Antiestrogens

Antiestrogens are drugs that are actively used in power sports and bodybuilding. The use of antiestrogens on the steroid course is explained by the need to prevent or reduce the side effects of anabolics associated with the formation of estradiol from testosterone and its derivatives. In PCT, antiestrogens help restore the synthesis of endogenous testosterone by enhancing the production of the luteinizing hormone of the pituitary gland and normalizing the functioning of the entire genital arch (hypothalamus-pituitary-testes).

Aromatase Inhibitors: Antiestrogens on Course
The relevance of the use of antiestrogens on the course, together with androgen-anabolic steroids, is explained by the fact that when the concentration of testosterone in the blood increases, the excess steroid under the action of the aromatase enzyme turns into estrone, and then into estradiol. An increase in the concentration of estradiol in the male body is fraught with the development of negative consequences, among which the most unpleasant are:

• Gynecomastia;
• Water retention;
• Decreased muscle relief
• Decreased AAS concentration in the blood;
• Estrogen suppression of the axis of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testes.

To prevent the above negative effects of the steroid course, antiestrogens from the group of aromatase inhibitors are used. These substances block an enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol. The use of aromatase inhibitors significantly reduces the risk of side effects and enhances the production of testosterone by reducing estrogen suppression of the genital arch.

Aromatase inhibitors include the following drugs from the group of antiestrogens:

• Letrozole (Letroza, Loreta, Femara);
• Anastrozole (Egistrazole, Anastrazole Kabi, Selana);
• Exemestane.

The decision to take aromatase inhibitors should be made after laboratory testing of the level of sex hormones. When using short esters of testosterone and methandrostenolone, it is advisable to do the analysis on the tenth day of the course. When using long esters (cypionate, enanthate), analysis is recommended at 3-4 weeks of the course.

Athletes practicing pharmacological support, it is important to understand that not all synthetic steroids are exposed to aromatase and converted to estradiol. Only so-called “aromatizing” steroids turn into estrogens, which include methandrostenolone and testosterone (all forms - enanthate, cypionate, propionate).

Anabolic steroids such as turinabol, nandrolone, stanozolol, oxandrolone, trenbolone, primobolan, masteron, oxymetholone do not aromatize. The use of these anabolics does not lead to an increase in the level of estradiol in the blood, which makes it inappropriate (and pointless) to use aromatase inhibitors on the course.

It should also be borne in mind that some anabolic steroids themselves have negligible estrogenic activity. These include oxymetholone, nandrolone, trenbolone. It is undesirable to include in the course of more than one anabolic with estrogenic activity. Together with these steroids, it is advisable to use stanozolol (Winstrol), which itself has antiestrogenic and antiprogestagenic properties.