During the recent years, the bodybuilding community dealing with Gynecomastia (Gyno) are increasing in number, and the reasons behind it, are really unexpected. The estimate is going up to 10 million bodybuilders worldwide are dealing with this.
The good thing about all of this is that there has been a vast amount of research done on breast enlargement in men and it brought significant treatments on the market.
Some bodybuilding celebrities were talking about this openly and how Gynecomastia made them uncomfortable in the beach time.
In this article, I will cover what is the best treatment options to get rid of Gyno for bodybuilders, And what to do to avoid getting it back.
Quick Facts About Gynecomastia:
- Gyno is a condition of enhancement of the glandular tissue of the male breast.
- It can take part in any stage of a man’s life, puberty, old men and bodybuilding men.
- It is due to the disturbance of the hormonal structure in the body, featuring a rapid increase in female hormones (estrogens) and male hormones (androgens) often stay the same or decline.
- Some men deal with this condition due to adverse effects of certain drugs that include; corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, antibiotics, narcotic drugs, anti-anxiety medication and heartburn drugs.
- Some men have certain diseases or conditions that might lead to man boobs, which can be; Obesity, Chronic liver disease, hyperthyroidism, Chronic kidney failure and low testosterone levels.
What is Gynecomastia?
It is often addressed under several names, Manboobs, Gyno, and Moobs. This condition affects 50 to 60% of men worldwide.
Many bodybuilders have mistaken Gyno with lipomastia or pseudogynecomastia, a true Gynecomastia is known from a growth in the breast tissue itself.
If you are dealing with extra fats in the breast area, that might not be a Gyno condition, it is just a fat issue. In lipomastia, many bodybuilders see great results with Clenbuterol in 8 weeks cycle.
How Do You Know For Sure if You have Gyno?
The signs & symptoms of gynecomastia include the following:
A uniform breast growth is common many in many cases, unilateral growth. Also, if pressured, a rubbery or a firm structure would be felt, unlike fats. It’s normally right behind the nipple.
A minor pain might be felt if touched.
If is often feared that it might be men breast cancer, however, usually Cancer is something that leads to symptoms like this; nipple discharge, enlargement of underarm lymph nodes, dimpling of the skin, and hardness in tissue.
I understand there will be still uncertainty to know whether you have Gyno or not, thus, I recommend to do the following 2 procedures;
1- Find a mirror and start conducting a self-examination, this will give you an overall perspective of the chest. If your breast size is greater than 5cm, you are most certain have physiologic or pathologic Gynecomastia.
2- Find a place to lie on your back. Put both thumbs on both nipples at the same time. Gradually press your thumb toward your nipple area. If you have Gyno, you’ll feel a firm tissue and it is really hard to not notice.
However, I do recommend to visit the nearest physician and make a proper diagnosis. What I have mentioned just gives you a quick indication of what you might be dealing with.
Conditions Which Are Not Gynecomastia
1) If you found a small pebble directly below your nipples, this may be a pre-gynecomastia stage.
2) A slight inflammation in the nipples, making it look puffy or sensitive. It is very possible estrogen has become bound to ERs under your nipples, but this is not necessarily Gynecomastia. A mere reduction of circulating estrogen via an AI, or spot-specific treatment via a SERM, will more often than not eradicate such a symptom.
3) Just a high amount of fat tissue stored in the breast area. As I repeat it again, without increase in glandular tissue it is NOT Gyno.
Why Should You Get Rid of Gynecomastia As Soon As Possible?
Many bodybuilders just want to get rid of the feminine look of their breasts, however, the case is more serious than this. Men who develop Gyno condition are at high risk of developing male breast cancer in the next 5 years. (1)
Thus, the urgency of getting rid of it as soon as possible, to get rid of the cause which mainly hormonal imbalance.
In order to decide what treatment should you go for, you need to self-assess which stage of Gyno are you in. Thus here is an easy illustration.
Self-assessment of Stages of Gyno
There are an official 4 stages of Gynecomastia, that has been defined by American College of Plastic Surgeons. Those stages helps to give an idea on the growth and progression of breast tissue.
Although, most bodybuilders are dealing with Grade 1, which is considered noticeable and embarrassing. Some Sportsmen can end up to Grade 2 if they didn’t really care about managing there a condition in an early phase.
- Grade One – Mild increase of the breast bud concentrated behind the areola. Common among bodybuilders on anabolic steroids.
- Grade Two – Breast growth spreading beyond the areola with edges that blend with the chest wall
- Grade Three – Breast growth spreading beyond the areola, with clear edges and redundant skin
- Grade Four – Marked breast enlargement with redundant skin and feminisation of the breast
In these descriptions, the areola is the area that is dark in color including and surrounding the nipple.
Why Anabolic Steroids Cause Gyno, And Solutions
Anabolic-steroids users have 5x the risk of getting Gyno than an average individual. Steroids boost estrogen levels during the cycle.
Thus glandular tissue sometimes can’t handle that sudden boost and creates a breast tissue, mimicking a female looking one.
However, each body reacts differently, not every bodybuilder who use steroids will lead to man boobs. Some even just deal with swollen nipples without affecting breast tissue.
Which Anabolic Steroids Cause Gyno?
