puberty | Georgetown Pediatrics

As odd as it may sound, about three quarters of boys will develop some breast tissue early in their puberty. This is a normal physical reaction to the increase of hormones, including estrogen, in the male body as it matures.

Gynecomastia, as it’s called, is a source of concern for many boys because they are unprepared for it and think something may be wrong with their bodies. And, of course, it comes at a time in their lives when they may already feel insecure about their physical and sexual development, when they may already be uncomfortable in the locker room at school

Gynecomastia can start as tenderness or soreness around the nipple and can manifest in one or both breasts. Most of the time, the tissue will only grow a half inch or so, and often will be just around the nipple. It can take a couple of years to go away, but normally it will go away.

You should also know that certain medications, both prescription meds and illegal drugs, can cause gynecomastia. In particular, anabolic steroids, marijuana or heroin can lead to gynecomastia, as can insulin and other prescription drugs.

The information for this blog was gleaned from an article on the website for the American Academy of Pediatrics, an article which contains much more information about male puberty and what changes a boy may expect in his body.

If your son has gynecomastia, make sure he knows the condition is common and will resolve itself with time. Show him this article. Encourage him to talk to his physician who can assure him that nothing is wrong with his body or his development.

Sudden, severe testicular pain should always be taken seriously. It can be a sign of testicular torsion, a dangerous condition that requires immediate surgery.

Testicular torsion occurs when the spermatic cord inside one testicle becomes twisted, which cuts off blood supply to the testicle. If surgery isn’t performed within 6 to 12 hours, then the testicle might have to be removed. There is even the danger of permanent infertility.

While testicular torsion can occur at any age, it is most common between the ages of 12 and 20. Rapid growth of the testicles during puberty can cause torsion, as can exercise or an injury. However, torsion can occur during inactivity, even while asleep.

If your son complains of extreme testicular pain, even if it goes away, report this to your pediatrician. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), up to 50 percent of patients with testicular torsion have had scrotum pain before.

Other symptoms: the scrotum can become enlarged, red, and very painful; abdominal pain may accompany torsion, along with nausea and vomiting.

The AAP article also tells how the condition is diagnosed:

“Physical examination by a urologist;
Urinalysis, to detect presence of white blood cells;
A radionuclide scan or scrotal doppler ultrasound, to assess blood flow to the testicles;
Some urologists will take a patient with typical symptoms of torsion directly to the operating room.”

The bottom line: take testicular pain very seriously. It could be an emergency.

Georgetown Pediatrics

Caring for your children.

Tag Archives: puberty

Breast development in boys?

When testicle pain can be a surgical emergency