posted January 20, 2000 08:04 PM            

Evaluation by your personal physician.
Surgery (rarely) for cosmetic purposes.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Slight swelling of the dark brown area surrounding both nipples (areola).
Swelling increases in warm weather.
Rare, minor pain in enlarged area--worse when participating in sports activities.
Size can vary from a barely noticeable ''button'' to a significantly enlarged breast, similar to a woman's.

CAUSES

Sensitivity to normal hormonal changes in early puberty--AS.
Rare causes: --Mistakenly taking pills with estrogen (such as birth-control pills). --Testicular tumors. --Adrenal tumors. --Inherited factors. --Brain tumor. --Alcohol and other drug abuse, particularly marijuana.

RISK FACTORS
Inherited tendency toward gynecomastia.

PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS OR RECURRENCE
Keep substances containing estrogen away.

BASIC INFORMATION

MEDICAL TESTS
Physical exam and family history by a physician.
Blood tests, radioactive tests, and X-rays to rule out rare causes (rarely needed).

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Emotional and behavioral problems.
Anxiety regarding not being a ''male.''
Worry about possible tumors.

TREATMENT

HOME CARE
None, emotional support.

MEDICATION
None.

ACTIVITY
No restrictions.

DIET & FLUIDS
No restrictions.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF

Your breasts become quite large and don't change in a reasonable time.
Fluid seeps from the nipple of an enlarged male breast. (This may indicate a brain tumor.)

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The Cuban