Authors note: When I started this blog, I thought I could cover all the information and my experiences in one blog: Yeah right! So I've just covered Adolescent/Pubertal Gynecomastia here and it's still too long!

I hope if you have the patience to read this you'll share your insights and experiences as I'm sure others experienced things a lot worse and differently than I did. And, I ask any medical professionals to correct any errors I may have made.

Gynecomastia is the development of glandular breast tissue; milk glands, milk ducts, the musculature to express the milk, with connective tissue and fat amidst it all.

Pseudogynecomastia, now often called lipomastia, is excess fat but not glandular development.

We all have cells that are capable of making breasts, and we all produce male and female hormones, so we can all develop breasts given the right circumstances.

Recently I edited a paper for a psychology journal about the effects of adolescent/pubertal gynecomastia on teen and younger boys. Contractually, I can't give you the title, publication, author or a link: Nor may I copy passages from it. But I thought some of what I learned might be of interest here.

This was of interest to me because I've had gyno. twice in my life and my father had it all his teen and adult life. I always wondered why I never saw it mentioned as a plot device in TG fiction, until about a decade ago. It got an occasional mention in a story, but has grown in popularity to being relatively common. There may be others here who had or have it, or who wished for it as I did, or who have induced it.

First, a few dry facts: It's a condition not a disease! In other words, it's so common in the male population that it's considered to be normal, and there is no sickness, illness or disease involved. In extremely rare cases it may be a symptom of a disease; so a check up is a good idea. The statistics are all over the place, mainly due to differences in sampling. One study I read said that 69% of all boys had gyno on one side or bilaterally, + or - 5%. That may be a bit high, but 60% wouldn't be out of the question. That's where most studies indicate + or - 3%.

The three most common times in life to present with gyno. are infancy, puberty and starting again in the middle to later years: Let's say, Late 40s on. It occurs in healthy males who have hormone imbalances.

It's so common in teens because their hormones are all over the place and haven't settled down to a steady state yet. Adolescent or pubertal gyno. usually lasts from 6 months to 2 years. If it resolves naturally it is called: physiologic gynecomastia. If it continues it is called: persistent pubertal gynecomastia. It can be corrected endocrinologically within the first 2 or 3 years but past that window surgery is the best answer.

There are medical conditions that can cause gyno; and there are medications (both OTC and prescription) and environmental causes. But that would be for another blog if anyone is interested.

The study was about how it effected the boys psychologically. As you can guess most were ashamed, embarrassed, humiliated, fearful, depressed and sometimes suicidal. These boys may be bullied, ostracized, derided, excluded and lose all self esteem. Mostly the feelings depended on the reactions of family and friends.

Gee! Ya think? I don't understand why a study was needed to discover what should be obvious.

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My experience was different from the norm. My father had gynecomastia all his teen and adult life, yet when he worked in the yard, played sports or went to the beach or pool, he was the first one to strip off his shirt and enjoy the sun. His attitude always seemed to be here I am world, just as God made me: No apologies, no excuses, certainly no shame, just an attitude that showed that he was happy with who he was.

I can't remember a time when I wasn't aware of breasts, or when I didn't envy the girls who had them or would soon get them. Then about the time I was turning 11 and just beginning to be attracted to girls as girlfriends rather than girl friends I started budding. I started dating about the same time; All very innocent stuff, like Saturday matinees and sock hops at school or at friend's homes. Sometimes a group would get together to watch a special program in someones home. back then it was a thrill just to hold hands or put your arm around a girl.

Over the next 2 years my breasts grew large enough to fill... well, over fill... my mother's 36B bras; not that I ever pointed it out to her. But I wasn't ashamed of them: Just like my dad I took my shirt off when I swam or played in the sun. In fact, I loved every sensitive nerve, both tumescent nipples, and every exciting jiggle. Most of the girls I dated had smaller boobs than I had. They never said a word. Good God, they had to notice especially when we slow danced. I always dreamed that I'd find a girl who wanted to explore mine as much as I wanted to explore hers. Didn't happen at that young age, darn it!

