Gynecomastia: Up close; And personal...

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Authors note: When I started this blog, I thought I could cover all the information and my experiences in one blog: Yeah right! So I've just covered Adolescent/Pubertal Gynecomastia here and it's still too long!

I hope if you have the patience to read this you'll share your insights and experiences as I'm sure others experienced things a lot worse and differently than I did. And, I ask any medical professionals to correct any errors I may have made.

Gynecomastia is the development of glandular breast tissue; milk glands, milk ducts, the musculature to express the milk, with connective tissue and fat amidst it all.

Pseudogynecomastia, now often called lipomastia, is excess fat but not glandular development.

We all have cells that are capable of making breasts, and we all produce male and female hormones, so we can all develop breasts given the right circumstances.

Recently I edited a paper for a psychology journal about the effects of adolescent/pubertal gynecomastia on teen and younger boys. Contractually, I can't give you the title, publication, author or a link: Nor may I copy passages from it. But I thought some of what I learned might be of interest here.

This was of interest to me because I've had gyno. twice in my life and my father had it all his teen and adult life. I always wondered why I never saw it mentioned as a plot device in TG fiction, until about a decade ago. It got an occasional mention in a story, but has grown in popularity to being relatively common. There may be others here who had or have it, or who wished for it as I did, or who have induced it.

First, a few dry facts: It's a condition not a disease! In other words, it's so common in the male population that it's considered to be normal, and there is no sickness, illness or disease involved. In extremely rare cases it may be a symptom of a disease; so a check up is a good idea. The statistics are all over the place, mainly due to differences in sampling. One study I read said that 69% of all boys had gyno on one side or bilaterally, + or - 5%. That may be a bit high, but 60% wouldn't be out of the question. That's where most studies indicate + or - 3%.

The three most common times in life to present with gyno. are infancy, puberty and starting again in the middle to later years: Let's say, Late 40s on. It occurs in healthy males who have hormone imbalances.

It's so common in teens because their hormones are all over the place and haven't settled down to a steady state yet. Adolescent or pubertal gyno. usually lasts from 6 months to 2 years. If it resolves naturally it is called: physiologic gynecomastia. If it continues it is called: persistent pubertal gynecomastia. It can be corrected endocrinologically within the first 2 or 3 years but past that window surgery is the best answer.

There are medical conditions that can cause gyno; and there are medications (both OTC and prescription) and environmental causes. But that would be for another blog if anyone is interested.

The study was about how it effected the boys psychologically. As you can guess most were ashamed, embarrassed, humiliated, fearful, depressed and sometimes suicidal. These boys may be bullied, ostracized, derided, excluded and lose all self esteem. Mostly the feelings depended on the reactions of family and friends.

Gee! Ya think? I don't understand why a study was needed to discover what should be obvious.

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My experience was different from the norm. My father had gynecomastia all his teen and adult life, yet when he worked in the yard, played sports or went to the beach or pool, he was the first one to strip off his shirt and enjoy the sun. His attitude always seemed to be here I am world, just as God made me: No apologies, no excuses, certainly no shame, just an attitude that showed that he was happy with who he was.

I can't remember a time when I wasn't aware of breasts, or when I didn't envy the girls who had them or would soon get them. Then about the time I was turning 11 and just beginning to be attracted to girls as girlfriends rather than girl friends I started budding. I started dating about the same time; All very innocent stuff, like Saturday matinees and sock hops at school or at friend's homes. Sometimes a group would get together to watch a special program in someones home. back then it was a thrill just to hold hands or put your arm around a girl.

Over the next 2 years my breasts grew large enough to fill... well, over fill... my mother's 36B bras; not that I ever pointed it out to her. But I wasn't ashamed of them: Just like my dad I took my shirt off when I swam or played in the sun. In fact, I loved every sensitive nerve, both tumescent nipples, and every exciting jiggle. Most of the girls I dated had smaller boobs than I had. They never said a word. Good God, they had to notice especially when we slow danced. I always dreamed that I'd find a girl who wanted to explore mine as much as I wanted to explore hers. Didn't happen at that young age, darn it!

No one ever said anything to me. Very occasionally one of the guy's would point and say, "hey, Ole, you're getting fat" and I'd answer, "Yeah and you're getting stupid... but I can lose weight." I may have had a little bit of attitude...

And nothing was said at home since I was built just like dad.

