What causes enlarged nipples?

The nipple is an important part of the female breast and also an important part of the male chest. Its size also has certain standards. If your nipples are too large, it is called hypertrophic nipple disease. The causes of male and female nipple hypertrophy are different, and of course the treatment methods are also different. Next, we will introduce to you the causes, examinations and differential diagnosis of enlarged nipples!

1. Reasons

There are many reasons why women have enlarged nipples, generally including breast swelling during orgasm, endocrine breast swelling, or breast swelling during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The reason why men have large nipples is mostly due to medical factors. Male breast hyperplasia is called gynecomastia.

2. Inspection

It is common around puberty and in old age. The pathological manifestation is duct hyperplasia without alveolar hyperplasia. It can be generally divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary cases usually occur in adolescent boys and elderly men. It is mainly caused by a transient increase in endogenous estrogen or a decrease in androgen. It can often resolve on its own. Secondary cases are common in liver disease, testicular disease, adrenal disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, and tumors of the urogenital system or nervous system, prostate disease, long-term use of estrogen, or long-term use of some drugs for other diseases, such as; reserpine, remifon, digitalis, chlorpromazine, etc. can also cause breast development, which usually resolves after stopping the drug. In addition, hermaphroditism and congenital testicular dysplasia can also lead to breast enlargement.

Differential diagnosis of nipple hypertrophy

1. Large male breasts: Male breast development is relatively common and can be seen in certain normal physiological conditions as well as certain diseases.

2. Enormous breasts: Symptoms and signs of adult female breast hypertrophy. Enormous breasts: Enlarged mammary glands are often drooping or gourd-shaped, and their nipples are often drooping and displaced. Each giant breast can weigh 5000-6000g or even tens of kilograms, and can be level with the navel and reach the knees.

It is common around puberty and in old age. The pathological manifestation is duct hyperplasia without alveolar hyperplasia. It can be generally divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary cases usually occur in adolescent boys and elderly men. It is mainly caused by a transient increase in endogenous estrogen or a decrease in androgen. It can often resolve on its own. Secondary cases are common in liver disease, testicular disease, adrenal disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, and tumors of the urogenital system or nervous system, prostate disease, long-term use of estrogen, or long-term use of some drugs for other diseases, such as; reserpine, remifon, digitalis, chlorpromazine, etc. can also cause breast development, which usually resolves after stopping the drug. In addition, hermaphroditism and congenital testicular dysplasia can also lead to breast enlargement.