Gynecomastia and bodybuilding
Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of the breast in men with hypertrophy of the glands and adipose tissue.
The most common causes of gynecomastia in bodybuilding:
- Steroids
- Fatness
- Adolescence
- Other diseases accompanied by a decrease in testosterone levels and an increase in estrogen levels
- Bodybuilding by itself does not cause the development of gynecomastia
- Sports nutrition (non-hormonal) does not cause gynecomastia
- Gynecomastia does not lead to breast cancer
- Gynecomastia is not related to steroids if it occurs some time after the cycle
- Gynecomastia is much easier and safer to prevent than to treat
- Prevention of gynecomastia during the steroid cycle is reduced to taking aromatase inhibitors!
Gynecomastia and steroids
Many anabolic steroids undergo a process of aromatization with the formation of female sex hormones - estrogens (mainly estradiol), less often the cause may be prolactin and progestogens. When a sufficiently large amount of female hormones accumulates in an athlete's body, he begins to notice side effects such as female-type adipose tissue deposition, swelling due to fluid retention and gynecomastia.
Not all athletes using steroids show gynecomastia and other hyperestrogenism phenomena, since everyone has different sensitivity to the female hormone estradiol. For some, undesirable effects may occur even from 10 mg of Danabol per day. While others will not have such problems from 1 g of testosterone per week. It depends on the genetic data determining aromatase activity.
It is usually easy to determine the onset of the disease. If you feel irritation in the area of the mammary glands, itching around the nipples, palpable swelling under the nipple, and/or transparent discharge occurs from the nipples, then this most likely indicates gynecomastia.
Not all athletes using steroids show gynecomastia and other hyperestrogenism phenomena, since everyone has different sensitivity to the female hormone estradiol. For some, undesirable effects may occur even from 10 mg of Danabol per day. While others will not have such problems from 1 g of testosterone per week. It depends on the genetic data determining aromatase activity.
- Drugs that turn into estrogens: testosterone (all esters), methandrostenolone (danabol), methyltestosterone.
- Progestin drugs that increase prolactin: nandrolone, trenbolone.
It is usually easy to determine the onset of the disease. If you feel irritation in the area of the mammary glands, itching around the nipples, palpable swelling under the nipple, and/or transparent discharge occurs from the nipples, then this most likely indicates gynecomastia.
Treatment and prevention
There are drugs to avoid gynecomastia - antiestrogens. The most popular of these is Tamoxifen (Nolvadex), because it is inexpensive, easily available and highly effective. The mechanism of action of Tamoxifen is to block estrogen receptors. There is an analogue of Tamoxifen - Clomiphene, with the same mechanism of action.
Usually 10 mg of Tamoxifen per day is enough to prevent gynecomastia. "Attention" There is evidence that the drug can reduce the effectiveness of anabolic steroids, so during the course it is better to use aromatase inhibitors (an enzyme that converts male sex hormones into female ones): Anastrozole (Arimidex), Letrozole (Femara), Exemestane (Aromasin). These drugs do not block estrogen receptors, but interfere with the synthesis of estrogens. At the end of the course, you should switch to Tamoxifen, since it has a better ability to restore its own secretion of sex hormones, which are suppressed by taking anabolic drugs.
Recently, the 6-OXO supplement has become widespread, which is available in sports nutrition stores. 6-OXO irreversibly blocks the aromatase enzyme and prevents the formation of estrogens.
While there are many methods to prevent gynecomastia, there is only one method to get rid of it - surgery. As a rule, during the operation, an incision is made at the border of the nipple and the hypertrophied tissue is resected. Liposaxation is then used to remove excess adipose tissue. The operation leaves almost no traces. Light exercises are allowed from the second week, and full recovery occurs after 4-6 weeks.
Usually 10 mg of Tamoxifen per day is enough to prevent gynecomastia. "Attention" There is evidence that the drug can reduce the effectiveness of anabolic steroids, so during the course it is better to use aromatase inhibitors (an enzyme that converts male sex hormones into female ones): Anastrozole (Arimidex), Letrozole (Femara), Exemestane (Aromasin). These drugs do not block estrogen receptors, but interfere with the synthesis of estrogens. At the end of the course, you should switch to Tamoxifen, since it has a better ability to restore its own secretion of sex hormones, which are suppressed by taking anabolic drugs.
Recently, the 6-OXO supplement has become widespread, which is available in sports nutrition stores. 6-OXO irreversibly blocks the aromatase enzyme and prevents the formation of estrogens.
While there are many methods to prevent gynecomastia, there is only one method to get rid of it - surgery. As a rule, during the operation, an incision is made at the border of the nipple and the hypertrophied tissue is resected. Liposaxation is then used to remove excess adipose tissue. The operation leaves almost no traces. Light exercises are allowed from the second week, and full recovery occurs after 4-6 weeks.
Gynecomastia and obesity
Gynecomastia in obesity is associated with the fact that the conversion of male sex hormones into female hormones occurs mostly in adipose tissue, respectively, in obesity, the presence of a large amount of adipose tissue leads to a more intensive conversion.
Most often, obesity does not cause true gynecomastia, but pseudohynecomastia, which is characterized by an accumulation of adipose tissue in the mammary glands, without glandular tissue hypertrophy.
Treatment and prevention
The main preventive measures are reduced to weight loss and surgical treatment for severe forms.
Most often, obesity does not cause true gynecomastia, but pseudohynecomastia, which is characterized by an accumulation of adipose tissue in the mammary glands, without glandular tissue hypertrophy.
Treatment and prevention
The main preventive measures are reduced to weight loss and surgical treatment for severe forms.
Anabolic and anti-catabolic effects of clenbuterol
Gynecomastia in adolescents
During puberty, there is often a painful thickening of the mammary glands, which then spontaneously disappears. This is due to the age-related rise in testosterone levels. The size of the breast enlargement can be different — from 1 to 10 cm. The average size is about 4 cm.
Anabolic drugs may only be used by a doctor's prescription and are contraindicated in children. The information provided does not call for the use or distribution of potent substances and is aimed solely at reducing the risk of complications and side effects.