# Man Breasts! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2000, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-breasts/38902 "2000-10-30T06:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![darkhavoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@darkhavoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darkhavoc)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2000, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-breasts/38902/21 "2000-11-01T04:05:12Z")
Is it easier for a man (lets assume he has breasts because he is overweight) to reduce breast size by simply exercising and dieting? In other words, lets say a man and woman do the same amount of exercise and dieting, I would assume that the size of the man’s breasts would reduce faster and perhaps more than the woman. Wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2000, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-breasts/38902/22 "2000-11-01T04:39:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peace \* > \*\* Guys do not have breasts. It’s never (save for exotic hermaphroditism) real glandular tissue (i.e., a tissue similar to female tissue capable of producing milk). > \*\* I don’t think this 100% true. Although it is correct to state that estrogen per se doesn’t cause milk production, it _does_ lead to _glandular_ tissue proliferation. To be even more accurate, anything that raises the **ratio** of estrogen to testosterone will lead to glandular proliferation. So, even if estrogen levels are low, there can be gynecomastia if the testosterone levels are relatively lower. In order to get milk (lactation), you need both estrogen and prolactin (a hormone produced in the pituitary gland). Sometimes, men will have enough of both to cause them to lactate (produce milk). Usually, though, only women have this combination even in the setting of a prolactin secreting tumour. Phrased differently, for identically elevated levels of prolactin, only an ‘estrogenized’ (female) breast will produce milk. BTW, I believe there was a Biblical male character who was said to have produced milk. The observation is ancient if not common. ---
**Author:** ![IBBen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85f322/32.png) [@IBBen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IBBen)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-breasts/38902/23 "2000-11-03T01:48:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGauss \* > \*\*BTW, I believe there was a Biblical male character who was said to have produced milk. The observation is ancient if not common. \*\* Water to wine, breast milk, what’s the difference? A miracle is a miracle, nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-breasts/38902/24 "2000-11-03T03:52:33Z")
My 2 cents: I’m overweight, and have breasts that would be pretty impressive on a smaller body (fortunately, my belly sticks out farther than they do, so when I’m clothed they’re not all that noticeable)… Oddly enough, my fiancee likes them as much as I like hers!! ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2000, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-breasts/38902/25 "2000-11-03T06:38:51Z")
KarlGauss wrote: > [@](#): > > BTW, I believe there was a Biblical male character who was said to have produced milk. The observation is ancient if not common. Is. 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. Or perhaps you were thinking of these verses? Job 21:23-25 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-breasts/38902/26 "2000-11-09T00:35:55Z")
Another reason breast cancer in men is more insidious, so I’m told, is because there generally isn’t as much breast tissue for it to grow in. Thus it spreads more quickly into other organs/systems. Those mammograms must be tricky to get. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-breasts/38902.md?page=1)