Females are more likely to experience breast pain problems. But men have not escaped this problem. Discomfort is often associated with the nipples. So why does the nipple hurt in men? To answer this question, you need to know the main causes of discomfort.
Why do men need nipples?
Why did nature give man nipples? After all, he does not need to feed the child. It's all about the intrauterine development of the embryo. During pregnancy, up to 8 weeks, the fetus has no sexual characteristics. This is the reason for the presence of nipples and the rudiment of the mammary glands in men. Newborn boys and girls have no difference in the structure of the mammary glands.
Nature has it that in adolescence, the fair sex grows mammary glands, and breasts are formed. With a hormonal imbalance in boys in adolescence, nipples itch and hurt. The reason for this is an excess of female hormones, under the influence of which an increase in the mammary glands begins, therefore the nipple hurts in men. If there is no hardening in the glands and pus during palpation, then treatment is not prescribed. The diagnosis of such symptoms is teenage gynecomastia. Most often thisends without consequences.
Male mammary glands are mainly composed of blood vessels and ducts. The nipples have increased sensitivity, because of this they react to cold, touch. In men, the mammary glands change under the influence of hormones. All diseases are milder than in women, with the exception of cancer.
Why does pain occur?
Why do men's nipples hurt? This may be due to both age-related changes in the body and serious male diseases, including:
- Breast cancer. A rare disease in males. The first signs: pain in the nipples, redness, wrinkling. There are thickenings that are felt on palpation. The sooner treatment is started, the better the results.
- Diabetes. A disease associated with disorders in the endocrine system. The body does not have enough insulin. The disease is incurable, but can be controlled with medication.
- Gynecomastia. Disorders in the endocrine system of men. The disease is characterized by an increase in the mammary glands, pain. Surgical treatments are used, hormone therapy is possible.
- Infectious inflammatory diseases. The disease is similar to female mastitis, there is purulent discharge from the nipples, hardening, sharp pain.
Enlarged nipples in men
Large nipples in men can be considered as a pathology in tumors of the adrenal glands, pituitary gland, dystrophy, liver cirrhosis, bronchial cancer. Also, pathologies caninclude testicular tumors, hypothyroidism, Klinefelter's syndrome, Reifenstein's syndrome, testicular feminization. Another factor may be long-term use of medications and hormonal disorders.
Types of gynecomastia
Physiological gynecomastia occurs in older men. Their enlarged nipples are due to a lack of sexual function, a decrease in the level of the male sex hormone (testosterone), while the level of estrogen remains the same.
Symptomatic gynecomastia occurs due to disruption of the kidneys, testicles, liver, endocrine system and other diseases. It can appear after the use of dietary supplements, antibiotics, antidepressants, anabolic drugs. Abuse of alcohol and drugs contributes to the development of the disease.
If a man has pain under the nipple, you should see a doctor. False gynecomastia is associated with an active increase in adipose tissue, therefore, it occurs in men prone to obesity. False gynecomastia can be unilateral. If the right nipple hurts, the man must understand that the disease develops on the right side. But it is necessary to probe both breasts. If the left nipple hurts in men, the disease arose on the left side.
Breast reduction is performed using liposuction. This procedure is recommended for young men with no signs of nipple enlargement.
Painful nipples in men with gynecomastia
The mammary glands increase due to the growth of connective tissue and ducts, so the nipple in men hurts. Usuallythis occurs against the background of hormonal instability.
Gynecomastia can be nodular or diffuse. With the latter, one or both mammary glands increase. On palpation, hardenings are felt, which are always painful. They are under the nipples, which increases their soreness. As a result, the nipple hurts in men.
Nodular gynecomastia is a large nodule in the mammary gland. It hurts and it is mobile - this is what distinguishes it from breast cancer. For proper treatment, the patient should be examined by a specialist: a mammologist or an endocrinologist. A mammologist will help identify mastopathy. In men, it is treated with physiotherapy and drugs.
Breast nipple cancer
This disease usually occurs in men over 60 years of age. The disease is rare, develops gradually, it is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. The first sign is peeling and itching of the skin of the nipple and areola. There are redness, swelling, erosion. The ducts located close to the nipple are affected. It has discharge, sometimes bloody.
As the disease progresses, the pain becomes very severe. Axillary lymph nodes may enlarge. A feature of Paget's cancer in men is the rapid growth of gland tissue and its spread around. The disease can be diagnosed only by ultrasound, histology, magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment of Paget's disease takes place in the cancer center, in compliance with all the rules for oncological diseases (chemo- and radiation therapy).
There can be many reasons why men's nipples hurt. Although they have increased sensitivity, they should not hurt. At the first discomfort, you should immediately consult a doctor. Elderly men should pay special attention to their he alth. It is not normal when a man's nipple hurts. Almost all types of cancer are curable in the early stages.