No one ever said anything to me. Very occasionally one of the guy's would point and say, "hey, Ole, you're getting fat" and I'd answer, "Yeah and you're getting stupid... but I can lose weight." I may have had a little bit of attitude...

And nothing was said at home since I was built just like dad.

When I was in 6th grade I came across some 8th graders bullying a kid about his boobs and calling him "little girl" and "fag" and asking him if them if they could cop a feel. I knew some of the bullies but not their victim. It really pissed me off! I couldn't fight them: I fought like a girl and always lost. So I dropped my books, pulled up my shirt, and let them look. "Hey, jerk offs, you wanna see some real tits?" I waved my shirt up and down.

"Shit, Ulfson, we already know you're a fat ass!"

The kid used the distraction to get away just as the PE teacher came around the corner and took me and the 5 bullies to the principle. Me for having my shirt out of my pants and shouting, "Jerk Off" and "tits" in the hall and them for saying "shit" and "ass". We all got off free because no one would admit to anything. Heck none of us saw or heard anything. We were just standing around talking. The teacher didn't force the issue because he had a pretty good idea of what had happened. The others were known bullies, and I had a reputation for arguing with bullies.

I've seen a lot written about how breasts feel when they're growing but all I can speak to is how mine felt as a young boy, and later as an adult when they came back.

The stories have it right about the sharp intense pain when budding starts. Early on there can be some really quick growth that makes the nipples and areola stand out extremely proud and red: It seems like the skin is being stretched to it's limit, which it is. It's very painful!

When the growth is slower and more gradual you have the classic tingly, itchy feeling that is described in so many stories. This can occur for months before the outward signs of breast growth.

Something I have seldom seen mentioned in stories is the feeling of reaching for something and having your upper arm come in with contact the side of your breast. that was a major "ah, ha!" moment for me. Ah, ha: I really have breasts! Or when you carry something or have your arms on a table and lean forward and feel your breasts touching your arms and your arms touching your breasts. For me it was a validating moment.

But then when I was 13 I grew 6 inches and pretty much flattened out although my chest remained a bit fatty and my hips and butt were always too round, I really hated losing my breasts.

I know that most people haven't managed to get through the experience as smoothly as I did. I'd love to hear the issues others have faced and their reactions.

Please post...

(Admins, is there any way members could post anonymously if they don't care to use their names?

ADDENDUM: Clarification

Angharad wrote a wonderful story called "Amiss", I loved it and recommend it highly! You can find it here: http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/43232/amiss Don'ta miss, Amiss! Sorry!!!

It did bring to mind something that's been nibbling at the corner of my mind as I read the many delightful stories here. Most people who haven't had personal experience with Gynecomastia, assume that more on top means less on the bottom. This may be the case, or it may not be! Usually gyno. presents well after the start of puberty and the "boy bits" may be of normal size and function. In fact this is probably the most common situation, though it makes a weaker story.

Once again I'll fall back on my own situation because it's what I know best. And once again I'll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about Ole. At 10 I had my first erections and nocturnal emissions. Scarred the hell out of me, I'll tell you. So, I asked my dad if there was something wrong with me. He explained and put me at ease. My penis was 6.5 inches long when aroused which seemed to be always! Yes, I did have a ruler...

By 11 my voice was changing and my breasts started growing. Talk about confusing. At my church you had to be 13 to be in the adult choir. By 12 I had a solid Baritone voice and they hid me behind the taller men. By 13 I was a true Base and I stood at the front of the men's section where I could be seen. My breasts were at their largest then, larger than the 36B bra my mom wore. When I was 14 I was a true Basso Profundo and my boobs, damn it, were mostly gone as I added 6 inches in height and reached my final 5'8".

All that time I wanted to dress as a girl and in many ways act like one. My parents had me evaluated for SRS, but I was turned down at 11 because I obviously was attracted to girls, so of course, I couldn't be one! Apparently the dork evaluating me had never heard of lesbians.

A long way around to say that many guys with pubertal gyno. were quite masculine. Most that I knew were though a few were very feminine. It really is a condition that can affect anyone. I knew several/many in grade school and high school. Many just didn't date at all, some dated girls a lot like I did, and a few, it wasn't as open then, were gay.