Testosterone and Predispositions?

[Gadawg]

This is something Ive been thinking about lately because some things dont make a lot of sense to me. Here's my case:

I had terrible cystic acne in high school. It lasted for years until finally I did a six month bout of accutane and it went away entirely. I also have had gynocomastia twice in my life. Bad enough that I still have very large, hard lumps behind both nipples. The first time was around 12-13 years old during puberty. Later, it came back up when I was 21 years old. It flared up so badly on one side that I was sent to get a mammogram to check for breast cancer. (Im sure Ill get hammered for that but I can take it. Lol)

Now, having said that, on paper I should be someone who has huge sides from testosterone (or so I would think anyway) but I dont. I can run 200-250 mg per week with no AI and get zero sides. At 500mg and 1mg of adex, all I get is a couple zits on shoulders.

So what causes the issues at other times? Is it prolactin that caused gyno at those other times (one of which that seems so random). Is testosterone so unbelievably high in puberty that I just aromstized that much into estrogen? Anybody have a real deep working knowledge of this type of thing? I realize that without bloodwork from all these periods it is all speculation, but it doesnt make a lot of sense to me.

I have a very high SHBG number if that helps in any way.

 

[Viduus]

I’m curious on this as well. I haven’t seen much about how the body regulates aromatase production or what determines the DHT/E2 ratio results from it.

 

[Trump]

Ask Hulk to research it for you, save a lot of leg work

 

[deejeff442]

Puberty ? Just a thought

 

[Straight30weight]

I too had horrible acne in my teen years, and also did 6 months of accutane. I shaved my head when I was about 18 and it never came back (well most of it didn’t come back). When I was 30 the acne came back, more accutane. And now at 41 I have acne again. I’ll never touch accutane again, so whatever I get I’ll have to deal with. But I too run test with no ai, even when I did run it at 500. No issues.

 

[Trump]

No issues except acne??

I too had horrible acne in my teen years, and also did 6 months of accutane. I shaved my head when I was about 18 and it never came back (well most of it didn’t come back). When I was 30 the acne came back, more accutane. And now at 41 I have acne again. I’ll never touch accutane again, so whatever I get I’ll have to deal with. But I too run test with no ai, even when I did run it at 500. No issues.

 

[Straight30weight]

No issues except acne??

The acne isn’t test related. I ran a cycle like 2 years ago, no acne. I’ve been on trt a few years, acne is just now coming back

 

[bigdog]

hormones affect our body differently at different ages I think. I have a good buddy that had bad gyno when we were in middle/high school. he lifts today and uses test with no AI at trt dose either and his chest looks damn good. never had surgery, it just changed as we got older. crazy stuff our bodies do!

 

[Trump]

Side effect of high e though ain’t it?

The acne isn’t test related. I ran a cycle like 2 years ago, no acne. I’ve been on trt a few years, acne is just now coming back

 

[bigdog]

Side effect of high e though ain’t it?

it is but not everyone gets it. my e2 got elevated last run and I never had any acne at all. I did cry watching hallmark movies though:32 (18):

 

[Straight30weight]

Side effect of high e though ain’t it?

E always comes back on the low end, even without an ai. So I don’t know?

 

[hulksmash]

This is something Ive been thinking about lately because some things dont make a lot of sense to me. Here's my case:

I had terrible cystic acne in high school. It lasted for years until finally I did a six month bout of accutane and it went away entirely. I also have had gynocomastia twice in my life. Bad enough that I still have very large, hard lumps behind both nipples. The first time was around 12-13 years old during puberty. Later, it came back up when I was 21 years old. It flared up so badly on one side that I was sent to get a mammogram to check for breast cancer. (Im sure Ill get hammered for that but I can take it. Lol)

Now, having said that, on paper I should be someone who has huge sides from testosterone (or so I would think anyway) but I dont. I can run 200-250 mg per week with no AI and get zero sides. At 500mg and 1mg of adex, all I get is a couple zits on shoulders.

So what causes the issues at other times? Is it prolactin that caused gyno at those other times (one of which that seems so random). Is testosterone so unbelievably high in puberty that I just aromstized that much into estrogen? Anybody have a real deep working knowledge of this type of thing? I realize that without bloodwork from all these periods it is all speculation, but it doesnt make a lot of sense to me.

I have a very high SHBG number if that helps in any way.

1. If getting a few zits on 500mg Test+1mg Adex is considered "low sides", then I'm thanking God for zero acne until 1g of Test+no AI.

2. Acne prevalence with or without AAS is due to sebum. How much your sebaceous glands make in any scenario is genetics. Also, sebaceous glands help thermoregulation, photoprotection, possibly Vitamin D production, AND your immune system.

Hormones can cause an increase in sebum production. The problem? Sebaceous glands are affected by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, hormones, and more. Science has not yet identified concrete variables as the causes of sebaceous glands creating sebum.

We don't know. I listed a few possible rulers over sebaceous glands. Estrogen is stupidly echoed in AAS forums as the cause of acne with AAS usage, so stop listening to ANYONE that just says "estrogen". I hope my knowledge crusade changes the AAS forum arenas.

