Worrying about your man boobs won’t make them go away. To get rid of moobs, here’s what you need to know about gynecomastia and your treatment options.

There’s nothing like a great pair of breasts.

In fact, even though breasts are readily available (about half of the population has them), many people will actually pay money to see them.

Hugh Hefner understood this fact and turned it into a major media empire. 

But mankind’s love of breasts is not unconditional. For instance, no one has ever started a major magazine celebrating ample, shapely man boobs.

But for many men, moobs are a sad reality. They’re uncomfortable, embarrassing, and hard to get rid of. And unfortunately, Kramer’s idea of a mansiere never took off, so we can’t even get the support we want.

They’re not just annoying. Having boobs can sap the confidence out of a man.

But there has to be something you can do to get rid of those honkers, right? 

Hope is here, my buxom friend. Read on! 

What Causes Man Boobs?

Even though most cases of man boobs might look similar, there are a few different causes behind them. 

Weight Gain

The most common reason that you might appear to have breasts is due to weight gain.

Your body is constantly playing a game of calorie management. As the body burns calories through exercise or everyday exertion, it takes in calories through your food. 

Our bodies evolved during a time when those calories were not always plentiful. When you take in more calories than you need, your body stores that in fat deposits in case it needs it later. 

And as your body stores fat, it doesn’t plump up equally. There are certain spots that collect more fat than others.

Everybody gains weight differently, but generally, fat is stored in the belly, love handles, thighs, and — you guessed it — the chest.

As fat deposits settle on your chest, it starts to take the appearance of breasts.

Gynecomastia

In some cases, man boobs might not be related to weight gain at all. These moobs have a more scientific, clinical name: gynecomastia. 

Typically speaking, breasts consist of two parts: soft fatty tissue and firmer breast glands.

Despite surface appearances, both men and woman have breast glands. In gynecomastia, these glands become enlarged.

Often, gynecomastia is a recurring condition. One in nine male infants has “palpable breast tissue” after birth. Sometimes, this rears its ugly head during puberty, and again during old age.

Because the issue with gynecomastia is not related to the soft, fatty tissue, it has nothing to do with weight gain. There are a few different causes for it.

Hormone Imbalance

The human body creates a number of different hormones. Two of the most common are testosterone and estrogen.

While testosterone is usually considered the “male” hormone and estrogen the “female” hormone, they both occur naturally in both men and women. 

Testosterone creates reactions that are regarded as more masculine, such as facial hair, muscle growth, libido…You know, all the things that make you feel manly (Tim Allen grunting noise).

In general, men receive more testosterone than they do estrogen. But that’s not always the case. 

Your hormones may be out of balance due to a genetic condition, change in your diet, or other factors. 

If this happens, your body produces excess amounts of estrogen, which signals your dormant breast glands to wake up and start growing. And you know what that means: man boobs.

Hormone imbalance might also cause annoying skin problems.

While genetic hormone imbalance cannot necessarily be prevented, there are a few things that might contribute to hormone imbalance. 

Problems With Glands

The endocrine system is a complicated and delicate machine. There are dozens of separate glands, each dedicated to creating specific hormones and releasing them at the proper time and in the proper doses.

But if something goes wrong with those glands, it can wreak havoc on your hormones. 

Trauma to a gland can cause it to act improperly. I’m sure you’ve taken a shot to the crotch and felt like you were going to throw up. If that happens to a thyroid or your pituitary gland, it can cause similar problems.

A tumor might also grow on the gland, pressing into it and causing it to push out too much — or too little — of the hormone. 

Medication

Certain medications can cause your endocrine system to go out of whack.

The most famous is anabolic steroids. We’ve all joked about how steroids make your genitals shrink, but they can also cause gynecomastia. 

Some anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications can also send your hormones into imbalance. 

More serious medications like chemotherapy or HIV treatments can also cause an influx of estrogen. And while you might have bigger problems than a perky pair of man titties if you need those meds, it certainly won’t help you feel better.

Alcoholism

There’s nothing wrong with gettin’ a little boozy. In fact, drinking a moderate amount of alcohol can be good for you.

But if you routinely drink to excess, you could be throwing your bodily systems into whack.

It’s not just your liver. Abundant alcohol can cause problems in your endocrine system too. Problems like hormone imbalance, and — you guessed it — moobs.

Certain Herbs

While it hasn’t been conclusively proven, a few herbs seem to contribute to gynecomastia. 

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tea tree oil and lavender both showed some correlation with gynecomastia in boys. 

Certain “Herb”

If you use marijuana, you might be putting yourself at risk for man titties. Some studies have shown that THC reduces testosterone.

While it’s never been conclusively proven, if you’re a male pot smoker with a pair of B-cups on your chest, it might be worth changing your lifestyle a bit.

How to Get Rid of Man Boobs 

Before you look into the solution for your moobs, you have to determine whether you’re dealing with a legitimate case of gynecomastia or if you’re just chubby.

If your man titties are just a result of your weight, it can be reversed with diet and exercise. It will take some discipline, but the results will be worth it.

If your gynecomastia is not related to weight loss, you might need to ask your doctor for a few other solutions.

They may treat it in the following ways.

Hormone Therapy

If your body is growing breasts because your body isn’t producing the right balance of hormones, you might be able to combat that through hormone therapy.

Your doctor may prescribe testosterone replacement supplements. This is absorbed the same way as the testosterone your body should be producing. 

Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is a drug that is commonly prescribed to women with breast cancer to block estrogen. With breast cancer, estrogen can add fuel to the fire, causing more cancerous tissue to grow.

Tamoxifen can also be used to block excess estrogen in men, which can reverse gynecomastia.

Lifestyle Changes

If your man titties are a result of a lifestyle choice, such as taking steroids, smoking cannabis, or excess drinking, you can just stop doing those things.

Granted, that’s easier said than done. If it was easy to kick addiction, everyone would do it.

If you need help, find an addiction treatment center near you.

Surgery

Hormone treatment might be able to shrink your man boobs, but it might not be enough. In extreme cases, you might need a surgical option.

Like we mentioned earlier, gynecomastia is a result of an enlarged breast gland, rather than excess fat.

Your surgeon will make a small incision on your breasts. The entire breast gland will be removed, which will prevent any flare-ups later on. Depending on the size of your breasts, your surgeon may also remove excess skin. 

After surgery, your breasts will be smaller and flatter. 

You will not need any additional hormone treatment or medication with surgery. However, you will need to keep a healthy lifestyle to make sure that you don’t gain excess weight and get man boobs due to chubbiness.

A Life Free of Moobs

Man boobs can feel like a stupid problem. They’re embarrassing and can sap your confidence. But on the other hand, you feel stupid for letting them bother you so much.

But with the right treatment, you can say goodbye to your moobs and live the flat-chested, confident life you deserve.

If you need help reclaiming your body from man boobs, contact us. We can help you get your mojo back.

But that’s not the only problem we can solve. We can help fight stubborn belly fat, wrinkles, and even that barbed wire tattoo you thought would make you look so tough.

Call us today, and see how we can help you be better off!