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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2023; 56(04): 338-343
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1771293
Original Article

The Burden of Anabolic Androgenic Steroid-Induced Gynecomastia

Meenu Beniwal
1   Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana, India
,
Kuldeep Singh 
1   Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana, India
,
Paritev Singh
2   Department of Health, Panchkula, Haryana, India
,
Abhishek Sharma
1   Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana, India
,
Sonu Beniwal
3   Department of Ophthalmology, Medanta - The Medicity, Gurugram, Haryana, India
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Abstract

Introduction Gynecomastia is benign proliferation of male breast tissue that can be idiopathic or secondary to hormonal imbalance. Consumption of steroids plays a major role in the development of gynecomastia. The increased consumption of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) in youngsters to boost the physical strength and improve appearance is associated with increased prevalence of gynecomastia. True estimation of AAS-associated gynecomastia is difficult to calculate and prone to underestimation because of low social acceptance. Accurate estimation is required to assess future healthcare, for prevention and to give appropriate treatment.

Aims and Objectives The aim of this study was to calculate the steroid consumption in gynecomastia patients accurately so that appropriate treatment can be given and their response to treatment could be analysed.

Methods This is a prospective study done in a tertiary care hospital from June 2019 to June 2022. All the gynecomastia patients treated during this period in Burns & Plastic Surgery Department of PGIMS Rohtak were included in the study. Patient's detailed history was recorded and also after 3 months of surgery patients were again enquired about their history to record any change.

Results Real prevalence of AAS-associated gynecomastia (39.19%) was much higher than that recorded in preoperative period (4.05%). Also, AAS users were having higher body mass index and a greater proportion of patients were bodybuilders.

Conclusion Patients with high body mass index, athletic body, and history of recent weight gain should raise the suspicion of anabolic steroid intake. Surgery is not always indicated in AAS-associated gynecomastia. If gynecomastia persisted, surgery necessitates and it involves meticulous intraoperative hemostasis and careful glandular excision to minimize recurrence and achieve low complication rates.

Keywords

anabolic steroid - gynaecomastia - liposuction - bodybuilders


Publication History

Article published online:
28 July 2023

© 2023. Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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