There are two flavors of man boob.

1) Gynecomastia: this is when a dude develops large mammary glands. Yes, men can have mammary glands.

3) Lipomastia: this is when a dude has excess adipose tissue (fat) on his chesticular region.

Both flavors of man boob appear to be related to hormonal imbalance, but different mechanisms are in play.

Healthy testosterone levels impede the development of mammary tissue whereas elevated estrogen promotes mammary tissue growth. This is what causes gynecomastia in some men.

But testosterone also controls placement of fat. With normal testosterone levels, men will accumulate fat on the belly, causing the “android” or apple shape.

When estrogen is elevated, fat accumulates on the chest, thighs, and butt, causing the “gynoid” or pear shape.

Whatever the cause, you don’t need to go shopping for a man bra just yet. In Part 2 of this series, we’ll take a long, hard look at your man boobs and talk about how to fix them.