If you are wondering how to get rid of gyno (gynecomastia or moobs), or can gyno be reversed then you have come to the right place.
Below you will find some tips to reduce gynecomastia. If you suffer from man boobs and are embarrassed by them then please read on. [toc]
What is Gyno?
Gyno affects between 40-50% of men at some point in their lives [1] but what exactly is gynecomastia and why does gynecomastia occur?
Gynecomastia is a condition that is common in older men, teenagers undergoing puberty and amongst bodybuilders who abuse steroids.
Clinically it is categorised as the enlargement of breast tissue, and is different from lipomastia, which is a condition where fat is deposited under the breast tissue because of weight issues.
Causes of Gynecomastia
The main cause of gynecomastia is an imbalance of oestrogen (the female hormone) and androgen (the male hormone). Those who suffer from gyno will have higher oestrogen levels than androgen.
This can occur due to a number of reasons:
Gyno Caused by Puberty
When you undergo puberty your hormones will surge, leading to imbalances. This can lead to issues like puffy nipple and gynecomastia.
If you think you may be suffering from gyno then make an appointment to see your doctor, they may be able to prescribe you something to regulate your oestrogen levels.
The good news is once puberty is over this excess breast tissue should reduce as your hormones become more stable.
Gyno Caused by being Overweight
The higher your body fat percentage, the higher the levels of oestrogen produced.
By losing weight, your oestrogen production will fall, while your natural testosterone levels will rise.
Gyno Caused by Steroid Use
There are certain steroids that cause an increase in oestrogen production. This process is called aromatization.
It will occur when your body senses that too much testosterone is present, so will convert androgens into estradiol, an estrogen-like compound.
This increase in oestrogen will lead to an increase in breast tissue.
Gyno Caused by Other Supplements
If you are trying to build muscle then chances are you are using whey protein. This can be an issue if you are using soy milk as it is full of oestrogen like compounds called phytoestrogens, which have been linked to gyno.
Some would even say that creatine causes gynecomastia, but this is not true. Creatine can cause water retention, but this is not gyno as no additional breast tissue is developed.
Gyno Caused by Alcohol or Illegal Drugs
Liver damage is just one issue associated with excessive alcohol consumption, another issue is that it can cause gynecomastia.
When you consume excess amounts of alcohol your body may start to produce less testosterone. As your testosterone falls your oestrogen levels will remain higher, leading to aromatization.
Smoking marijuana or the abuse of amphetamines has also been shown to reduce testosterone.
Gyno Caused by Prescribed Medication
Certain medications, for example, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, sleeping tablets and antibiotics, have been linked to gynecomastia.
If you are concerned about any medication you are using and its potential side effects then I would recommend making an appointment to see your doctor. Perhaps there is an alternative available.
Why Bodybuilders Get Gyno?
Bodybuilders get gyno for the same reason an average male would. However, if they are abusing anabolic steroids in an effort to enhance strength and muscle mass, then these additional hormones such as testosterone can throw off their natural hormone levels.
When bodybuilders use steroids often their natural testosterone production will slow or even stop entirely.
If this occurs your body may start to produce oestrogen. It is this increase in oestrogen that will lead to an increase in breast tissue, fat storage and other female traits.
At the conclusion of the steroid cycle, you will no longer be injecting testosterone, and as your natural testosterone levels are low the oestrogen produced will cause even more breast tissue to form.
Which Steroids Cause Gyno?
The following steroids often cause aromatization to occur:
- Dianabol
- Anadrol
- Sustanon
Using an effective PCT plan (that includes an Aromatase Inhibitor or AI like Clomid) after your steroid cycle is the best way to rebalance your hormones.
This step will make sure you do not lose any hard-earned gains and will help reduce the risk of encountering side effects like gynecomastia.
How to get rid of Gyno?
Will gyno naturally go away? Unfortunately, without making changes to your lifestyle choices, for example, your diet and exercise regime then gynecomastia will not magically disappear.
Surgery is also an option, although this does have some drawbacks.
Surgery for Gynecomastia?
Are you wondering if gyno surgery is worth it? If so then there are a few questions that need answering:
The Cost of Gyno Surgery
Is Gyno Surgery Expensive? If you are wondering how much will gynecomastia surgery cost then we have a few answers for you.
Gynecomastia Surgery Cost USA: In the USA the average cost of gynecomastia surgery is $3,525, according to the 2016 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
This price does not include anaesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses.
