if anybody asks ???
Medications
A number of medications can cause gynecomastia. These include:
Anti-androgens used to treat prostate enlargement or cancer and some other conditions. Examples include flutamide, finasteride (Proscar) and spironolactone (Aldactone).
Anabolic steroids and androgens.
AIDS medications. Gynecomastia can develop in HIV-positive men who are receiving a treatment regimen called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Efavirenz (Sustiva) is more commonly associated with gynecomastia than are other HIV medications.
Anti-anxiety medications, such as diazepam (Valium).
Tricyclic antidepressants.
Antibiotics.
Ulcer medications, such as cimetidine.
Cancer treatment (chemotherapy).
Heart medications, such as digoxin (Lanoxin) and calcium channel blockers.
(30-09-2013, 03:53 PM)julieTG Wrote: [ -> ]if anybody asks ???
For me the reasons for why I'm growing breasts are personal, just as the medications I take I disclose only a need-to-know basis. If I don't want to share private information with someone, I don't get how sharing other private information improves the situation for me. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but saying meds are the reason for your breasts sounds too much like the crossdresser excuse of losing a bet or being forced by your significant other as an explanation for wearing feminine clothing. If someone is really intent on getting an explanation for your breast growth, it's possible the person might see through the meds excuse, especially if that person has a medical background.
The way I see, if the typical male does get gynecomastia from a medication, he's going to go to the doctor to stop it in the very least, if not reverse it altogether. For those who have spent some time pursuing NBE, think back to the first few times you experienced symptoms like soreness, tingling, itchiness in your breasts. Now think about how a typical male would react to these same sensations. He would try to get his medication switched or something so that he doesn't develop boobs. As a last resort, some males opt to get their feminine breast tissue surgically removed.
My point in all of this is beyond the surface, I think blaming meds is far from being a robust excuse. Worst yet, people may start to spread rumors about why you're taking these meds, even if you're not really taking them.
If I get asked and I don't want to share, I think having a awkward moment of silence, giving the person a hard stare and saying "I don't want to talk about it" (or something to that effect) should suffice.
If you want to give a more polite response, I would suggest saying something like "I'm happy with my body the way it is. I don't feel pressured by society to change my body to try to fulfill unattainable standards. Besides, I don't like to take medication or get surgery unless absolutely necessary."
I think it may depend on one's age and build. So many middle aged and upwards men are exposed to prescription drugs having gynecomastia as a possible side effect, and the difficulty and expense of doing anything much about it, as well as the prevalence of manboobs generally, makes medication a very reasonable excuse if one should ever be required. For someone younger and not overweight, I can see that it may be less persuasive.