testosterone production can be associated with Gynaecomastia.

  • Tumours. Sometimes tumours may cause Gynaecomastia. Especially the ones that involve the adrenal glands or the testes or even the pituitary glands.

  • Kidney failure. Treatment that uses regular hemodialysis may cause gynecomastia because of the hormonal changes.

  • Liver failure and cirrhosis. One of the Liver's function is to clear the excess hormones and hormonal fluctuations. However, liver failure or cirrhosis may hinder the liver to complete its functions and may lead to Gynaecomastia

  • Malnutrition and starvation. Malnutrition and starvation also cause testosterone levels to decrease and estrogen to remain constant. This can also sometimes lead to Gynecomastia.

There are various treatment options both surgical and medicinal depending on person to person. A study says, 'If gynecomastia persists and is associated with severe pain, tenderness and with psychological distress, medical and surgical options are available. Treatment is guided by the underlying cause and the aim of the intervention (relief of discomfort, restoration of normal appearance, reassurance regarding cancer, or the treatment of an underlying disease)'

(Reference:  Gynecomastia: Clinical evaluation and management - NCBI - NIH) 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2018 04:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).