Yes, men do have breasts- sometimes even milk ducts. Men’s breast tissue does not actually grow as it does in women because of high testosterone levels during puberty.

There are many medical conditions that cause enlargement of breasts in men. One such condition is gynecomastia. This condition cause’s swollen breast tissue and breast tenderness. Some issue in the testosterone causes this condition which then progresses to more estrogen in the body.

However, for a large number of men, man boobs are simply because of extra fat on the chest. Your pectoral muscles are below the fat layer. You can work out to lose body fat and gain strength which will help you in getting rid of them.

Exercises that Target your Chest

You cannot target fat loss in a specific area on your body. However, you can work to make your muscles strong in particular areas. If you are trying to lose weight, you can do regular cardiovascular exercise. Try to do activities like jogging, walking, cycling, or swimming.

You can perform push-ups in your home, or you can go to a nearby gym. Push-ups can help in getting a decent chest. At the gym, there are weight machines that can also help out.

Before you begin using these machines, consult with your personal trainer to show you the way to use those machines. Having proper form is significant as it will make the exercises useful and protect you from injury.

The following are three chest-specific workouts you can do at your gym:

  • Barbell bench press
  • Pec deck machine
  • Bent-forward cable crossovers

Diet Changes to Reduce Male Breasts

Losing weight with the right diet is an excellent way to get rid of extra fat all over your body. Make small changes to your overall consumption routine if you desire a sustainable weight loss, target to lose around one to two pounds every week.

Before you change your eating routine, you can keep a food diary to see what you are eating currently.

Minimize foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value, such as soda, candy, and other sugary snacks. Instead consume food with lean proteins, whole grains and other healthy, whole foods.

Consuming fewer calories from beverages and food would not leave you hungry. Instead of thinking about the foods you cannot consume, think about what you can add on to your diet. Vegetables and fruits are low in calories and high in nutrients, dietary fibre and water.

Treatment for Male Breasts

Many cases of gynecomastia or male breasts resolve after some time without treatment. But, if an underlying condition causes gynecomastia including hypogonadism, malnutrition or cirrhosis, then you may require treatment.

If you are taking medications that may cause gynecomastia, your doctor may recommend you to stop them or substitute them with another medicine.

Adolescents with no apparent cause of the condition other than regular hormone changes at the time of puberty can consult a gynecomastia specialist. The doctor may recommend periodic reevaluations every 3 to 6 months to check if the condition improves on its own.

Treatment may be required if gynecomastia does not improve or if it causes significant pain, tenderness or embarrassment. Gynecomastia goes away after 2 years.

Medications

Medications that are used to treat breast cancer and other conditions can be helpful for some men with gynecomastia. Such as:

  • Tamoxifen (Soltamox)
  • Aromatase inhibitors, including anastrozole (Arimidex)

Food and Drug Administration have approved such medications, but they have not been explicitly approved for use in people with gynecomastia.

Surgery to remove excess breast tissue

If your enlarged breasts are still significant and bothersome even after observation and initial treatment, your doctor may advise you for surgery.

Two gynecomastia surgery options include:

  • LiposuctionIn this surgery, the breast fat will be removed but not the breast gland tissue itself.
  • Mastectomy: This form of surgery removes the breast gland tissue. The surgery is mostly done using only small incisions and has less recovery time.

If you are having male breasts visit a plastic surgeon as soon as possible. They will be able to use ultrasound to find out if it is glandular breast enlargement or fatty tissue.

They will also run blood tests to determine your testosterone levels and female sex hormones like estrogen.

If you have an imbalance of hormones, gynecomastia may be a side effect, and your doctor can prescribe you the right treatment.

Also, it can help you find out whether you have any underlying disease. Sometimes male breast enlargement can be a sign of cancer.