Aromatase Inhibitors Fix the Number but Break the System, open discussion.

[dvg]

I found an article on PCOS about how androgen exposure downregulates aromatase production.

I'll have to have a look on my computer later. But it seems just taking gear makes you produce less aromatase.

It makes sense because in a male testosterone levels are governed by negative feedback on estrogen. So technically you're own body would never be able to over produce testosterone unless there was no aromatase. Hormonally active fat (visceral) has large amounts of aromatase so there will always be some sort of testosterone suppression because of the feedback loops.

Apparently there is some mechanism whereby estrogen itself upregulates the production of aromatase so taking DHT derivates or AIs kinda breaks this.

I wonder if you could restore your aromatase production naturally or somehow. PCOS is very similar so the answer probably lies there.

Doesn't nandralone increase aromatase production and estrogen receptor sensitivity because it's a progestin?

 

[bananafeet]

Doesn't nandralone increase aromatase production and estrogen receptor sensitivity because it's a progestin?

I don't have a PhD so I can't answer this.

I know progesterone blocks or antagonizes estrodial which is why it's needed in female HRT to stop uterine over growth.

I think what you're thinking of is the fact that nandralone is a partial ligand of the PR so it can activate it. So you get the synergy of estrogen plus a progestin which increases the likelihood of gyno because prolactin in raised. I don't know if it's a direct tissue effect.

But it's not a full agonist so it doesn't act like progesterone. It acts more like an endocrine dysrupter.

 

[bananafeet]

Ok quick follow up apparently I was off on a few points:
"Pro-
gesterone antagonizes estrogen-driven growth in the endometrium, and insufficient progesterone action strikingly increases the risk of endometrial cancer. In endometriosis, eutopic and ectopic tissues do not respond sufficiently to progesterone and are considered to be progesterone-resistant, which contributes to proliferation
and survival. In uterine fibroids, progesterone promotes growth by increasing proliferation, cellular hypertrophy, and deposition of extracellular matrix. In normal mammary tissue and breast cancer, progesterone is pro-proliferative and carcinogenic. "

Source:
https://sci.bban.top/pdf/10.1210/er.2012-1043.pdf

So I'm guessing in men nandralone can directly act on the breast as it's a partial ligand and in the right situation increase growth. ChatGPT seems to think it increases prolactin by reducing dopamine which makes sense because in most people nandrolone is depressive.