When I was in 6th grade I came across some 8th graders bullying a kid about his boobs and calling him "little girl" and "fag" and asking him if them if they could cop a feel. I knew some of the bullies but not their victim. It really pissed me off! I couldn't fight them: I fought like a girl and always lost. So I dropped my books, pulled up my shirt, and let them look. "Hey, jerk offs, you wanna see some real tits?" I waved my shirt up and down.

"Shit, Ulfson, we already know you're a fat ass!"

The kid used the distraction to get away just as the PE teacher came around the corner and took me and the 5 bullies to the principle. Me for having my shirt out of my pants and shouting, "Jerk Off" and "tits" in the hall and them for saying "shit" and "ass". We all got off free because no one would admit to anything. Heck none of us saw or heard anything. We were just standing around talking. The teacher didn't force the issue because he had a pretty good idea of what had happened. The others were known bullies, and I had a reputation for arguing with bullies.

I've seen a lot written about how breasts feel when they're growing but all I can speak to is how mine felt as a young boy, and later as an adult when they came back.

The stories have it right about the sharp intense pain when budding starts. Early on there can be some really quick growth that makes the nipples and areola stand out extremely proud and red: It seems like the skin is being stretched to it's limit, which it is. It's very painful!

When the growth is slower and more gradual you have the classic tingly, itchy feeling that is described in so many stories. This can occur for months before the outward signs of breast growth.

Something I have seldom seen mentioned in stories is the feeling of reaching for something and having your upper arm come in with contact the side of your breast. that was a major "ah, ha!" moment for me. Ah, ha: I really have breasts! Or when you carry something or have your arms on a table and lean forward and feel your breasts touching your arms and your arms touching your breasts. For me it was a validating moment.

But then when I was 13 I grew 6 inches and pretty much flattened out although my chest remained a bit fatty and my hips and butt were always too round, I really hated losing my breasts.

I know that most people haven't managed to get through the experience as smoothly as I did. I'd love to hear the issues others have faced and their reactions.

Please post...

(Admins, is there any way members could post anonymously if they don't care to use their names?

ADDENDUM: Clarification

Angharad wrote a wonderful story called "Amiss", I loved it and recommend it highly! You can find it here: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/43232/amiss Don'ta miss, Amiss! Sorry!!!

It did bring to mind something that's been nibbling at the corner of my mind as I read the many delightful stories here. Most people who haven't had personal experience with Gynecomastia, assume that more on top means less on the bottom. This may be the case, or it may not be! Usually gyno. presents well after the start of puberty and the "boy bits" may be of normal size and function. In fact this is probably the most common situation, though it makes a weaker story.

Once again I'll fall back on my own situation because it's what I know best. And once again I'll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about Ole. At 10 I had my first erections and nocturnal emissions. Scarred the hell out of me, I'll tell you. So, I asked my dad if there was something wrong with me. He explained and put me at ease. My penis was 6.5 inches long when aroused which seemed to be always! Yes, I did have a ruler...

By 11 my voice was changing and my breasts started growing. Talk about confusing. At my church you had to be 13 to be in the adult choir. By 12 I had a solid Baritone voice and they hid me behind the taller men. By 13 I was a true Base and I stood at the front of the men's section where I could be seen. My breasts were at their largest then, larger than the 36B bra my mom wore. When I was 14 I was a true Basso Profundo and my boobs, damn it, were mostly gone as I added 6 inches in height and reached my final 5'8".

All that time I wanted to dress as a girl and in many ways act like one. My parents had me evaluated for SRS, but I was turned down at 11 because I obviously was attracted to girls, so of course, I couldn't be one! Apparently the dork evaluating me had never heard of lesbians.

A long way around to say that many guys with pubertal gyno. were quite masculine. Most that I knew were though a few were very feminine. It really is a condition that can affect anyone. I knew several/many in grade school and high school. Many just didn't date at all, some dated girls a lot like I did, and a few, it wasn't as open then, were gay.

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erin's picture

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Hugs,
Erin

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

Thanks Erin!

Ole Ulfson's picture

I think people, even here, may be uncomfortable putting their name to an experience. I knew some who really suffered!

Ole

We are each exactly as God made us. God does not make mistakes!

Gender rights are the new civil rights!

Ole, Thanks For All The Info!

