Male Body Concerns / Question
Published: September 26, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am a 15 year old male. One of my nipples is "fluffier" than the other. There is also a lump behind it. In addition there are very small blister looking things around the pointy part of the nipple. Is this normal? Thanks.
Signed: Fluffy Nipples With Blisters
Dear Fluffy Nipples With Blisters,
As a 15-year-old male undergoing puberty, it is perfectly normal to develop enlargement of one or both breasts, a common but temporary condition called Gynecomastia. Because of hormonal changes during puberty, you will experience a variety of physical changes, such as the development of facial hair, a deepening of the voice, the lengthening of the penis, to name a few. Also, in approximately 40% of pubertal males, these hormones also cause breast tissue to develop in the chest, consisting of the appearance of a flat pad of glandular tissue beneath a nipple, which may feel like a lump and become tender at the same time. The development may be on one or both sides. There is rarely a continued growth of the breast tissue; ordinarily the process is of brief duration and usually regresses in 2-3 years. If you would like more information on this subject, check out TeenHealthFX's response to Male With Large Nipples and I Think I Have Gynecomastia.
If you are still concerned about Gynecomastia and would like to know more, talking with your doctor can help put your mind at ease. Try not to be nervous or shy about asking your doctor - he or she will be glad to answer any questions you have about the changes you are going through. Keep in mind that however self-conscious you may feel, many of the other guys in your class are probably feeling the same way about their chests right now. Wearing loose-fitting shirts may help make Gynecomastia less noticeable. Finally, remember that Gynecomastia is temporary - and is one of nature's ways of letting you know that you are going through puberty. If you do not have your own doctor and would like to meet with a doctor from the Adolescent/Young Adult Center For Health in Morristown, New Jersey, you can call 973.971.6475 for an appointment.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
More than four in 10 young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20 - nearly one million a year teen pregnancies a year 