Gynecomastia Surgery Cost UK: In the UK breast reduction surgery averages between £3,500 and £5,500. This does not include the cost of any consultations or follow-up care.
Why is gynecomastia surgery so expensive? Well, for starters you are paying for a highly qualified surgeon to operate on you.
Then there is the cost of anaesthesia, any tests, other staff costs, etc. Surgery is not cheap and unless you can afford it, perhaps surgery is not the best option for you.
Is Gyno Surgery Safe?
As with any surgery, there is a risk attached. The following risks were identified following a study of 91 patients [2] who underwent a mastectomy for gyno:
- Sensory changes
- Pain
- Seromas
- Breast asymmetry
- Hematomas
Following surgery, infection maybe an issue although this is usually easy to treat.
The main issue is scarring, which will be in a very noticeable area.
Gynecomastia Surgery Scars
Look at these images of gyno surgery before and after:
While some will claim that gynecomastia surgery can be scarless this is not true.
Although steps will be taken by the surgeon to reduce scarring, surgery will leave scars and that is a fact.
In a typical mastectomy, the surgeon will leave a curved scar that will follow the lower edge of areolar.
Keyhole surgery is minimally invasive, but this can leave scars of around 5-10 mm in length across the chest and armpit.
Is there another option available?
Losing Man Boobs Without Surgery
If you are wondering if you can reduce gynecomastia without surgery then the following section is for you. We are going to answer the following question “how gynecomastia can be reduced”, by looking at changes to your exercise regime and diet.
Reduce Gyno with Exercise
Can gynecomastia be cured by exercise? It can certainly help. As building muscle in your chest will make your man boobs less visible. Also, burning off any excess fat won’t harm either.
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.
Building muscle is also good for your BMR or Basal Metabolic Rate, which basically means that the more muscle you have the higher your metabolism will be. This is essential for burning off excess body fat.
High-intensity cardio is also recommended for fat burning, with HIIT a good option for those short on time.
HIIT will allow you to work out hard for a couple of minutes, ensuring you see maximum fat burning with minimal time.
How Your Diet Can Reduce Gyno
It is incredibly important not only for reducing the size of your man-boobs, but also to improve your overall health that you start eating better.
This does not necessarily mean that you must cut out junk food entirely, but eating them in moderation is recommended.
More lean meat, chicken, fish, vegetables and fruit are a must.
It is also important that you add foods that boost testosterone while avoiding foods that boost oestrogen.
Testosterone boosting foods include:
- Tuna
- Low-fat milk
- Egg yolks
- Fortified cereals
- Oysters
- Shellfish
- Beef
- Beans
The following foods help to lower oestrogen levels, so include these in your diet too:
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Mushrooms
- Red grapes
- Seeds
- Whole grains
- Green tea
- Pomegranates
Foods that boost oestrogen that should be avoided include:
- Refined sugar
- Excess carbohydrates
- Non-organic dairy products
- Soy
As mentioned earlier on in this article, excessive alcohol consumption can cause gyno, so it is best to only drink alcohol, especially beer in moderation.
Fix Your Posture
Do you spend your day hunched over a computer? If so this can lead to a tightening of your chest muscles, resulting in slouched shoulders that can leave your man boobs looking worse.
To fix your posture you should try and practise sitting and walking with your shoulders back instead of slouched. This can make a dramatic difference to your appearance.
Our Final Solution for Gyno
The final method we would recommend for helping reduce gyno would be a supplement called Gynectrol, which is available to buy online from Crazy Bulk.
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:
- Reduction in male breast tissue
- Firmer, more masculine chest
- An increase in metabolism
- Convert fat into energy
- 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 and USA customers.
I was wondering can gyno be cured without surgery and this post has sort of reassured me that it can. Don’t think my insurance would have covered surgery so will try the tips suggested.
#fingercrossed 🙂
Can gynecomastia occur in one breast? I have noticed that my chest is uneven? Any suggestions?
Yes, gyno can occur in just one breast. 🙂
Have you got an example man boobs workout we can see?
Not at the present time, anything that is able to burn calories will help. You need to be in a calorie deficit to burn fat and therefore reduce the size of your man boobs.
Medicines that help in treating hypertension such as Calcium channel blockers can also cause Gynecomastia.
I really thank this article for helping me and it is a very big change in my breast and it’s looking way much better now. Thanks skinny2fit, really appreciate it ❤