Gynecomastia and Teens - Tips For Parents

Puberty can be an extremely difficult time for teens in general as there are many changes taking place within their bodies; many that they are not prepared for. In boys, these changes that take place as a result of puberty usually occur between the ages of 11-14, or at least that is when they begin. They will start to develop hair under their arms and in their pubic area, their voices begin to change, he may develop acne, his penis will start to grow, and he may have a surge in growth. Another thing that can occur during puberty is enlarged breasts. This is referred to as gynecomastia and it occurs in about 40% to 60% of all males during puberty.

Gynecomastia can be very embarrassing for a young man who is already dealing with other extreme changes to his body. gynecomastia is secondary to the normal hormonal imbalances between testosterone and estrogen that commonly occurs during puberty. Usually by the age of 14, nearly half of all boys will have some form of gynecomastia. Of these males, the gynecomastia will disappear untreated within a few years in about 90% of them.

It is very important to speak with your child or have a doctor speak with him and assure him that this is completely natural and will more than likely disappear on its own. This is normally something that your son will not approach you on as he will likely be too embarrassed. If you notice that your son covers up his chest even when it is hot or avoids going swimming at all costs, gynecomastia could be the reason why. You may have to approach him on it in a non evasive manner so he can be comfortable with himself knowing that this is only temporary.

On occasion, if the breasts are extremely large or are causing a great degree of stress in your child's life, the issue may have to be addressed at once. Further, if the enlarged breasts last longer than about three years, which could also be the sign of a problem. Remember there is a small percentage of males in which this disorder does not go away and that is when it is time to consider your options.

Many times during puberty gynecomastia can occur in just one breast which can be even scarier for your child. They just need to know that this is normal and they are not growing breasts that will stay with them forever. At this point there is not a lot that can actually be done to address gynecomastia as it just has to wait until the hormones balance themselves out. In the meantime this can be a rough period for your son around his friends so be very patient with his self consciousness.

Keep your child active and make sure that he eats a proper diet combined with exercises. Both of which may help a bit. Pubertal gynecomastia could disappear in just a few months but there are some cases where it has taken longer as well.