Video
Dr Christian:
We’re getting loads and loads of comments on our Embarrassing Bodies site from guys worrying about man boobs. Loads of you are worrying about whether your chests, your breasts, even your nipples are normal, what’s acceptable to have and what really isn’t.
Well, first thing, is it normal to have lumps underneath your nipples? I would say this, if you’re a teenage boy going through puberty, then absolutely yes, very often you can get lumps underneath your nipples, a little bit of gynaecomastia due to hormonal changes that are going on in your bodies right now. You may even find your breasts get a little bit sore and your nipples get a little bit tender. That, I promise, will settle down with time. If you’re an adult guy, well, the most important thing I would say is to look out for changes; anything that wasn’t there a month ago, two months ago, you should really get checked out by your doctor.
You also want to know whether sticky-out nipples or even sticky-in nipples are normal. Again, I would say to you, look for changes. If you’ve always had protruding nipples, that’s absolutely fine, that’s how you are, enjoy ‘em. If they’ve started sticking out, that may mean that there’s something else going on and you should get it checked out. Again, if your nipples have started to come in and to invert, and that’s new, get your doctor to have a look.
A lot of you want to know how on earth you tell the difference between real man boobs, which are called gynaecomastia, and just fat man boobs, pseudogynaecomastia. Actually, it’s really easy. Fat man boobs just feel like fat, the same fat that you get anywhere else on your body. If you squeeze your tummy and if your boobs feel exactly the same, then chances are those are fat man boobs, pseudogynaecomastia. If, however, underneath the skin of the breast you can feel the hard glandular-like tissue, lumpy, then that probably is real glandular breast tissue, and that would be gynaecomastia.
And the real million dollar question here is ‘how do I get rid of my man boobs?’ You need to get yourself fit, you need to lose weight, you need to cut down on alcohol and you need to eat sensibly, and that is the most successful way of ensuring a fit healthy life and losing your man boobs. As a final last resort, if they really don’t seem to go, particularly real man boobs, real gynaecomastia with glandular tissue, surgery is a possible option, but you’ll need to go to your GP to organise that.
Doctor Responses: Man Boobs
Dr Christian answers your most frequently asked questions about man boobs such as: Is it normal to have lumps underneath your nipples? Are protrusive nipples normal? How can you tell the difference between real man boobs and fat man boobs?
With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre
Yes
NoComments and Questions
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Ive got a belly and man boobs i once got rid of them but 2 years later i lost my self control over christmas and ate a years worth of choclate biscuits but now im in secondary school its became twice as imbarassing please help me out
hi im 24 year old male i have had man boobs since i was 14 im not over weight and never have been but even exercise will not get rid of these they are starting to affect my life in a bad way should i go to my gp about them? or will i have them for life if i dont do something about them while im still young so i can enjoy yhe rest of my life !! thanks
I am 33 and have man boobs which I started noticing at the age of 14-15. At the time I thought it was the teenage hormones kicking in and would disappear after a while - so did nothing about it. At the age of 31 the chest area just got bigger. I cant wear just a shirt or t-shirt without a thick coat, jumper or cardigan. I had a hormone test 2yrs ago and the results were normal. I must say I have always been really slim at the moment I have a BMI of 25,6. I have done the chest area exercises but it did work. I never smoked cannabis. I used to drink socially (twice a month)The last doctor I saw about the gynaecomastia said I do not have breast tissue per se its just fat accumulating around my chest(boobs) I am lost as to he possible cause and wondering what would be the best way to get rid of these man boobs?
hi iam have problem my ol bodies
hi i am 22 year old i have man boobs. before my weight was overwieght. after losing my boobs are same as before. i joint gym doing excercise eating less.but one problem i don't drink alot of water. can you tell any medicine or sugery to do now. almost i have more than three years . waiting for reply
Hi i am 44 years old and have quite significant man boobs yes i am overweight and contantly fluctuating with my weight , one of the reasons i dont go out much and exercise although i love swimming is the embarrsment factor of my body , i feel that an operation in this area will boost my ego and will assist me in my will to loose weight in general. If i could get the operation i am concerned that going under the knife may not be possible as i have a heart condition also call atrial fabrillation. would be worth the risk as i said i am 44 and have lived with my moobs for over 20 years should i just forget this process and stay fat a misrable, Thanks
dont worry do what makes u happy, dont live ur life unhappy u only get one :) if there is no risk of going under the knife and u really dont or cant extersize do it ull be happyer for it,And hell u like swimming do it.
Hi, I have manboobs and I am 24. Im currently slightly overwieght and do go to gym and I play american football but my manboobs dont seems to get smaller over the last 3 years as they have increased. I do pushups and bench my weight (130 Kg) but I'm losing hope of getting rid of these manboobs. Any help or advice before i go to my gp (Im embarresed to see them)
When I am cold, get goosebumps, or pressure is applied to my man boobs disappear, and i have what we will call a normal chest, I have never been over weight either. They are most prominent when I am warm, I am confused because every where I look I no one talks about the same symptoms. does anyone know what this is?
i have the same really big nippels and then i when i get goosebumps n go cold my nipples go to pefect shape an size
hi, I've had 'man boobs' since I was 16. When I was 16 I was overweight. My weight crept up to almost 16 stone (5'11" male). In my teens and it wasn't until I was 22 that I 'pulled my finger out' and lost at least 4 and a half stone of weight. All that remained was the 'moobs'. Because of this I've remained as un-confident as I was when I was overweight. After reading this article and the comments from other sufferers, I picked up the courage to go and see my GP about it. I'm currently waiting for a letter to arrange an appointment to see the plastics department of the NHS. I'm now 29 years old and this has dragged on too long to carry on affecting my life the way it has. My GP suggested that there might not be enough tissue there to meet the criteria for surgery. What is the criteria? Surely the fact that it is impacting my self esteem should be enough to meet the criteria. I cant afford to go private either. I'm currently 11 stone 9 which is a good weight for my height and doing a huge amount of resistance/cardio training every month. What are the odd I'll get knocked back by the NHS and told 'it's private or nothing'?
i am just 13 and suffering with lots of problems with my eyes. having just under gon my 10th opperation i am back on a very high dose of steroids, I.V. steroid drip x4, prednisolone tablets 60mg a day initially but now i am down to 20mg a day. i have also had several steroid injections into my eye and i am on steroid eye drops. this has caused a massive weight gain and i am struggling to lose what i am putting on. i also am limmited to what exercise i am able to do as most sports are ruled out because of my eye condition. any suggestions?
Well if the steroids were Given by a GP then that is fine but if not then this might be a cause also about the 10th operation this might be the cause too! if your GP isn't helping then try see a different doctor and see if they have a better idea if not then just go with what you GP says!! Hope this helped!
Hi I'm 26 and I have man boobs and I'm over weight I can't take my top of and I always wear a jacket even if its hot I have tried losing weight and eating less but its not working I dnt like to get fully naked while having intercourse and I don't have a girlfriend please can you help me
