I'm a Guy . . . So How Come I'm Developing Breasts?

Ah, puberty. It can be a very interesting time in a guy's life, what with all the changes going on. In fact, it seems like every day something on your body grows bigger or hair begins sprouting somewhere. Each day brings a new change or two, and it can sometimes feel like it's hard to keep up.

It doesn't happen to every guy, but one of these changes can be the development of breast tissue. It's called gynecomastia (pronounced: guy-nuh-ko-mas-tee-uh) and it's completely normal — and almost always temporary. So how exactly does a guy happen to develop breast tissue?

What Is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is a condition in which breast tissue forms in guys, usually due to normal hormonal changes during puberty. Hormones are chemicals produced by your body's glands. In a guy, hormones produced in the testicles are responsible for the physical changes that begin to take place during puberty — facial hair, muscle development, a deepening of the voice, and the lengthening of the penis, for example. Guys and girls produce both androgens (hormones that help develop and maintain male characteristics) and estrogen (a hormone that is responsible for most female characteristics).

Guys have mostly androgens in their systems, but they also have small amounts of estrogen. In girls, breast growth is caused by high levels of estrogen. Normally, when going through puberty, a guy's production of androgens increases significantly, whereas estrogen production remains low.

However, sometimes guys produce enough estrogen during puberty that some breast tissue develops. Breast tissue growth in guys can appear on one or both sides of the chest, and the breast area can feel tender. This doesn't mean you're turning into a girl or anything. It's just a minor change in your hormones as you begin to grow into adulthood.

How Common Is It?

It's estimated that about half of all males going through puberty experience some degree of gynecomastia in one or both breasts. Gynecomastia is almost always a temporary condition, and it's very unusual for the breasts to stay developed — they will eventually flatten out completely within a few months to a couple of years. It usually goes away on its own and no medical treatment or surgery is needed.

Even though it's just a temporary change for most teens, some guys with gynecomastia feel embarrassed or self-conscious about their appearance. Many guys find that wearing loose-fitting shirts helps make the condition less noticeable until the breast tissue shrinks over time. Surgical removal of the breast tissue is an option in some cases. If a guy finds his gynecomastia is bothering him, he can talk to a doctor about it.

Although the most common cause of gynecomastia is puberty, it can sometimes be caused by certain diseases or side effects of some medications. Using illegal drugs such as anabolic steroids, marijuana, or heroin can also disrupt hormonal balance and lead to gynecomastia.

There's also something called pseudogynecomastia (or false gynecomastia). This has nothing to do with puberty or hormones. It's just simply due to the fact that some guys have extra fat in the chest area, making it look like they have breasts. A doctor's exam can tell whether a guy has gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia.

If you're concerned or have any questions about gynecomastia, talk to your doctor. Keep in mind that temporary breast tissue growth in guys is a common part of puberty that will usually go away on its own.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Date reviewed: April 2010

Is My Penis Normal?

Just about every guy wonders how he measures up in the "down-there" department at one time or another. Here's the lowdown for any guy who's ever worried about whether his penis is a normal size.

There's a fairly wide range of normal penis sizes — just as there is for every other body part. And just like other parts of the body, how a penis appears at different stages of a guy's life varies quite a bit. You wouldn't expect someone who is 11 years old to look the same as someone who's 19.

Guys normally develop at different times. Some may start developing as early as 9. Others may not start developing until 15 or even later. The age at which a guy starts to grow varies from person to person. It all depends on when he enters puberty and his hormones start doing their thing.

Growth in penis size is just one part of puberty, which also includes such changes as pubic hair development, testicular growth, muscle development, and a growth spurt. Late starters almost always catch up fine — they just reach full maturity a little later.

Penises come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. These traits are hereditary, like eye color or foot size, and there's nothing you can do to change them. Despite what you may hear or read, no special exercises, supplements, or diets will speed up the development process or change a guy's size.

Also, like his feet, a guy's penis may appear smaller to him just because the perspective is different when he's looking down. And there's a lot less difference in penis size between guys when they get an erection than when their penises are relaxed.

In addition to size, guys also wonder about other aspects of how their penises look, such as whether the skin covering the penis is normal or if it's OK for a guy's penis to hang to the left or right (it is!). If you're concerned about how your penis looks, ask your doctor. Guys who are reaching puberty should have regular testicular exams, so that's a good time to ask your doctor any questions.

Taking a ride on the hormonal roller-coaster means lots of changes — and a lot of common worries — for both guys and girls. Just as guys may wonder about how their penises develop, lots of girls ask the same thing about their breasts.

If you're wondering about your development, don't try to compare yourself to your older brother or your best friend — they're probably at a different stage of development than you are anyway. The important thing to remember is that it's OK to not be a mirror image of the guy at the next urinal.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Date reviewed: August 2011

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Sex

Sex – everyone's favourite topic to discuss and disgust. Here are some fun facts to kickstart your imagination or just to get the girly gossips going.

#1 Semen is good mood booster

According to researchers, it seems semen is known to contain "such mood-altering chemicals as estrone and oxytocin, which elevate mood; cortisol, which promotes affection; serotonin, which acts as an antidepressant; and melatonin, which induces sleep." Also, a teaspoon of semen contains approximately 5 calories and over 30 different substances including the above.

#2 Heavier men can last longer

Never has being big brings so much joy. Turkish researchers found that there's a connection between body mass index and male sexual performance. In the yearlong study, it was discovered that heavier men were able to make love for an average of 7.3 minutes while slimmer men only lasted an average of 108 seconds. It seems overweight men had higher levels of the female estradiol hormone which blocks male hormones and delays climax.

#3 Adulterous are the women

Ladies, this is not going to put us in a good light. It seems we are more incline to cheat and commit adultery when we are ovulating. The trigger is because we feel our most feminine during this time of the cycle where our libido is peaked, fertility causes us to strike out and seek the perfect mate. It is also easier for women to achieve orgasm during this period than any other time.

#4 Millions of sex per day

Sex is an activity enjoyed by many, no doubt. But do you know how many exactly? Everyday about 100 million couples around the world have sex. During the course of a woman's reproductive years, she would have sex more than 3,000 times. During an average man's lifetime, he would have ejaculated about 17 litres of semen – that's about half a trillion sperm.

#5 More orgasm = longer lives

Yup, the more orgasm you experience, the longer you'll live. A doctor from the Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic claims that not only will you get to live longer, you may actually feel younger by eight years too. But of course, this is in reference to men. While female orgasms haven't been studied separately, a research is telling us that women who enjoy sex live longer than those who don't.