G.P Doctors

[ncat58]

Should your G.P Doctor know what gynecomastia looks like, or does it require test?

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

You do not require a GP to diagnose gynecomastia.  By definition, gynecomastia is any excess of tissue (which can be fat, gland or most commonly, both) on a male chest.

If you are sent for a mammogram or MRI, in my opinion it is a waste of time and money.  Whether the tests show fat, gland or both, it is still gynecomastia.

Many people feel that if it is fat, then one can diet or exercise it away.  Untrue!  Witness many threads on this forum attesting to that fact -- established gynecomastia (ie over two years) requires surgery to remove it entirely.

If you think you have gyne, then go directly to a gyne expert for a consultation.

Dr Jacobs

[DrPensler]

Many medical terms are a descriptive translation of the problem in Greek or Latin. That is the case with gynecomastia.The term is linguistically derived from the Greek term for female ( gyno ) and the greek term for breast ( mastia). So the direct translation would be feminine breast in a male.This is a visual diagnosis.To put it as directly as possible, if your breast look too big they are.Breast have a combination of glandular tissue and fat. The diagnosis of gynecomastia in no way hangs on the ratio of the various components of tissue.

[Dr. Schuster]

General Practitioners should be able to identify gynecomastia. They should also be able to prescribe an appropriate work up if indicated. What they might not be as familiar with would be the best treatment. They may not be aware of how successful surgery is when performed by experienced surgeons.