Do boys develop breasts during puberty?

Everyone knows that when girls enter puberty, their breasts will develop rapidly, and boys will have Adam's apples at this time, and their voices will be in a voice change period. During this period, boys' testicles will also develop rapidly, and their penises can be clearly felt to be enlarged, but their breasts may develop more slowly. So, will boys' breasts develop during puberty?

Male adolescent breast development, also known as male adolescent breast tissue hyperplasia, refers to the enlargement of one or both breasts caused by benign hyperplasia of breast tissue during male puberty. It usually occurs between the ages of 12 and 16. The enlarged breast tissue usually does not exceed 3 cm, may be asymmetrical, and is mildly tender. Most cases last for 12 to 18 months, gradually shrinking and disappearing as the male's sexual development matures. Some cases last for 2 to 3 years, or even persist for a long time.

It is mainly caused by the relative imbalance of androgen and estrogen levels. An absolute or relative increase in estrogen levels, a decrease in the synthesis of free androgens, a decrease in circulating concentrations and a decrease in activity can all cause male breast development, or because of the increased sensitivity of breast tissue to normal levels of estrogen. In addition, the increased activity of aromatase in the body is also related to the increased conversion of adrenal androgens into estrogens.

It is normal for boys to develop breasts during puberty and it is not a sign of being "half boy, half girl". The male testicles mainly produce androgens, but they also secrete some estrogen, although the amount is very small. When entering puberty, the functions of the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland gradually become active, so the levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (secreted by the hypothalamus) and gonadotropin (secreted by the anterior pituitary gland), which are directly related to the secretion of sex hormones, increase significantly, causing the estrogen level in some boys to rise at one point. Under the action of estrogen, boys' breasts will also develop for a period of time, causing breast swelling and pain. This condition is temporary and usually disappears after about six months to a year. About 1/3 to 2/3 of boys will experience this type of breast swelling during development. If the breasts are overdeveloped, even bulging like a girl's, or have not subsided after more than a year and instead tend to grow larger, there may be endocrine or other pathological conditions. In this case, you need to go to the hospital's endocrine specialist clinic for examination.