Is Gynecomastia Genetic?

It has been estimated that 30 to 40 percent of men will have some severity of gynecomastia in their lives. How severe it is will determine if their gynecomastia will hinder their life and be a factor in whether they need to receive treatment. Some men have a lesser severity of the condition and those around them, and themselves, may not even know it.

Determining whether you really have gynecomastia is the first step.

Gynecomastia is the over-abundance of breast tissue in a man's body causing them to develop breasts.

Pseudogynecomastia is simply a fatty layer that has built up around a man's breast, or pectoral, area.

The difference is simple to see. While gynecomastia is condition that actually is the formation of breast tissue, pseudogynecomastia is simply fat, or "man boobs", around the area that may be able to be cured with the proper exercise and diet plan.

Is Gynecomastia Genetic

Gynecomastia is genetic if it is caused by what is known as Kleinfelter Syndrome. Some facts about kleinfelter syndrome include:

• Also known as XXY syndrome, it is present in men with an additional X chromosome.
• While many men do not have symptoms, about 1 in every 500 men has the additional X chromosome.
• Symptom factors depend on age at diagnosis, how many XXY cells a man may have, and the amount of testosterone in the man's body.
• XXY men may have a taller, less muscular body when they enter puberty.
• XXY men may have broader hips and less facial and body hair.
• The sex lives of XXY men can be mostly normal, however they usually produce little to no sperm.

Symptoms of XXY or Kleinfelter Syndrome

• Again, not all males with the Kleinfelter Syndrome will display symptoms.
• As infants, XXY males may have less muscle development and less strength than those with normal genetic makeup. It is not uncommon for a XXY babies to crawl, sit-up and roll over at later stages than non-XXY males.
• As puberty is entered, the male with Kleinfelter syndrome may not produce as much testosterone and as teens, they may have larger breasts, weaker bones and less energy.
• In adulthood, most XXY men will look similar to others but they may be taller. Also, XXY men are more apt to health issues such as vein diseases, tooth decay, osteoporosis, and breast cancer. Autoimmune disorders are also more frequently found in men with Kleinfelter syndrome.

Treatment

There are various treatment options for males with gynecomastia due to Kleinfelter syndrome. While the XXY chromosome cannot be changed there are options to treat symptoms.