When it comes to marijuana and gynecomastia, there are a lot of rumors and half-truths flying around, so it can be difficult distinguishing fact from fiction. This doesn’t just go for marijuana and gynecomastia, in fact, but for a good number of drugs and recreational substances.
In this article, we plan to explore these claims and the rumors (whether founded or otherwise) that surround the purported link between gynecomastia and recreational drugs.
What is Gynecomastia/Gyno?
Gynecomastia (also known as “gyno” or “man boobs”) is an embarrassing but harmless condition in which boys or men develop breasts.
It is distinct from merely having chest fat, in that it involves the development of excess breast gland tissue (a gynecomastia pinch test will help distinguish the two).
However, many cases of gyno are usually a combination of both excess breast gland tissue and excess fat tissue.
During gyno surgery, both will be addressed by your surgeon to give you the best possible result.
What Causes Gynecomastia?
There are many things that can lead to a case of gyno, but one of the main causes is hormonal imbalance.
Mainly, if your testosterone is unusually low and your estrogen is unusually high, this can lead to a case of gyno.
In other cases of gynecomastia, the cause may be unknown, meaning it is harder to pin point an exact reason why you may be developing man breasts.
Does Marijuana Cause Gynecomastia?
While it’s not so simple to make a statement like “marijuana causes gyno”, we can look at the facts regarding marijuana in general.
Marijuana is, despite being illegal in many countries (and states, in the US), one of the most widely consumed drugs in the world. There is also mounting evidence that the drug is linked to male infertility.
A good number of men of childbearing age who chronically consume the drug have been found to have lower fertility rates – or be outright infertile.
However, that’s not the whole picture. The same studies that have indicated this were unable to reach a definitive conclusion. There are, in fact indications that marijuana use is only a factor when combined with other unhealthy lifestyle choices (such as a lack of exercise and excessive alcohol consumption).
Now this is all well and good, but what does fertility have to do with gynecomastia?
The link may not be initially obvious, but the two conditions are intertwined because they both involve potentially lowered testosterone levels. Low testosterone levels is one of the contributing factors to both infertility and gynecomastia.
In a nutshell, then: marijuana may contribute to gynecomastia, but the jury’s still out.
Other Drugs and Recreational Substances
Marijuana is not the only substance around which rumors abound. Let’s take a look at some other drugs and recreational substances and their purported links to gynecomastia.
Does CBD Cause Gynecomastia?
CBD (cannabidiol) is found naturally in cannabis, and is the second most prevalent active ingredient found in the plant. However, it doesn’t have quite the same effect as actual cannabis – it does not produce the same ‘high’ that you’d get from smoking a joint, for instance.
CBD side effects include fatigue, irritability and nausea. None of these are related to hormone production, and so it’s logical to conclude that CBD most likely does not contribute to your chances of developing gynecomastia.
Does Smoking Cigarettes Cause Gynecomastia?
Simply put: no.
However, if you are undergoing surgery for gynecomastia, it’s important that you stop smoking (at least temporarily) in order to ensure that your wounds heal properly. This is because smoking can interfere with your body’s ability to heal.
Does Vaping Cause Gynecomastia?
Evidence is sparse regarding “e-cigarettes”, and it will be many years before there’s any hard evidence one way or another. That said, some primary studies carried out on animals have suggested that e-cigarettes – even nicotine-free ones – can impact fertility rates.
In addition, many e-cigs contain endocrine disruptors. While it’s not certain yet, it’s possible that vaping could be a contributing factor towards gynecomastia.
What Other Drugs Cause Gynecomastia?
While there are still some unknowns regarding marijuana gynecomastia, there are some drugs that can contribute to the condition:
- Antipsychotics and antidepressants
- Alcohol
- Ulcer medications
- HIV medications
- Antiandrogens (drugs that suppress testosterone production)
- Anabolic steroids
- Hypertension medications
- Some heart disease medications
- Some cancer medications (particularly those used to treat prostate cancer)
In all cases, the ultimate reason that these drugs could cause gynecomastia is because they intefere with your hormone levels.
This might mean suppressing testosterone production, increasing estrogen production, or (ironically) increasing testosterone production.
What Treatments Are Available For Gynecomastia?
If your gynecomastia is caused by drug use, then discontinuing use of those drugs may halt or reverse the condition’s progression.
However, if your gynecomastia case has already hit grade 2 or higher, then it’s probably too late for prevention, and surgery will be necessary (learn more about the various Gynecomastia Grades).
Preventing Gynecomastia
In order to prevent gynecomastia, it might be a good idea to consider the following:
Drug Abstinence
It’s simple: abstaining from alcohol and drugs lowers not only your chances of gyno (including the purported marijuana gynecomastia), but also makes you healthier in general. This goes for anabolic steroids too, which are a proven cause of gyno.
Prescription medications, particularly the ones we listed above, can also be culprits for your gyno. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned your meds may cause gyno.
Diet and Exercise
While it’s not been definitively proven that diet and exercise can influence your chances of getting gyno, it is a fact that the former can influence your hormone levels. As previously mentioned, many cases of gynecomastia stem from hormone imbalances.
If your man boobs are simply due to excess fat rather than the hormonal imbalance, then diet & exercise are more likely to have an impact on your chest.
Treating Underlying Conditions
Certain conditions (like hypogonadism and liver/kidney dysfunction) can contribute to the development of gyno. By treating the former, you can often prevent the latter.
Dealing With Existing Gynecomastia
If gyno is already here and a problem, then your best options are surgical (or pseudo-surgical).
Coolsculpting
Coolsculpting is an entirely non-invasive procedure to reduce fat. Fat cells are targeted and frozen with the use of a special wand placed on the skin. Then the fat is broken down into liquid & reabsorbed into the body.
Although Coolsculpting may reduce the fatty tissue, it does not remove the breast gland tissue, and as such may not be a long-term solution to the problem.
It should also be noted that Coolsculpting is generally not nearly as effective as liposuction to reduce excess fat.
Surgery
The best surgical option for gynecomastia is a combination of the excision of breast gland tissue and liposuction. This will take care of both the excess gland tissue and fat tissue.
Marijuana Gynecomastia Recap
Though it’s far from a foregone conclusion that there is such a thing as ‘marijuana gynecomastia’, recreational substances are generally not helpful when it comes to such conditions.
The evidence that is available reinforces the notion that marijuana probably isn’t great for preventing gynecomastia.