What causes breast lumps in boys?

When it comes to breast disease, people usually think of it happening in women. In fact, men and women have breasts, but the probability of breast disease in men is relatively low. Some boys may have lumps in their breasts, which is a normal phenomenon in the child's physical development. If there is no obvious pain, it is usually not a big problem, but if there is pain, it needs to be taken seriously.

What causes a lump in a boy's breast?

Many people think that breast issues are only related to female friends, but in fact, they are also related to men. Adolescent boys sometimes feel lumps in their breasts. This is common and is mainly caused by the body's hormone secretion. It will disappear on its own after a period of time.

1. Breast development is generally the first sexual phenomenon that occurs in girls during puberty. This is mainly due to the high level of estrogen secreted by the female ovaries, which stimulates the development of mammary alveoli and mammary ducts, causing the breasts to bulge. However, some boys who have reached puberty may occasionally feel a little pain in their breasts. When they touch them carefully, they find lumps in their breasts, which makes them feel anxious.

2. In fact, breast lumps during male puberty are normal physiological changes. The breasts are mainly composed of mammary tissue, fat and connective tissue. There are special structures on the surface of mammary cells that can recognize and accept estrogen. When estrogen binds to the receptors of breast cells, the metabolism of breast cells becomes active, causing breast cells to proliferate and the breasts to develop and bulge. After male adolescents enter puberty, their testicles secrete a small amount of estrogen while producing androgens, but the amount is extremely small.

3. Estrogen causes breast cells in the nipple area to continue to proliferate, leading to the formation of lumps in the breast. Breast lumps in adolescent boys are often limited to the area below the nipples and may sometimes be painful when touched. According to a survey, among male adolescents aged 13-15, 1/3-2/3 were found to have unilateral or bilateral nipple protrusion, an increase in the diameter of the areola, and pigmentation, but less than 1/5 had breast nodules. Some boys do not care about subtle changes in their bodies and may not even notice these changes in their breasts. Since the increase in estrogen levels in male adolescents during puberty is only temporary, this type of breast lump usually disappears on its own after a few months to a year. So, neither the boys nor the parents need to feel embarrassed.