Dr. Virginia Loewenstine, CEO and medical director of Tristate Preventive Health, answers your questions
Q: What causes male breast pain?
A: Men are born with a small amount of breast tissue, which means they can experience breast pain for the same reasons women do. Breast cancer, although rare, can also occur in men, so always see your physician if you notice any changes in your breast area.
Oftentimes, pain in male breasts is the result of gynecomastia, a condition whereby the breast tissue swells and enlarges. This enlargement is the result of an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen, where estrogen becomes dominant over testosterone. Both women and men have these two hormones and it is crucial to keep both in balance.
Some causes of a hormone imbalance (and potential cause of male breast pain) include medications such as anabolic steroids, anti-androgens, and medications to treat prostate cancer. Obesity can increase estrogen levels, creating a testosterone/estrogen imbalance. With aging comes decreased testosterone, which can also disrupt this hormone balance.
Non-hormonal causes of male breast pain include inflammation, injury or trauma (often not remembered), and cysts or tumors. Sometimes the cause cannot be found. You know your body better than anyone. If you are experiencing any kind of pain in the breast area, definitely get it checked out.
