Can men breastfeed naturally?
What an intriguing question ! Believe
it or not,men can actually lactate. Possessing all the necessary equipment,the main reasons men don't have it happen very often,is mostly just a lack of sufficient amounts of a single necessary hormone.
Milk is produced in small hollow cavities in breast tissue called alveoli,where the linings contain cells that secrete milk when properly triggered. While there are a variety of things that go into someone lactating,including various hormones,the main trigger for milk production is sufficient amounts of the hormone,prolactin,which is primarily produced by the pituitary gland,though,also produced by the prostrate gland in men and a layer of the uterine wall known as myometrium in women,among other places.
Both men and women have alveoli,but typically different levels of prolactin. A normal non - pregnant woman has around one third to twice the hormone than the average man at any given time. Late in pregnancy and after giving birth,prolactin levels can peak as high as ten times more in these woman than how much you find in males.
Prolactin is ultimately metabolised by the liver helping to regulate it's concentration in the body in conjunction with certain mechanisms in the hypothalamus. When the liver isn't functioning properly, abnormally high levels of certain hormones build up. What's less known is that the receptors responsible for triggering the brain to in turn stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more prolactin,and trigger the release of oxytocin,which,is necessary to get the milk flowing,exists and functions in both men and women.
There are also some drugs that occasionally have the side effect of increased prolactin concentration in the body sufficient to cause male lactation,such as the antipsychotic chlorpromazine,and the heart medication, digoxin. Some teenage and adult men produce milk without babies or drugs. Called male galectorrhea,it often develops during the hormone surge of puberty,but can also be caused by hypothyroidism,among other conditions.
So yeah,as awkward as a male producing milk sounds,it CAN happen. The question remains: would many men do it?
it or not,men can actually lactate. Possessing all the necessary equipment,the main reasons men don't have it happen very often,is mostly just a lack of sufficient amounts of a single necessary hormone.
Milk is produced in small hollow cavities in breast tissue called alveoli,where the linings contain cells that secrete milk when properly triggered. While there are a variety of things that go into someone lactating,including various hormones,the main trigger for milk production is sufficient amounts of the hormone,prolactin,which is primarily produced by the pituitary gland,though,also produced by the prostrate gland in men and a layer of the uterine wall known as myometrium in women,among other places.
Both men and women have alveoli,but typically different levels of prolactin. A normal non - pregnant woman has around one third to twice the hormone than the average man at any given time. Late in pregnancy and after giving birth,prolactin levels can peak as high as ten times more in these woman than how much you find in males.
Prolactin is ultimately metabolised by the liver helping to regulate it's concentration in the body in conjunction with certain mechanisms in the hypothalamus. When the liver isn't functioning properly, abnormally high levels of certain hormones build up. What's less known is that the receptors responsible for triggering the brain to in turn stimulate the pituitary gland to produce more prolactin,and trigger the release of oxytocin,which,is necessary to get the milk flowing,exists and functions in both men and women.
There are also some drugs that occasionally have the side effect of increased prolactin concentration in the body sufficient to cause male lactation,such as the antipsychotic chlorpromazine,and the heart medication, digoxin. Some teenage and adult men produce milk without babies or drugs. Called male galectorrhea,it often develops during the hormone surge of puberty,but can also be caused by hypothyroidism,among other conditions.
So yeah,as awkward as a male producing milk sounds,it CAN happen. The question remains: would many men do it?
Wonderful post dear ! Your posts are very fascinating and interesting ! Guess it's your own opinions and ideas only....seems like you are a great science enthusiast who has intense knowledge in the subject ! Keep it up ! Awaiting more posts...
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot 😊! It's very true that I'm a keen science enthusiast who seems to take extreme interest in the subject. Yes,it's entirely my own opinions and ideas only. Nothing is taken from the internet. Give a read frequently if you are interested 😊!
ReplyDeleteWow! Wonderful that you have thought so far
ReplyDeleteVery insightful
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much 😊
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