It’s true that low testosterone levels in males can cause gynecomastia. It’s a medical condition that refers to the development of large breasts. The male human body naturally produces testosterone that develops male features and improves men’s mood and sex drive.
Gynecomastia can develop when there is hormonal balance in men. Thankfully both low testosterone levels and gynecomastia are treatable. But can testosterone boosters help you with gynecomastia? Let’s figure it out.
Table of Contents
Understanding Low T and Gynecomastia
To understand whether testosterone supplements can help you with large breasts or not, it’s important to understand what are “Low T” and “gynecomastia”.
Low T
As men age, their testosterone levels start to decrease naturally. This condition is known as Low T or hypogonadism. The Urology Care Foundation states that one in four men over 45 years of age suffer from Low T. the low testosterone levels in your body can lead to several medical complications including the following:
- ED (Erectile Dysfunction)
- Low sperm count
- Reduced libido
- Gynecomastia or enlarged male breasts.
Gynecomastia
Other than testosterone, the male body also produces estrogen in a small amount. If the level of estrogen in the male body is more than testosterone or the levels of testosterone decrease abnormally, gynecomastia or enlarged male breasts are developed.
Boys go through a noticeable change in their body’s hormonal levels when they hit puberty and some of them suffer from gynecomastia. However, sometimes it gets resolved automatically as they age. On the other hand, when gynecomastia develops in older men, it persists unless treated.
It’s important to note that this medical condition isn’t serious and harmful, and in some cases, it can lead to sore breast tissues. Most people want to treat these problems because it appears odd on a male body.
Increasing Testosterone Levels
The Boston University School of Medicine reports that about 5 million males have low testosterone in the United States. Regardless of the condition of the chest, low testosterone levels in the body are bad for any man. Not only does it promote the accumulation of fats around your chest but at the same time, it also makes it very difficult to develop appreciable muscle mass.
There are so many significant detrimental impacts that are associated with low testosterone levels. Beyond having more than normal levels of estrogen circulating in your body, it can increase the risk of developing gynecomastia dramatically.
The following are some factors associated with low levels of testosterone that can aggravate gynecomastia in males.
- Increases depression and stress
- Increased fat accumulation in the chest area
- Higher body fat
- Decreased muscle mass
In order to deal with gynecomastia, it’s critical to understand why you’re suffering from hormonal imbalance. If you skip this step, you’ll likely opt for the wrong treatment option that can make the problem even worse. The following are the main factors that determine why you’re experiencing enlarged breasts.
- Medications
- Excess body fat
- Age
- Illness
It’s important to note that the belief that gynecomastia can be fully treated by increasing your body’s testosterone levels can be completely counterproductive.
Why Taking Testosterone Boosters/Anabolic Steroids for Gynecomastia Is Not Recommended
Your main goal to deal with gynecomastia is to treat hormonal imbalance and maintain homeostasis using different methods. If you start taking testosterone boosters to increase the levels of this hormone, your body will naturally start converting the excess testosterone to estrogen. So instead of treating gynecomastia, taking testosterone supplements will worsen your condition.
Most people don’t understand how testosterone boosters or anabolic steroids work. These are specially designed formulas that are meant to work as a natural testosterone in your body. Most of them are based on synthetic formulation and they can also lead to adverse side effects.
They can cause depression and anxiety and in the worst cases, they can also lead to kidney failure and prostate cancer. You’ll most likely experience the negative effects of testosterone boosters if you’re consuming them without medical supervision.
Testosterone boosters can be helpful if you’re suffering from low testosterone levels caused by some illness or your body is susceptible to muscle wasting. But the reality is that most people take these supplements without consulting with a professional health specialist.
Not only does it lead to other medical problems, but it also causes gynecomastia, which is exactly the opposite of what people expect. It certainly doesn’t mean that people taking testosterone supplements do something wrong. They just overlook the fact that the human body automatically converts the excess testosterone to estrogen. And the higher estrogen levels than testosterone cause enlarged breasts. That’s why you must not start taking testosterone booster without:
- Understanding why you’re suffering from hormonal imbalance
- Following a doctor’s advice and dosage protocols
Related: Age to take testosterone boosters
Use Supplemental Forms of Testosterone Boosters
Using supplemental forms of testosterone boosters is safe as they contain natural ingredients. You can take supplements that provide your body with essential nutrients to convert them to this hormone. These supplements contain natural ingredients that don’t bring any side effects to your body.
These supplements are sometimes also called testosterone boosters but they have natural ingredients instead of synthetic ones and they’re safe to the user. You can use any of the following supplements after consulting with your doctor to increase your testosterone levels.
- Vitamin D
- Yohimbe
- Tribulus
- Ashwagandha
- Zinc
Many of these products will help your body to increase testosterone levels only if they’re below the required levels. These products usually address the issue that’s causing the low production of testosterone in your body. They also alleviate the levels of a certain essential nutrient that your body contains in a low amount.
Not only do they support the safe production of testosterone but they also bring many other health benefits to the take. Because of geographical location, occupation, and diet, many people find it very challenging to maintain the required levels of essential nutrients such as vitamin D in their bodies.
You can also use a curcumin supplement to balance your body’s estrogen levels. It comes with anti-inflammatory properties and also helps your body to reduce enraged breasts.
Related: Can testosterone boosters make you angry?
Other Methods of Treating Gynecomastia
Following a well-planned diet and exercising regularly can also help you with enlarged breasts along with supplements containing natural ingredients. Running a few miles, a week will not directly address your gynecomastia, but focusing on your upper body, shoulders, and chest, and improving your overall lean mass will progressively tone your body. It will take a considerable amount of time but it’s the safest and healthiest way to get rid of this condition.
Medications such as tamoxifen and raloxifene are used to treat breast cancer. They are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of breast cancer. But many people also use them for gynecomastia as an “off-label” treatment. While these medicines can be safe, you must not use them without discussing your case with a medical professional.
Surgery
If natural treatment techniques are ineffective, your gynecomastia could be the reason for your genes. Plastic surgery is a viable choice in this situation. You can opt for gynecomastia surgery from any plastic surgeon who also does breast lifts for females.
Mastectomy is one such technique that eliminates extra fat from your chest and sculpts your upper torso without affecting the health of sensitive breast glands. It is similar to liposuction, which is used to remove excess fat from the belly. The recovery time from this medical surgery is short and it can also be done with a very small incision. The goal of these surgical techniques is to provide your body with the look and shape you desire.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Other than treating your enlarges breasts, you can also opt for testosterone replacement therapy that treats your low T. this treatment option is available in a range of different forms including the following:
- Injections
- Patches
- Skin gels
People who undergo testosterone replacement therapy usually experience positive results including the improvement in:
- Muscle mass
- Sleep
- Erections
- Sex drive
- Energy
It also allows them to experience a positive change in their mood and overall appearance. Treating low T in a healthy way can also help you with gynecomastia. However, people who are on testosterone replacement therapy must carefully monitor their estrogen levels.
Additionally, they should inform the clinician right away if the estradiol level is more than 40. In such a situation, a medical professional may advise you to use anti-estrogen medicine. It’ll reduce the estrogen levels to keep breasts from getting enlarged.
Related: Taking pre-workouts and test boosters together
Final Words
As usual, things aren’t as straightforward as you want them to be when it comes to testosterone boosters and gynecomastia. When one hormone is manipulated, it has an effect on the other one. Your best bet is to try to identify and address any underlying causes of the hormonal imbalance in your body.
You should also start taking supplements, make changes in your diet plan, and begin exercising. Focus on improving your overall health and physique instead of spending your whole day treating your enlarged breast.