I think I had some gynecomastia around 3rd to 6th grade. Mainly I was fat, but one time a younger boy pulled out my tee shirt neck and yelled, "Look, he's got tits". This was after a little league baseball game; within some age range, players were in leagues based on skill. I was majorly uncoordinated, that might have come with the Asperger's, and threw like a girl. I think I was in 5th grade playing with mainly 3rd graders. After that incident, I just quit; I was really bad at the game.

I wasn't focused on my breasts. When I was more into CDing and a little older, I know they didn't add much to my look. They were more or less gone. It seemed that my breasts stopped being as pointed and were just a fat kids chest. I was sort of fat and sort of short 5' 5" or so until I was 15, gained an inch or 2 and at around 16 1/2 I gained 5 or 6 inches and the ability to build muscle. I was leanest and weighed the least, like 148, when I was a freshman and 18 1/2, but that was during light weight rowing season and I went back to about 160 that summer.

Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee

Thanks for replying to my Gynecomastia Blog, Renee...

Ole Ulfson's picture

I found your experience very interesting and somewhat similar to mine though if your breasts returned, You didn't mention it.

I always ran, threw and fought like a girl too, but it never bothered me much. I never cared much for sports.

I got along pretty well because I helped some of the older and tougher kids with their English, History and Science. Helped, as in tutored, not as in wrote papers for. That's why I didn't have bully problems.

Ole

We are each exactly as God made us. God does not make mistakes!

Gender rights are the new civil rights!

Gynecomastia

About nine months ago, I noticed an increase in sensitivity and growth. It was so gradual it came to stark reality when my wife, who is, admittedly not large. I had just got out of the shower when she looked at me and shouted, "You've got bigger boobs than me!"

I REALLY became aware then.

Things have kind of stabilized, and I've not really seen much more growth. So I asked my doctor about it. He had prescribed Spironalactone for my high blood pressure (very well controlled, thank you for asking). He first checked my blood pressure which was a little low for me, but right in the middle of where the doctor's want.

Then he did my first breast exam.

If you're married, have a girlfriend, or even a mother I know that phrase means very little, I'm sure you've heard them talking about their exams. But I NEVER heard a woman speak truthfully until a cousin discussed mine with me. OMG

I've been a good husband, and often checked my wife. I suppose she figured it was a nice gesture. Heck, I thought I was just being "sensitive."

Then he did my first breast exam.

My doctor is a wonderful, caring, and gentle man. When he found out it was "take your shirt off." I did and he began. I was afraid he'd found something. He prodded and poked he ground his fingers into my chest. I'm sure it was a short period of time, but he went on and on." I felt mauled. I spoke with my mom about it later, and she got this twinkle in her eye, "Now you know" followed by peals of laughter.

Yesterday I was at my cousin's house and we got to talking about me, RLT, and the future. Then we talked about my breast exam. She laughed, and went on to talk to me about it, honestly. It was a "gee, I've joined the club" kind of moment.

That conversation was healing for me. She has been very supportive, since I told her and her husband about 2 years ago that I was transgendered.

Induced Gyno

Patricia Marie Allen's picture

I'd be happy to know everything you've found out about inducing Gyno. I've done a little research on it and I know that Cimetidine in high (1000mg/day)doses over 60 or more days causes gyno in about 4% of the cases. I tried it and got a mild reaction. Would love to know more about OTC products that also can induce Gyno. I do know that most pseudo-estrogen herbs have to reach near toxic levels to be effective in most cases.

Hugs
Patricia

Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt

Mmm...

Extravagance's picture

I've never had breast growth, but now you have me wondering how my life might have been different if I had.
Perhaps I would be a VBboy? :D

Catfolk Pride.PNG

Gynecomastia

Medical science has come a long way to understand this condition. I never lost what I grew before "medical professionals" intervened to halt their progress, but little was understood of the condition back in the late 60s-early 70s. I have to admit that my condition was a little more extreme than most males as I started to develop the broader hips and narrow waist as an "added benefit". My slim but tall stature accentuated the changes which, of course, attracted the bullies.
Thank you for the posting and inspiring a story from Angharad. Jo

didn't know what was going on when I was a young teenager

I was probably the most naive person during puberty. I did have painful nipples but I don't remember them being all that big. I even remember liquid leaking from them, a liquid that looked like milk. I was so unaware of what was going on (and I never took a shower in the open during gym), that I doubt anyone paid attention to my chest. I did have a deep voice and grew tall quickly so I don't think anyone saw anything other than a tall skinny boy.