Health Resources

Gynacomastia

2024/05/20
What is Gynacomastia

Gynaecomastia is the enlargement of the gland tissue of the male breast. Newborns, boys going through puberty and middle-aged to older men are more prone to developing gynaecomastia as a result of normal changes in hormonal levels. Gynaecomastia is not a serious medical condition and may dissipate on its own.

Causes of the condition

This condition results from an imbalance of hormone levels in which there is a decrease in the amount of testosterone compared with oestrogen (female hormones). This could be cause by side effects of certain medications, natural hormone changes and certain medical conditions.

Signs & symptoms
  • Breast tenderness and or sensitivity
  • Swollen breast gland tissues
Diagnosis and treatment options

​Test and diagnosis

  • Medical history investigation
  • Physical examination
  • Blood test
  • Mammogram

Treatment

Most gynaecomastia cases will recover gradually over time without treatment. However, if gynaecomastia is a result of the side effects of certain medications, the doctor may recommend stopping or substituting the medication. 

Surgery is seldom needed; however, please consult your doctor if you are concerned.

Last updated on
Best viewed with Chrome 79.0, Edge 112.0, Firefox 61.0, Safari 11
National University Health System
  • National University Hospital
  • Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
  • Alexandra Hospital
  • Jurong Community Hospital
  • National University Polyclinics
  • Jurong Medical Centre
  • National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
  • National University Heart Centre, Singapore
  • National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore
  • NUHS Diagnostics
  • NUHS Pharmacy
  • Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
  • Faculty of Dentistry
  • Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
Back to Top