Derry man says developing enlarged breasts left him suicidal

A Londonderry man has said a medical condition that saw him develop enlarged breasts made him consider taking his own life.

Conor McGinty says he suffered for years with gynaecomastia, which is a medical condition causing the over-development of breast tissue in men.

It can be caused by obesity, puberty or old age, but in Mr McGinty’s case was due to hormonal imbalances.

“I always had a bigger chest from a young age compared to others and it knocked my confidence,” Mr McGinty told BBC News NI.

“I always hid myself and avoided situations where I had to strip down like gyms or swimming pools.

“As I got older I started to wear compression vests. They made me feel like I had a tighter chest and nobody knew I had one on.

“Things got so bad I considered taking my own life at one point. I just felt like I didn’t want to be here anymore because of it – it was so debilitating.”

Mr McGinty recently underwent breast reduction surgery and said it has been life-changing for him.

You can read more about his story here.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available over on the BBC Action Line.