Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the mammary glands in males. It is also described more commonly with the term man boobs. Some may use this term condescendingly, but it is an actual condition that need not go untreated. The first step in treating any condition is to have complete knowledge of that particular condition. So, what are some gynecomastia causes? Or, in other words, what causes man boobs?

Gynecomastia can occur at any stage in a male's life. There are times when an adolescent will have man boobs throughout puberty and basically "grow out" of them as he gets older. This is usually attributed to a high body fat percentage that goes away with age. However, there are gynecomastia causes that go deeper, especially when a male continues to have man boobs past his twenties. While some gynecomastia causes are idiopathic (having no clear cause) there some ways you can tell what causes man boobs.

What Causes Man Boobs – 3 Gynecomastia Causes

1. High Body Fat Percentage

This may seem like one of the obvious gynecomastia causes, but it is not something that should be overlooked. If being overweight is what causes man boobs in your situation, it is going to be much easier for you to lose your man boobs. For the sake of your health, it will be to your benefit to exercise regardless, so finding out what causes man boobs may be a healthy motivation for you.

2. A Hormone Imbalance

This is where many make the mistake of just think a working out more will reduce their gynecomastia. Having a hormone imbalance is the most prominent gynecomastia causes. When you are a teenager, your hormones are all out of whack, which is normal. When you hit your twenties, you start to peek and you should have a good balance of testosterone. What causes man boobs is the lowering of this testosterone as you get older.

3. Medications

There are cases where medication can become gynecomastia causes. These are usually prescribed medications that increase breast tissue in males. Steroid use, which should be avoided unless a medical condition requires its use, can contribute to what causes man boobs. While gynecomastia should subside after treatment, there are some cases where you are stuck dealing with the condition afterwards.

Like referenced above some gynecomastia causes go unknown. There are other more complex problems that can increase ones chances of gynecomastia. It is known that obesity increases estrogen levels so that with increased body fat, man boobs may result. What causes man boobs to continue on past puberty may be a hormone balance or high body fat or a combination of both.

After learning what causes man boobs, these gynecomastia causes should help you determine if you actually have a condition or if you need to just do regular exercise to lose weight. If you are unsure, you should see your doctor for health reasons. Gynecomastia causes stress and is difficult to deal with in regards to self-confidence. It is a condition that you should seek treatment for if you are, in fact, suffering from it.