Breast growth and Anabolic Steroids Part 3

TREATMENT

The treatment of breast enlargement which occurs after the use of anabolic steroids is to stop using the substance. The breast enlargement does decrease with time and in most cases can take anywhere from 3-6 months to completely subside.

A few percentage of men, will have a residual dimple of a breast enlargement remaining even after the drugs have been stopped.

In a male who has breast enlargement after taking anabolic steroids a visit to the physician is not a priority. One should stop the steroids and observe what happens. Only if the breast enlargement remains after a period of 3-6 months, a visit to the physician is recommended.

The diagnosis of breast enlargement is straight forward and only requires a physical exam. If the cause is anabolic steroids, then no great deal of work up is required. X rays, Ct scans or MRI are not needed in individuals who have breast enlargement after taking anabolic steroids. Even a tissue biopsy is not required.

The majority of cases of gynecomastia resolve on their own if the offending agent is discontinued. While there are some physicians who always encourage some type of surgical intervention, this is the last choice of treatment. The first treatment of breast enlargement is always conservative. Only if the breast enlargement persists, should treatment be undertaken.

Breast growth and Anabolic Steroids Part 2

The chief reason gynecomastia occurs in individuals who take anabolic steroids is that there is a relatively large amount of estrogen in the body. The estrogen has the ability to stimulate breast growth. Once a body builder takes anabolic steroids, the breast enlargement will occur in a matter of months. Sometimes the breast growth will occur at the end of 9-12 months of continuous use of steroids. Other substances that can also increase breast growth are alcohol, amphetamines, marijuana, heroin and use of certain pharmaceutical drugs.

Medical disorders that can cause breast enlargement include cancers of the pituitary gland, testes or the failure of the liver and kidney or starvation.

Breast enlargement has no physical complication in males. The breast will never grow to the size seen in females, no matter how long the drugs are used. At most, the breast may grow into the size of a golf ball or slightly larger. The major complication of breast enlargement after use of anabolic steroids in men is psychological. Most men get embarrassed and are shy to take off their shirt.