Teresa, have your son read this. I found it by googling "enlarged breasts on teenage boys". I remember my son going through a slight enlargement a year or so ago (he's 18 almost 19 now), but it wasn't enough to bother him. I did notice it though. I hope this relieves any worries you might have:
Adolescent Health and Wellness
: Breast Enlargement in Adolescent Boys
Why does this occur?
Enlarged or swollen breasts are seen quite frequently in teenage boys. This is called "pre-pubertal gynecomastia". As a boy enters puberty, many hormones are made that act to develop the secondary sex characteristics such as, pubic hair, genital growth and deeper voice. This complex process, controlled by the brain, results in high levels of hormones in the body. Some of these hormones originate from and thus resemble female hormones.
In some boys the levels are so high, the breast gets stimulated to grow by the female type of hormones. It is not unusual that some boys, and even girls, develop breast buds at a different pace; in other words, one breast is larger than the other. This occurs because there may be a difference in sensitivity to the hormone by each breast. Because the breast tissue is stimulated, the breast may be tender or painful. A thorough physical examination is usually enough to confirm the diagnosis related to pubertal changes which usually resolve in 1-2 years. Once the cause is confirmed, some pressure is taken off as there is no need to worry.
How can boys cope with enlarged breasts?
Although not a serious medical problem, the social effects of enlarged breasts on boys may be quite worrisome. Adolescent boys are quite sensitive to being picked on, and of course this can be a source of embarrassment in public. While recognizing that this is a potential source of stress and shame, the answer is not to completely withdraw from activities that expose the enlarged breasts.
Depending on the situation, a boy can wear a T-shirt with a bathing suit saying that he was sun-burned as an example. On the other hand if a boy understands that it is just a temporary and normal part of growing up and is mature enough to be able to tell this to his friends and school mates, this is another route.
The extent to which a boy should shy away from these situations depends on the degree of shame or embarrassment the affected boy feels... not necessarily what he is called. Happily, in most situations boys can live through this period and really not suffer psychologically in the long term. Support, understanding and clear explanations go a long way in helping teenage boys deal with temporarily enlarged breasts during puberty.
