Understand it
Puberty Gyno: A Straight Answer for Teens (and Their Parents)
If you're a teenage guy reading this at night with a hoodie on, here's the short version first: this is normal, it's common, and for most guys it goes away. Then here's what to do while you wait.
Quick answer
Yes, it's normal. About half of boys get some breast tissue during puberty, usually starting around 13 or 14. Somewhere between three in four and nine in ten of them see it fade without treatment within one to three years, and by 17 only about 1 in 10 still have it. See a doctor if it's lasted over two years, is still there at 17, is on one side with a hard lump, or anything leaks from the nipple.
On this page
If you're the one with it
I'll talk to you directly for a minute. If your nipples got puffy and sore in the last year or two, if you've started wearing a hoodie in summer, if you dread swimming or changing for gym, I've been exactly there. I know it feels like you're the only one.
You aren't even close. American Family Physician says about half of teenage boys get gynecomastia, usually starting at 13 or 14. In a gym class of 20 guys, that's around 10 of you. Most just hide it better, or have a milder version, or are too embarrassed to say anything. Which is what you're doing too.
Why it happens
During puberty, your body turns hormone production way up. Testosterone rises a lot, and so does estrogen, the hormone that tells breast tissue to grow. For a while, especially early on, estrogen can get ahead. The small bit of breast tissue under each nipple, which every guy has, reacts by growing. That's puberty gyno.
As testosterone keeps rising and things settle down, the tissue usually shrinks back. Nothing you did caused it. It's not from eating the wrong thing, not working out enough, or anything else people might tell you.
Out of 10 boys with puberty gyno
Sources: Dickson, American Family Physician, 2012; Lemaine, Seminars in Plastic Surgery, 2013. Most cases fade within one to three years.
How long it lasts
The Seminars in Plastic Surgery review says puberty gyno goes away by itself in 75 to 90% of boys, over one to three years. American Family Physician says it should resolve within six months to two years after it starts. If it's still there after a year or so, it doesn't mean it never will; but if it lasts beyond two years, or into your later teens, it's time for a doctor.
What actually helps while you wait
Don't squeeze, massage or press it to make it go away. Nothing suggests it helps, and pressing on tender tissue just makes it sorer.
Hide it on the days it matters. A plain dark T-shirt in a heavier fabric hides more than you'd think. If it's really bothering you, a compression shirt worn under a normal tee flattens it; there are picks in 5 compression shirts compared. Nipple covers help if it's mostly the nipples showing.
Check what you're taking. Some supplements and "testosterone boosters" contain herbs linked to gyno, and so do anabolic steroids, which some teens get offered at gyms or online. Lavender and tea tree oils in some products have been linked to it too. Stay away from all steroids, full stop.
Keep moving. Exercise won't shrink the gland, but it helps with any fat around it and with how you feel. Don't let gyno keep you out of sports if you can help it.
For parents reading this
Your son is unlikely to bring this up himself. Watch for the signs: hoodies in hot weather, quitting swimming or sports, avoiding changing in front of others. If you notice, raise it gently and privately, without making a big deal of it. A normal checkup with your family doctor is the right first step. The doctor will usually examine him, ask about any medicines or supplements, and in most cases reassure you both and plan to watch it. If it doesn't go away, gyno surgery for teens covers what comes next.
Questions people ask
Is it normal to have gyno at 13 or 14?
Yes. About half of boys get some breast tissue during puberty, and 13 to 14 is when it usually starts.
How long does puberty gyno last?
Usually six months to two years, sometimes up to three. Three-quarters or more of boys see it fade without any treatment, and only about 1 in 10 still have it at 17.
Can exercise get rid of puberty gyno?
Exercise doesn't shrink gland tissue, but it helps with fat around it and with your overall shape and confidence. The gland itself usually fades as your hormones settle.
Should I see a doctor about puberty gyno?
A checkup is always a good idea, and it's important if it's lasted over two years, is still there at 17, is on one side with a hard lump, leaks, or started after taking any supplement or medicine.
Do I need surgery for puberty gyno?
Usually not. Most cases go away on their own. Doctors generally wait at least a year before considering surgery for teens.
Sources
- Dickson G. Gynecomastia. American Family Physician, 2012;85(7):716-722
- Lemaine V, Cayci C, Simmons PS, Petty P. Gynecomastia in adolescent males. Seminars in Plastic Surgery, 2013
- Nuzzi LC, et al. Psychosocial impact of adolescent gynecomastia. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2013 (ScienceDaily summary)
Medical facts last checked against these sources on .
Medical disclaimer. I'm a guy who has lived with gyno, not a doctor. This page explains what published medical sources say, in plain words, so you can have a better conversation with your own doctor. It isn't medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Don't start, stop or change any medication without talking to a doctor. If something on your chest is changing fast, hurts, or leaks fluid, get it checked.
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