Estrogenic Steroids
Aromatization
Ultimately, we return to aromatization, the original cause of the estrogenic side effects that can surface with anabolic steroid use.
It is often a much better idea to take preventive measures rather than reactive ones.
After all, the cost of using Aromatase Inhibitors or SERMs during a cycle can become an additional expense in the long run.
Furthermore, the chronic use of anti-estrogens has its own negative effects, such as bone problems, joint pain/issues, and even reduced IGF-1 levels, which diminishes the potential gains of a cycle.
The more drugs included in a cycle, the greater the complications.
To practice preventive measures effectively, it is crucial to understand the nature of the cause and what can be done to control the situation from the start without anti-estrogens.
However, it is important to note that you should always have SERMs and AIs on hand throughout an anabolic steroid cycle in case estrogenic side effects become an issue.
Ultimately, because low-quality anabolic steroids dominate the market, it can be very difficult to know for sure if a product contains the exact desired dose.
Some may be overdosed, some may contain aromatizing anabolic steroids with the intention of passing them off as non-aromatizing ones, and some products have even been found to be contaminated with estrogen![1]
Aromatizing Compounds
Most aromatizing androgens are direct derivatives of Testosterone.
For example, Testosterone, Boldenone (Equipoise), Dianabol (Methandrostenolone), and Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone) are three prime examples of aromatizable compounds.
In other words, all of these drugs act as recognized substrates for the aromatase enzyme.
However, not all aromatization is the same.
Some drugs have a lower rate of aromatization than others, such as Equipoise (Boldenone), which has an aromatization rate of about half that of Testosterone[2].
Deca-Durabolin is another drug with a low rate of aromatization, at a rate approximately 20% that of Testosterone[3].
Testosterone itself and Dianabol both exhibit a moderate level of aromatization[4].
Non-Aromatizing Compounds
There are numerous drugs that are not affected by the aromatase enzyme at all, because their modifications prevent the aromatase enzyme from recognizing them as a proper substrate.
Some drugs, such as Masteron, also possess anti-estrogenic activity[5],[6].
The issue is that most of these anabolic steroids are derivatives of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which itself acts as a natural anti-estrogen in the body and is not recognized by the aromatase enzyme as a proper substrate.
The following drugs do not aromatize into Estrogen at any dosage: Anadrol (Oxymetholone), Anavar (Oxandrolone), Winstrol (Stanozolol), Masteron (Drostanolone), Primobolan (Methenolone), Trenbolone, and Turinabol. However, Anadrol is a major exception on this list.
Although Anadrol is non-aromatizing and a DHT derivative, it is notorious for imposing the highest estrogenic effects on the user through a currently unknown pathway (though it is strongly hypothesized that it or its metabolites act as an Estrogen itself in various tissues).
Trenbolone is not a DHT derivative, but due to its unique chemical structure and modifications, it is completely unable to aromatize.
Precautionary Measures: TRT Doses
For individuals sensitive to aromatizing and/or estrogenic effects, it might be a wise idea to completely avoid aromatizable drugs.
However, it is a cardinal rule that Testosterone is an essential inclusion in any cycle for several important reasons.
But, it does not need to be taken in supraphysiological doses for bodybuilding purposes.
Using doses higher than normal physiological levels will significantly increase the rate of aromatization.
The solution, therefore, is to use Testosterone at a TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) dose, which is typically in the range of 100mg per week, while medical protocols recommend doses as infrequent as 250mg once every 4 weeks.
When using this strategy, someone who wants to avoid skyrocketing Estrogen levels during their anabolic steroid cycle can utilize Testosterone at the aforementioned doses while using other non-aromatizing drugs at higher, bodybuilding-range doses.
Effectively, aromatization is kept to a minimum, and the user can enjoy a cycle that allows for muscle gain with very little risk of estrogenic side effects and a low necessity for anti-estrogens throughout the cycle.
Medical References
[1] Poison In The Package. By Josh Kovner. Hartford Courant, Nov 2005
[2] Gual C, Morato T, Hayano M, Gut M, and Dorfman R. Biosynthesis of estrogens. Endocrinology 71 (1962):920-25.
[3] Gual C, Morato T, Hayano M, Gut M, and Dorfman R. Biosynthesis of estrogens. Endocrinology 71 (1962):920-25.
[4] Kruskemper, H.L., Anabolic Steroids, Academic Press, New York, 1968
[5] Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol. 1983 Sep;19(9):1231-7.
[6] Cancer Res. 1982 Nov;42(11):4408-12.
