Written for teenage boys and their parents. If anything worries you, your GP is the right first step.
Is this normal?
Yes. Puberty means big changes in hormones, and for a while the body can make a bit more oestrogen than it needs. Nearly half of all boys notice a small, firm, sometimes sore lump behind one or both nipples, usually around 13 or 14. It isn't a sign that anything is wrong with you, and it doesn't mean you're less of a man. It happens to boys who play sport, boys who don't, thin boys and heavier boys.
Will it go away?
For most boys, yes. It usually settles within six months to two years, as hormones even out. The soreness usually goes first. A small number of boys keep some tissue into their late teens. If it is still there after two years, or after you turn 17, see a GP so they can check it properly.
What helps while you wait
- Leave it alone. Squeezing or pressing it keeps it sore.
- A looser T-shirt, a darker colour, or a layer over it (an open shirt or a hoodie) hides it well.
- If you're carrying extra weight, regular sport and less sugary food help the fat part. The gland part settles with time.
- Don't buy pills, creams or "gyno" supplements online. None of them is proven, and some contain real hormones.
- Talk to someone: a parent, an older brother, a school nurse or your GP. It's more common than anyone admits.
When to see a GP
- it's still there after two years, or after you turn 17
- it's growing quickly, or it's large
- one side has a hard lump, or there's fluid from the nipple
- it's not happening alongside the other changes of puberty
- it's getting you down, or you're avoiding sport, swimming or school because of it
The GP will ask a few questions and feel the area, and that's often all. Blood tests are only needed now and then. Bring a parent or guardian if you're under 16.
A note for parents
Most boys won't bring this up. If you notice your son avoiding swimming, PE or taking his top off, it may be why. Keep it low-key: tell him how common it is, that it usually goes, and that the GP sees it all the time. Check what he's buying online, because "gyno" pills and some gym supplements are aimed squarely at worried teenage boys.
What about surgery?
Surgery isn't for boys who are still growing. Specialists only consider it when puberty and growth are complete, and only for tissue that has stayed. Most boys never need it. This site doesn't take enquiries for surgery from anyone under 18: if you're under 18, your GP is the right place to start.
Questions boys ask
Is it normal for one side to be bigger?
Yes. It often starts on one side or grows unevenly. It usually evens out or goes as puberty goes on.
Will working out make it go away?
Exercise is good for you and helps any fat part, but it won't make the gland go faster. Time does that.
Does it mean I have low testosterone?
Almost never. It's a normal stage of puberty, when testosterone is actually rising.
Can I swim and do sport?
Yes. Nothing about gynecomastia in puberty stops you doing anything. A rash vest is fine in the pool if you'd prefer to cover up.