2. The gyno? Prolactin is a culprit. So is estradiol and other estrogenic compounds in your body. Too many variables to know.

It's your genetics. I can say that and be telling the truth. I know it's a bit of a blanket statement, but gene research is ongoing.

 

[Trump]

Could be the trenemas

E always comes back on the low end, even without an ai. So I don’t know?

 

[hulksmash]

Side effect of high e though ain’t it?

No no no no

Estradiol is a better cause to the gyno versus the acne; estradiol and its substrates would be one of the later things I'd make the suspect.

And is there any way in hell we can stop saying "estrogen"?? Estrogen is a GROUP, not a specific thing like estradiol!! My estro rant is now over

 

[Rhino99]

I too had horrible acne in my teen years, and also did 6 months of accutane. I shaved my head when I was about 18 and it never came back (well most of it didn’t come back). When I was 30 the acne came back, more accutane. And now at 41 I have acne again. I’ll never touch accutane again, so whatever I get I’ll have to deal with. But I too run test with no ai, even when I did run it at 500. No issues.

https://www.alldaychemist.com/salicylix.html

 

[Trump]

I said high E so you can get down off ya high horse before you fall off it. So high E can not cause acne then??

No no no no

Estradiol is a better cause to the gyno versus the acne; estradiol and its substrates would be one of the later things I'd make the suspect.

And is there any way in hell we can stop saying "estrogen"?? Estrogen is a GROUP, not a specific thing like estradiol!! My estro rant is now over

 

[HollyWoodCole]

No no no no

Estradiol is a better cause to the gyno versus the acne; estradiol and its substrates would be one of the later things I'd make the suspect.

And is there any way in hell we can stop saying "estrogen"?? Estrogen is a GROUP, not a specific thing like estradiol!! My estro rant is now over

Learned something today, thanks HS.

 

[hulksmash]

I said high E so you can get down off ya high horse before you fall off it. So high E can not cause acne then??

Oh Trump-my writing tone made me sound like an asshole, as usuaml. I was saying that in a playful manner, my apologies for comin across as an asshole.

Estradiol and its substrates CAN cause acne via sebaceous gland pathway. However, other variables, including male hormones, affect sebum production more than estrogens.

 

[PillarofBalance]

1. If getting a few zits on 500mg Test+1mg Adex is considered "low sides", then I'm thanking God for zero acne until 1g of Test+no AI.

2. Acne prevalence with or without AAS is due to sebum. How much your sebaceous glands make in any scenario is genetics. Also, sebaceous glands help thermoregulation, photoprotection, possibly Vitamin D production, AND your immune system.

Hormones can cause an increase in sebum production. The problem? Sebaceous glands are affected by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, hormones, and more. Science has not yet identified concrete variables as the causes of sebaceous glands creating sebum.

We don't know. I listed a few possible rulers over sebaceous glands. Estrogen is stupidly echoed in AAS forums as the cause of acne with AAS usage, so stop listening to ANYONE that just says "estrogen". I hope my knowledge crusade changes the AAS forum arenas.

2. The gyno? Prolactin is a culprit. So is estradiol and other estrogenic compounds in your body. Too many variables to know.

It's your genetics. I can say that and be telling the truth. I know it's a bit of a blanket statement, but gene research is ongoing.

You have 2 number 2's but prolactin causing gyno - please demonstrate.

 

[PillarofBalance]

This is something Ive been thinking about lately because some things dont make a lot of sense to me. Here's my case:

I had terrible cystic acne in high school. It lasted for years until finally I did a six month bout of accutane and it went away entirely. I also have had gynocomastia twice in my life. Bad enough that I still have very large, hard lumps behind both nipples. The first time was around 12-13 years old during puberty. Later, it came back up when I was 21 years old. It flared up so badly on one side that I was sent to get a mammogram to check for breast cancer. (Im sure Ill get hammered for that but I can take it. Lol)

Now, having said that, on paper I should be someone who has huge sides from testosterone (or so I would think anyway) but I dont. I can run 200-250 mg per week with no AI and get zero sides. At 500mg and 1mg of adex, all I get is a couple zits on shoulders.

So what causes the issues at other times? Is it prolactin that caused gyno at those other times (one of which that seems so random). Is testosterone so unbelievably high in puberty that I just aromstized that much into estrogen? Anybody have a real deep working knowledge of this type of thing? I realize that without bloodwork from all these periods it is all speculation, but it doesnt make a lot of sense to me.

I have a very high SHBG number if that helps in any way.

Something like 30% of males experience pubertal gyno and if someone makes fun of you about it I will temp ban them it's not funny

Some of us, me are more fortunate. At a total test of 600 my estradiol is <10. My Endo asked if she scripted me adex. I just don't aromatize for whatever reason.

Genetics plays a huge role. It's why boards like this exist. I can run grams and have no sides versus some dudes who run 250 test and get acne bloating and tiddies.

Just put thought into controlling e2 when you are on