The following steroids often cause aromatization to occur:
It’s highly advised to use a powerful Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) plan. This should be always done after any anabolic-steroid cycle.
The reason why you should do PCT?
Our natural testosterone production shuts down once we supplement our body with Anabolic steroids. We all know that Testosterone is what makes a man a man.
It is essential for our well-being. Thus, advanced bodybuilders and the ones who are in the industry for long will always take a minimal amount of external testosterone during their anabolic steroid cycle. This will avoid any negative effects from the natural suppressed Testosterone.
The problem comes when the steroid cycle is ended. There will be no produced Testosterone in the body. And it will take a few weeks until the body recovers back again. In those few weeks, estrogen is dominant compared to few amounts of testosterone in the body.
Thus, PCT is highly advised, it stimulates natural testosterone and gets the body back on track as fast as possible. This will lead to an equilibrium of hormones and minimizes any kind of effect that might lead to Gyno in bodybuilders.
How to get rid of Gyno For Bodybuilders?
The problem with Gyno it doesn’t go naturally or by time. It’s a type of condition that sticks until you actually tackle it in a very specific way.
Few bodybuilders take the shortcut of surgery. and honestly, I have to say it’s the fastest and most efficient. But comes with a very terrible price. Scarring!
Surgery for Gynecomastia?
I would like to answer few questions regarding on how to get rid of Gynecomastia with surgery and what to expect.
The Cost of Gyno Surgery
The pricing to many is the most important part, enquiring into a few clinics that have done this before their prices are as follows;
Average cost breakdowns might look something like this:
| Service | Cost |
| Surgeon’s fee | $3000-$4500 |
| Anesthesia | $500-$1500 |
| Lab tests | $500-$1000 |
| Post-surgery compression shirts /vests | $100-$500 |
Prices for the most severe cases which may need some skin removal and re-sculpting will be even higher. An example of what the cost of different operations might be is given below:
| Surgery type | Cost |
| Unilateral Gynecomastia | $5000-$6000 |
| Bilateral Gynecomastia (Small) | $6000-$9000 |
| Bilateral Gynecomastia (Large) | $7000-$10,000 |
| Bilateral Gynecomastia (Severe); with Sagging Skin | $10,000-$20,000 |
The average cost of a Gyno surgery would be around $5000
This option might be fast but Surgery is not cheap and unless you can afford it, perhaps surgery is not the best option for you.
Plus are you ready to deal with Gyno permanent scars, I don’t really think it would be something nice to live with for the rest of your life.
Is there another option available?
Losing Gyno Without Surgery For Bodybuilders
There has been several debates whether or not you can lose gynecomastia without surgery. And the short answer is yes.
Also to give you a heads up. It might take you at least 8 weeks to see results! by looking at changes to your exercise regime and diet.
Reduce Gyno with Exercise
Chest always retains fats and adipose tissue. And it can’t be an easy task to get rid of it. The mission here is to get quite lean in this area. The leaner the more you are likely to see any desirable results.
Work on your bench press to shape your chest, but don’t skip leg day. Your legs are your biggest muscles so working them will give you a massive testosterone boost.
I also recommend going for High-intensity cardio for chest fat burning, with HIIT a good option for those short on time.
However, in most cases, it’s 80% and 20% exercise in order to see good chest. So if your diet is bad. The exercise is useless.
How Your Diet Can Reduce Gyno
This is the point when I’ll tell you a low carb diet will be your best buddy. A more lean meat, chicken, and fish are a must.
It is vital to add to the mix, natural testosterone boosters that will enhance your manhood looks and decrease the number of foods that have estrogen in them.
Testosterone boosting foods include:
- Tuna
- Low-fat milk
- Oysters
- Shellfish
- Beef
- Beans
- Egg yolks
- Fortified cereals
Foods that boost estrogen that should be avoided include:
- Refined sugar
- Excess carbohydrates
- Non-organic dairy products
- Soy
The following foods help to lower estrogen levels, so include these in your diet too:
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Mushrooms
- Red grapes
- Seeds
- Whole grains
- Green tea
- Pomegranates
Last note: if you are dead serious about getting rid of your Gyno through diet, then it would be the best time to stop alcohol consumption for 2 months at least. Alcohol enhances estrogen greatly in the body.
Best Solution To Boost Gyno Reduction in Bodybuilding
Thanks to science, you’ll find there is always a new scientific breakthrough with certain brands that fix our biological anomaly. Here is a some recent user experience;
Gynectrol is a potent supplement designed by Crazy Bulk, it is something that you might want to add in your Gyno reduction routine. It makes sure you get fast results in a very short period.
Gynectrol is made from the following ingredients; Caffeine, Chromium, Guggulsterone, Green Tea Extract and Theobromine, which have all been shown to offer numerous benefits.
These benefits include:
An increase in metabolism- Convert fat into energy
- Reduction in male breast tissue
- Firmer, more masculine chest
- Lower cholesterol levels
Gynectrol costs £36.95 ($61.99) for a months supply of capsules. For bigger savings off the RRP you should take advantage of the buy two get a third FREE offer. Shipping is FREE for both UK, Europe, Latin America and USA customers.
The post Best Guide For Bodybuilders to Get Rid of Gyno (Man Boobs) appeared first on MeVolv.
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