Why Some Boys Develop Breasts During Puberty
When puberty comes knocking, breast development is par for the course … among girls. When a boy experiences a similar type of breast enlargement, it can be shocking for both him and his parents.
ls it normal for boys to develop breasts during puberty?
Yes. This condition, known as gynecomastia, is actually relatively common. As many as two-thirds of boys will experience a temporary growth in breast size during puberty. It can leave them with temporarily enlarged, tender breasts. Most of the time this growth is moderate, but in some cases it can be comparable to what girls experience in the early stages of puberty.
What causes breast growth in boys?
When puberty strikes, it sends a child’s hormones into overdrive. Though we like to think of certain hormones as being “female” hormones and other hormones as “male” hormones, the truth is that both boys and girls share the same set of hormones, just in differing amounts. Boys have estrogen, and girls have testosterone. Boys typically have a lot more testosterone and a lot less estrogen, whereas girls typically have a lot more estrogen and a lot less testosterone.
When a child first enters puberty, however, this chemical calibration may be a little out of whack, and all their hormones surge. This surge in estrogen levels can result in boys experiencing breast growth similar to girls.
The good news is that breast growth in boys is temporary, and should correct itself automatically over time. For 95% of affected boys, the problem will go away within 6 months. If it doesn’t, consult your child’s pediatrician. There are prescriptions that can be taken which will counteract this estrogen surge and correct the imbalance.
The biggest problem is that the condition can be embarrassing for boys, especially if a child is teased about it by their peers. Help them understand that it’s a normal part of puberty development and is in no way indicative of their masculinity.
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