Male gynecomastia is a physiologic abnormality that causes breast tissue to develop and grow in men. Gynecomastia symptoms can include nipple discharge, breast tenderness, breast enlargement, and other symptoms associated with developing breasts in young girls.

Gynecomastia is most commonly seen in young boys; as a result, many parents and young patients want to know how and why this abnormal male breast growth occurs.

Medical experts explain that gynecomastia occurs when there is a hormone imbalance, typically if there is too much estrogen and not enough testosterone in the male body. This abundance of estrogen causes the glandular tissue of the male breasts to swell.

Due to its obvious physical symptoms, gynecomastia is typically diagnosed from a simple physical exam.

While gynecomastia can occur in adult men, it is most commonly observed in adolescent boys, but has also been reported in male infants in rare cases. In each of these cases, the gynecomastia symptoms are unique, and should be understood for the patient’s benefit:

• For Newborns: Male gynecomastia occurs from an overabundance of estrogen from the mother; it is diagnosed after six month age, as breast buds are common in male infants.

• For Adolescents: Male gynecomastia occurs due to either an estrogen-producing hormone, or medication that increases estrogen or prolactin, during puberty. However, the breast buds typically occur within two years and more extreme measures may have to be taken if these gynecomastia side effects do not resolve on their own.

• Teens: Male gynecomastia occurs due to a sudden hormonal change during puberty, which can occur early to middle puberty; normally due to a tumor or drug that increases estrogen or prolactin. The breast buds typically disappear within two years, but may have to be removed through more extreme measures like medication or surgery.

• Adult Men: Male gynecomastia typically occurs in adult males due to another medical condition that causes hormone imbalance like liver or lung cancer, cirrhosis of liver, overactive thyroid, or malfunction of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, or testicles.

As mentioned above, gynecomastia symptoms in infants and young children normally resolves themselves, unless the gynecomastia condition was caused by a biological malformation like cancer or an estrogen-manufacturing drug like certain anti-psychotics. Unfortunately, if the symptoms do not go away within one to two years, surgery is often required to remove the excess breast tissue.

A number of gynecomastia symptoms can be controlled through hormone therapy, as doctors recommend that hormone balance should be achieved before having the patient undergo the removal procedure.

Recently, gynecomastia has been allegedly induced by certain anti-pyschotics such as Risperdal, even when the patients had no pre-exsisting hormonal conditions.

Across the country, numerous young boys and patients have reported developing gynecomastia after ingesting Risperdal. Due to the severe mental disorders this drug treats, parents often prefer Risperdal to treat their children without realizing the potential damage this drug could inflict, including the risk of developing Risperdal gynecomastia.

Overview of Risperdal Gynecomastia

Risperdal has become one of the most popular antipsychotics to prescribe to adults and children in the United States. However, this Janssen Pharmaceutical manufactured drug has also become one of the leading causes in young male gynecomastia.

Patients have reported their kids developing breast tissue after only a month of Risperdal therapy, and the Risperdal gynecomastia symptoms persisted even after stopping the medication. This is because Risperdal does not cause a simple hormonal imbalance; instead, the anti-psychotic medication causes a severe fluctuation in the body’s pituitary gland.

Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic that works by blocking the brain chemical dopamine, which is manufactured in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is primarily responsible for manufacturing and managing most of the body’s major hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and prolactin. As a major developmental hormone like estrogen and testosterone, prolactin is responsible for the development of breasts in young girls.

While boys naturally produce prolactin, this hormone is produced in minuscule amounts to allow biological harmony. Soon after Risperdal’s approval to treat children in 2006, it was discovered that Risperdal was a natural prolactin-increaser, which caused the hormone’s manufacturing volume to increase exponentially and ultimately cause gynecomastia. According to Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits, some boys have experienced male breasts as large as D-cup.

In almost every case of Risperdal gynecomastia, a patient has required breast tissue removal surgery. Even after surgical removal, the patients still feel the psychological effects, as they often need counseling after undergoing such a traumatic experience.