What is unilateral gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is a condition which leads to enlargement of breasts in males due to endocrine disorders. It is quite common amongst men these days and almost 70 percent of men suffer from it at one point in their lives. There is a condition called unilateral gynecomastia where men have to deal with enlargement of one breast. One breast is larger and more noticeable in case of unilateral gynecomastia. The other breast in this case is normal with respect to shape and size. This condition is also referred to as assymetricgynecomastia.

Unilateral or asymmetrical gynecomastia can also be used to describe an enlargement in both the breasts but the increase in size of breasts is different for both of them. One breast is bigger than the other one and difference between nipple and skin around them is observed based on the amount of breast tissue. It is believed that unilateral gynecomastia is a rare condition. It is not true. It is quite a common condition and difference between the two breasts is very noticeable. It wreaks havoc on the mental well-being of the patient.

Causes of unilateral gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is caused by several factors. Hormonal balance leads to gynecomastia when there is change in the proportion of estrogen and testosterone in the body. High amount of estrogen in the body leads to gynecomastia as well as unilateral gynecomastia. Other causes of unilateral gynecomastia are puberty, aging and obesity. All these factors lead to an unusual breast growth. A lot of teenagers suffer from this form of gynecomastia. Puberty plays havoc with hormones in the body leading to this condition. In most of the cases, this condition goes away on its own but some cases require medication or surgery depending on the severity of the case.

Several other factors are responsible for unilateral gynecomastia. Scoliosis leads to unilateral gynecomastia. It is a condition where spine of a person is curved. His posture could be the reason behind unilateral gynecomastia. There can be asymmetry in the rib cage which leads to different chest muscles on each side. One chest muscle may be bigger and the other side may remain underdeveloped. Abnormal development of breast bone can also lead to unilateral gynecomastia. Drinking alcohol, taking steroids and medicines can also cause unilateral gynecomastia. It can be treated by surgery of compression clothing. Surgery is the only permanent solution to this problem.