When puberty starts there's a rise in the levels of the hormones oestrogen and testosterone. Oestrogen stimulates the breast to grow and testosterone stops breast growth. As well as the other changes associated with puberty, boys may notice that their breasts are tender or are growing.
Men can develop nipples that hurt due to cysts, as well as an underlying infection of breast tissue, if nipples are dry or chafed either due to cold weather or a history of eczema, says Glatter. This leads to cracks and small openings in exposed skin on the nipples and allows skin bacteria to enter.
As the breast buds grow, you may notice tingling, aching or itching in your chest, and your nipples may swell or become tender. This is all normal. After your periods begin, the changing hormones may make the breasts feel tender, painful or sore a week or so just before your period starts.
During puberty, boys' hormone levels vary. If the level of testosterone drops, oestrogen can cause breast tissue to grow. Many teenage boys have some degree of breast enlargement. Gynaecomastia at puberty usually clears up as boys get older and their hormone levels become more stable.
This is because estrogen and progesterone cause your breast tissue to swell. Similarly, other life events like menopause or beginning puberty can also cause your hormones to shift, triggering side effects like nipple pain. Hormonal birth control can also cause changes that lead to nipple soreness.
When puberty starts there's a rise in the levels of the hormones oestrogen and testosterone. Oestrogen stimulates the breast to grow and testosterone stops breast growth. As well as the other changes associated with puberty, boys may notice that their breasts are tender or are growing.
Some causes of nipple pain can be treated at home with over-the-counter (OTC) products such as hydrocortisone ointment. But if you have a nipple infection, you should see your doctor. You may need to be treated with antibiotics.
The boy often notes breast development early in puberty and is concerned that he may be abnormal, as little information is shared about this phenomenon between males. All hormones, including FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone, and estradiol are normal. The breast development rarely persists more than two years.
In boys, puberty usually begins between ages 10 and 16. Once it begins, it lasts about 2 to 5 years. But every child is different. And there is a wide range of what is normal.
What Is Gynecomastia? Sometimes, guys develop breasts during puberty. This is called gynecomastia (pronounced: guy-nuh-ko-MAS-tee-uh). It's usually due to normal hormone changes during puberty, and almost always goes away on its own within a few months to a couple of years.
When Does Puberty Start? Most females will start puberty when they're 8 to 13 years old, and most males will start between 9 and 14. But it can also be normal to start earlier or later. Hormones from the brain trigger the start of puberty.
And when breasts first start to develop, even before a girl notices any changes, she can feel soreness and tenderness around her nipples. It's also common to feel small lumps around the area as well. These are called breast buds and are perfectly normal during puberty.
Inverted nipples are often congenital, meaning they have been present since birth. This condition may result from milk ducts that do not fully develop or because the nipple base remained small while in the womb. Nipple inversion can occur in both males and females and often affects both sides instead of just one.
Pubertal gynaecomastia is a common finding in boys: seen in 38 % of boys aged 10-16 years; reaching a peak of 65% in 14-year-olds (1) the gynaecomastia is generally transitory - pubertal gynaecomastia resolves in 73% of boys after 2 years and 92% after 3 years (1)
Breast Development
The earliest sign of puberty in most girls is the development of breast "buds," nickel-sized bumps under the nipple. It is not unusual for breast growth to start on one side before the other. It's also common for breast buds to be somewhat tender or sore.
This is a time of many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. Hormones change as puberty begins. Most boys grow facial and pubic hair and their voices deepen. Most girls grow pubic hair and breasts, and start their period.
Signs of Early Puberty
rapid height growth - a growth spurt. pubic or underarm hair. adult body odor. acne.
In boys, the first puberty change is the enlargement of the scrotum and testes. At this point, the penis does not enlarge. As the testes and scrotum continue to grow, the penis grows. The first growth of pubic hair produces long, soft hair that is only in a small area around the genitals.
Boys tend to show the first physical changes of puberty between the ages of 10 and 16. They tend to grow most quickly between ages 12 and 15. The growth spurt of boys is, on average, about 2 years later than that of girls. By age 16, most boys have stopped growing, but their muscles will continue to develop.
If your nipples are dry or cracked, applying purified lanolin after each feeding may help. Gel pads might also help soothe sore nipples. Apply heat. Applying a heating pad, warming gel pads, or a wet, warm washcloth after breastfeeding can help reduce the discomfort.
Some guys develop a small lump in one or both breasts, which can be tender. This is called gynecomastia, and it's normal. In fact, about half of all boys develop it during puberty. It usually goes away as a guy finishes puberty.
Shortly after ovulation, estrogen levels drop, and progesterone levels rise. In some people, these shifts in progesterone may trigger breast pain or sore nipples. If a person becomes pregnant, progesterone levels will continue to rise. This causes breast tissue changes that can make the nipples or breasts sore.
At what age does puberty stop? It can take up to 20 years of age for all the changes that happen during puberty to take place. Puberty doesn't happen all at once — it happens in stages.
Nipples are sensitive, and they can hurt for lots of reasons. Tight clothes, rashes, and infections can all irritate the tender skin. For women, sore nipples are common during periods, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.