Effect of Operative Treatment on Psychosocial Problems of Men With Gynaecomastia

• Authors: Anna Kasielska , Bogusław Antoszewski
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Gynaecomastia is defined as a hyperplasia of the breast tissue in men, bilateral or unilateral, usually not associated with the presence of malignant lesions.The aim of the study was to explore the psychosocial problems of men with gynecomastia and the effect of operative breast reduction on these problems.Material and methods. The survey was conducted in a group of 47 men who were treated surgically for gynaecomastia in the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. The mean age of the respondents was 25.6±3.5 years. For survey purposes, a questionnaire was developed with questions about the age of onset of gynaecomastia, coexisting disorders and medicines taken and also various aspects of the psychosocial life of the respondents. The questionnaire was completed by patients before surgery and at minimum 6 months after surgery.Results. The findings showed that in almost all patients gynaecomastia had caused emotional discomfort and limitation of everyday activity. In many patients, enlarged breasts caused difficulties in entering into social relationships. More than a half of the surveyed men admitted that their problems were ridiculed by others and they felt isolated. A comparison of the respondents' answers before and after the surgery showed statistically significant differences in all of the analysed questionnaire items.Conclusions. Gynaecomastia causes considerable emotional discomfort and limitation of everyday activity in young men, and that is why it constitutes a psychosocial problem. Surgical treatment of gynaecomastia significantly contributes to an increase in social activity and an improvement of social acceptance and emotional comfort, and thus significantly improves satisfaction from personal life in the men who underwent this intervention.

Keywords

EN

gynaecomastia; breast reduction; social relationships

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Polish Journal of Surgery
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 83
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 614-621

Dates

published

1 - 11 - 2011

online

13 - 1 - 2012

Contributors

author

Anna Kasielska

• Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Institute of Surgery Medical Univeristy in Łódź

author

Bogusław Antoszewski

• Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Institute of Surgery Medical Univeristy in Łódź

References

• Keddie N, Morris PJ: Male breast tumors. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1967; 124(2): 332-36.[PubMed]
• Czajka-Oraniec I, Zgliczyński W: Phenotype of patients with gynecomastia. Endokrynol Pol 2008; 59(2): 131-39.
• Handschin AE, Bietry D, Hüsler R et al.: Surgical management of gynecomastia - a 10-year analysis. World J Surg 2008; 32(1): 38-44.
• Gikas P, Mokbel K: Management of gynaecomastia: an update. Int J Clin Pract 2007; 61(7): 1209-15.[Crossref][WoS][PubMed]
• Bell BK: Gynecomastia. Endocrine secrets. McDermott M. T., Hanley & Belus, Inc., Philadelphia 1995.
• Mathur R, Braunstein GD: Gynecomastia: pathomechanisms and treatment strategies. Horm Res 1997; 48(3): 95-102.[Crossref][PubMed]
• Braunstein GD: Gynecomastia. N Engl J Med 1993; 328(7): 490-95.
• Riepe FG, Baus I, Wiest S et al.: Treatment of pubertal gynecomastia with the specific aromatase inhibitor anastrozole. Horm Res 2004; 62(3): 113-18.[Crossref]
• Ersöz H, Onde ME, Terekeci H et al.: Causes of gynaecomastia in young adult males and factors associated with idiopathic gynaecomastia. Int J Androl 2002; 25(5): 312-16.[PubMed][Crossref]
• Dejager S, Bry-Gauillard H, Bruckert E et al.: A comprehensive endocrine description of Kennedy's disease revealing androgen insensitivity linked to CAG repeat length. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002; 87(8): 3893-3901.
• Shozu M, Sebastian S, Takayama K et al.: Estrogen excess associated with novel gain-of-function mutations affecting the aromatase gene. N Engl J Med 2003; 348(19): 1855-65.
• Irving LM, Wall M, Neumark-Sztainer D et al.: Steroid use among adolescents: findings from Project EAT. J Adolesc Health 2002; 30(4): 243-52.[Crossref]
• Deonarain J, Ramdial PK, Singh B: Bilateral lipomastia in men: a side effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Int J Surg Pathol 2008; 16(2): 171-75.[Crossref][WoS]
• Oteri A, Catania MA, Travaglini R et al.: Gynecomastia possibly induced by rosuvastatin. Pharmacotherapy 2008; 28(4): 549-51.[PubMed][Crossref][WoS]
• Gardette V, Vezzosi D, Maiza JC et al.: Gynecomastia associated with fenofibrate. Ann Pharmacother 2007; 41(3): 508-10.[PubMed][Crossref]
• Jelenkovic AV, Macukanovic-Golubovic LD: Diazepam-associated gynecomastia. Ann Pharmacother 2005; 39(1): 201.[PubMed]
• Martinez J, Lewi JE: An unusual case of gynecomastia associated with soy product consumption. Endocr Pract 2008; 14(4): 415-18.[PubMed][Crossref]
• Henley DV, Lipson N, Korach KS et al.: Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to Iavender and tea tree oils. N Engl J Med 2007; 356(5): 479-85.[Crossref]
• Braunstein GD: Clinical practice. Gynecomastia. N Engl J Med 2007; 357(12): 1229-37.[Crossref]
• Khan HN, Rampaul R, Blamey RW: Management of physiological gynaecomastia with tamoxifen. Breast 2004; 13(1): 61-65.[Crossref][PubMed]
• Parker LN, Gray DR, Lai MK et al.: Treatment of gynecomastia with tamoxifen: a double-blind crossover study. Metabolism 1986; 35(8): 705-08.[PubMed][Crossref]
• Ting AC, Chow LW, Leung YF: Comparison of tamoxifen with danazol in the management of idiopathic gynecomastia. Am Surg 2000; 66(1): 38-40.[PubMed]
• Rohrich RJ, Ha RY, Kenkel JM et al.: Classification and management of gynecomastia: defining the role of ultrasound-assisted liposuction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2003; 111(2): 909-23.[PubMed][Crossref]
• Tashkandi M, Al-Qattan MM, Hassanain JM et al.: The surgical management of high-grade gynecomastia. Ann Plast Surg 2004; 53(1): 17-20.[Crossref][PubMed]
• Karczewska-Kupczewska M, Kowalska I, Górska M:. Ginekomastia - częsty problem kliniczny. Med Wieku Rozwoj 2006; 10 (3): 973-83.
• Lewandowicz L, Kruk-Jeromin J: Doświadczenia w leczeniu ginekomastii. Pol Przegl Chir 1986; 58(8): 668-72.
• Ma NS, Geffner ME: Gynecomastia in prepubertal and pubertal men. Curr Opin Pediatr 2008; 20(4): 465-70.[WoS][Crossref][PubMed]
• Cakan N, Kamat D: Gynecomastia: evaluation and treatment recommendations for primary care providers. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2007; 46(6): 487-90.[WoS][Crossref]
• Ersek RA, Schaeferele M, Beckham PH et al.: A Clinical Review. Aesthetic Surgery J 2000; 20(5): 381-86.
• Schonfeld WA: Body - image disturbances in adolescents with inappropriate sexual development. Am J Orthopsychiatry 1964; 34: 493-502.[Crossref][PubMed]
• Schonfeld WA: Psychiatric sequelae of gynecomastia in adolescence. Med Aspects Human Sex 1971; 5(9): 80-99.
• Ridha H, Colville RJ, Vesely MJ: How happy are patients with their gynaecomastia reduction surgery? J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2009; 62(11): 1473-78.[Crossref]

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10035-011-0097-2