helpmefindmyhair
Established Member
- Reaction score
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Well guys,
I'm afraid I'm one of the few that develop gynecomastia in response to finasteride. Two weeks ago I went to see my urologist about my puffy nipples. He sent me to a lab so that I could have my hormone levels checked. Today I returned to his office to get the results.
My testosterone level is 840. Normal range is 241-827. He said he wasn't concerned about my testosterone.
My estradiol level was 35. Normal range is 0-53. That didn't concern him either.
However, my Total Estrogens was 171. Normal range is 40-115.
And my Serum Estrone was 108. Normal range is 12-72.
Both of these levels concerned him.
He left up to me what I should do. He recommended DIM to me and said he takes it himself. I was really surprised, almost shocked, when he recommended DIM to me. I already knew about its existence but I was under the impression that it was a scam product. It is supposed to promote "healthy estrogen levels." I haven't read much about DIM but the little I've read said that it can actually increase estrogen levels instead of reducing them.
I brought up the subject of tamoxifen. He said his sister is taking it for breast cancer but that he'd never heard of it being prescribed for gynecomastia. Fortunately, I brought along 5 medical studies I found at PubMed. He read through them and then wrote a prescription for 20mg/day of tamoxifen. He wants me to return in 3 months for another blood test. It is up to me whether I try the tamoxifen.
(If you're wondering why I didn't mention arimidex to him it's because I've read studies that indicate arimidex really isn't very effective at all when it comes to gynecomastia. I've read one study in particular that found tamoxifen to be clearly superior to arimidex when it comes to taking care of gynecomastia. I think arimidex can prevent gynecomastia but as far as actually making it disappear tamoxifen is much better.)
My gynecomastia is not very advanced at all but it is enough that I've noticed a definite change in my chest. I'm really disappointed too because I started propecia at a low dose -- .5mg/day. I've reduced it even further to .5mg every other day and my gynecomastia has not reversed but seems to have increased. I'm a very lean/muscular guy. I hardly have any fat on my body. I certainly never had anything resembling gynecomastia before I took finasteride. This drug has certainly played with my hormonal levels. If I return to taking finasteride I think I'll do so at .5mg every third day. I'm very confident that level will still afford my hair some protection. I've only been on propecia for 3 months.
Right now I think my choices are to: 1) stop finasteride altogether and see if my gyno goes away by itself, 2) stop finasteride until my gynecomastia goes away and then resume finasteride at a lower dosage, 3) continue taking finasteride but at a lower dosage and also take something to battle the gynecomastia or 4) stop finasteride for now, take something to battle the gynecomastia until it goes away and then begin to take finasteride at a lower dosage.
What do you all recommend? And do you think I should take DIM, tamoxifen or some other product?
I'm afraid I'm one of the few that develop gynecomastia in response to finasteride. Two weeks ago I went to see my urologist about my puffy nipples. He sent me to a lab so that I could have my hormone levels checked. Today I returned to his office to get the results.
My testosterone level is 840. Normal range is 241-827. He said he wasn't concerned about my testosterone.
My estradiol level was 35. Normal range is 0-53. That didn't concern him either.
However, my Total Estrogens was 171. Normal range is 40-115.
And my Serum Estrone was 108. Normal range is 12-72.
Both of these levels concerned him.
He left up to me what I should do. He recommended DIM to me and said he takes it himself. I was really surprised, almost shocked, when he recommended DIM to me. I already knew about its existence but I was under the impression that it was a scam product. It is supposed to promote "healthy estrogen levels." I haven't read much about DIM but the little I've read said that it can actually increase estrogen levels instead of reducing them.
I brought up the subject of tamoxifen. He said his sister is taking it for breast cancer but that he'd never heard of it being prescribed for gynecomastia. Fortunately, I brought along 5 medical studies I found at PubMed. He read through them and then wrote a prescription for 20mg/day of tamoxifen. He wants me to return in 3 months for another blood test. It is up to me whether I try the tamoxifen.
(If you're wondering why I didn't mention arimidex to him it's because I've read studies that indicate arimidex really isn't very effective at all when it comes to gynecomastia. I've read one study in particular that found tamoxifen to be clearly superior to arimidex when it comes to taking care of gynecomastia. I think arimidex can prevent gynecomastia but as far as actually making it disappear tamoxifen is much better.)
My gynecomastia is not very advanced at all but it is enough that I've noticed a definite change in my chest. I'm really disappointed too because I started propecia at a low dose -- .5mg/day. I've reduced it even further to .5mg every other day and my gynecomastia has not reversed but seems to have increased. I'm a very lean/muscular guy. I hardly have any fat on my body. I certainly never had anything resembling gynecomastia before I took finasteride. This drug has certainly played with my hormonal levels. If I return to taking finasteride I think I'll do so at .5mg every third day. I'm very confident that level will still afford my hair some protection. I've only been on propecia for 3 months.
Right now I think my choices are to: 1) stop finasteride altogether and see if my gyno goes away by itself, 2) stop finasteride until my gynecomastia goes away and then resume finasteride at a lower dosage, 3) continue taking finasteride but at a lower dosage and also take something to battle the gynecomastia or 4) stop finasteride for now, take something to battle the gynecomastia until it goes away and then begin to take finasteride at a lower dosage.
What do you all recommend? And do you think I should take DIM, tamoxifen or some other product?
