What Is Pseudogynecomastia – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

Pseudogynecomastia is a common condition in men where fat accumulates in the breast, giving the appearance of man boobs. Thankfully, there are several easy and natural things you can do to get rid of pseudogynecomastia.

• What is Pseudogynecomastia?
• Symptoms of Pseudogynecomastia
• Causes of Pseudogynecomastia
• The Difference Between Gynecomastia and Pseudogynecomastia
• How to Tell if You Have Gynecomastia or Pseudogynecomastia
• Male Breast Reduction Treatment Options

Have you noticed that your chest seems softer lately? When you take off your shirt, is it in your imagination or are your nipples bigger? Put bluntly, do you have bigger boobs than your girlfriend? If you’ve gained some extra fat mass in your chest, then you may have a condition called pseudogynecomastia.

More commonly called man boobs, pseudogynecomastia should not be confused with gynecomastia as it is often the result of poor lifestyle and dietary choices, but it may also be caused by certain types of medication.

Let’s breakdown the symptoms of pseudogynecomastia, find out how to tell the difference between gynecomastia vs. pseudogynecomastia, and learn the best ways to treat it.

What is Pseudogynecomastia?

Pseudogynecomastia is when a man gains excess fat mass and develops larger breasts. This does not mean he has gained new tissue; rather, fat cells have accumulated in the breast area, especially underneath and around the nipple.

Symptoms of Pseudogynecomastia

Think you may have developed pseudogynecomastia? Here’s a checklist of the most common symptoms associated with pseudogynecomastia:

Weight Gain: Have you recently gained weight? Men tend to carry excess weight in the stomach and chest, increasing the chance to develop pseudogynecomastia.

Strange Feeling: Taking your fingers, push into the breast tissue. How does it feel? If you would describe it as oddly firm or rubbery, then this could be a symptom of pseudogynecomastia.

Asymmetrical Growth: Look at yourself in the mirror from the front and side view. Does it seem like one breast is bigger than the other? If so, this is a common sign of pseudogynecomastia.

Overall Health: Feeling rundown, lacking a sex drive, and mood swings can be subtle clues that you are at risk of developing pseudogynecomastia, if you haven’t already.

Causes of Pseudogynecomastia

There is a vicious cycle that is behind most cases of pseudogynecomastia involving lifestyle choices and hormones.

Low Metabolism and Body Fat

When men eat poorly and skip exercise, they increase the risk of weight gain. Studies show that excess fat mass correlates with a low metabolism and low testosterone levels. What’s more, being overweight can promote the production of a compound in the body called aromatase.

The aromatase enzyme converts testosterone to estrogen. Testosterone is the male-dominant hormone that promotes fat burning, muscle mass, and a harder, leaner physique – one that is characteristically masculine. Estrogen, on the other hand, is a female-dominant hormone, one that is associated with excess fat storage at the hips, buttocks, and breasts.

When men have too much estrogen, this hormone promotes fat storage in the breast area, resulting in pseudogynecomastia.

High Estrogen

Continuing on the point above, the more estrogen a man has, the less testosterone his body produces. What’s more, a man may find that the increase of estrogen may correlate with a loss of muscle mass, increase in fat mass, mood swings, and fatigue.

Low Testosterone

The third part of this vicious cycle is the consistently low levels of testosterone. As we mentioned above, when a man has low levels of testosterone, he’s more likely to have higher levels of fat mass. His body will promote fat storage, not fat burning, thereby continuing this cycle of weight gain, estrogen production, and testosterone stunting. A tell-tale sign of low testosterone is the decrease in your libido. Men may also find it difficult to get and maintain an erection.

These three causes all contribute and fuel one another to cause the fat mass collection in the breast tissue known as pseudogynecomastia.

The Difference Between Gynecomastia and Pseudogynecomastia

When a guy has man boobs, many people assume it’s a condition called gynecomastia. Often used as an umbrella term for man boobs, gynecomastia is not the same as pseudogynecomastia.

Gynecomastia: Studies show that this condition is when new breast tissue – flesh and skin – develop usually due to the use of anabolic steroids or another medication. Fat mass does make up some of the breast mass, but the majority is new tissue growth.

Pseudogynecomastia: This is when fat cells have collected underneath and around the nipple, giving a feminine breast appearance. There is no excess tissue development; pseudogynecomastia is only made up of stored fat.

How to Tell if You Have Gynecomastia or Pseudogynecomastia

Not sure how to tell if you have gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia? No worries; ask yourself these questions:

• Have you recently gained weight?
• Has it been months since your last workout session?
• When you touch your breast, does it feel rubbery?
• Do you find that you’ve lost your sex drive or libido?
• Do you look at yourself and think you have a pair of boobs?
• Does one breast look bigger than the other?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you most likely have pseudogynecomastia. If you’ve been abusing anabolic steroids for the purpose of performance or muscular enhancement, then you may have gynecomastia. You can learn more about what is gynecomastia in our article.

The best way to determine whether you have gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia is by visiting your doctor and going through the typical examination, which will involve a questionnaire, physical exam, and possibly tests such as blood work.

Male Breast Reduction Treatment Options

Let’s say that you know for certain you have pseudogynecomastia, you’re probably looking all over the internet for the best male breast reduction options. Here are several proven ways to get rid of pseudogynecomastia from most natural to surgery.

Weight Loss and Exercise: The first thing that your doctor will recommend is to lose weight and begin a comprehensive exercise program. For most men, this will be enough to get rid of pseudogynecomastia. It’s important to focus on a caloric deficit diet and resistance training. Learn more about the ideal exercise program with our guide to man boobs exercises.

Compression Shirts: Wearing a compression shirt can help to give you the appearance of a leaner physique and flat chest. Some studies suggest that proper compression shirts can increase blood flow. This is important as fat oxidation has been shown to be increased with improved blood flow to a specific area.

Natural Supplements: While diet and exercise will form the foundation of getting rid of pseudogynecomastia, supplements can also help to boost results. We recommend Gynectrol, which features a unique combination of proven fat burners and ingredients that naturally re-balance your hormones.

Medication: For men with a moderate to severe case of pseudogynecomastia, prescription medication will become an option before any invasive procedures. Male breast reduction pills such as tamoxifen can be very effective and affordable.

Liposuction: If you have a severe case of pseudogynecomastia, liposuction may be necessary. A qualified surgeon will make a small incision and remove the excess fat cells. Male breast reduction costs will vary, so it’s best to speak with a cosmetic surgeon for an accurate price point.

Skin Tightening: For severe cases of pseudogynecomastia that require liposuction, skin tightening surgery may also be required, especially if the breast tissue has been stretched. A skin tightening surgery provides almost instant results once the swelling goes down, giving you a much leaner appearance.

For more information on pseudogynecomastia, including workouts, dietary recommendations, and tips and tricks, check out our man boobs page.

You Can Get Rid of Pseudogynecomastia Naturally

If you currently suffer from pseudogynecomastia or man boobs, a few simple changes in your lifestyle choices can help to get rid of it. Begin eating a lower calorie diet, exercise more, and try natural fat-burning supplements. If you have an extreme case of pseudogynecomastia, we highly recommend speaking with your doctor as medication in combination with diet and exercise may be the best option.