Re: DIM to lower estrogen? Does it help?

[Guest guest]

Well, Avodart definitely has erectile dysfunction as a side effect,

so that may be the most likely explanation for lack of morning wood,

rather than your estrogen level.

Are you by chance also significantly overweight?

If you have an E2 level of 47, and have gynecomastia, and a doctor

who refuses to consider trying an aromatase inhibitor, then I'd

suggest you find a doctor who specializes in this area who may be

more up-to-date than your current one. I'm assuming when you

say " estrogen was 47 " you mean estradiol (E2), not total estrogens.

While it's true that many men have an E2 level of 47 without having

gynecomastia, that doesn't mean it wouldn't a benefit, in your

particular case, to reduce it to, say, 20.

I think most in here would consider an E2 level of 47 to be too high

for a 27 year-old man.

As for DIM to reduce E2, I just don't know.

>

> I'm 27 -- never wake up with erections, not much of a sex

drive,etc.

> Seems to have changed more over the past year or two.

>

> I've been on Avodart (Dutasteride) for hair loss. I know this has

> some side effects, but I don't want to stop taking it. I also have

> sleep apnea.

>

> My test levels were 559

> Estrogen was 47

> Free test 17.2

>

> What do these results indicate, in your opinion? I also have gyne

> that started at like 13. I want to try an anti-estrogen. My doctor

> almost laughed cause I'm within the " normal " range.

>

> Anyone have good experience with DIM?

>

[Guest guest]

DIM works to help the body rid itself of dangerous estrogen

metabolites and in doing so can help to lower E2. It's pretty much

proven to be able to do it but not to the extent of Arimidex, etc.

Your problem is most likely the Avodart! It is a very powerful DHT

blocker just

like finasteride. Many men forget that Testosterone is not the only

androgen and it isn't even the most potent one. DHT is the most potent

androgen in the male body and also works in concert with testosterone

to drive libido and erections. I'm almost certain, without knowing

whether estrogen is total estrogens or just estradiol, that Avodart is

causing your problem. If I were you I would stay away from very

dangerous drugs like dutasteride and go with a topical treatment for

hair loss.

>

> I'm 27 -- never wake up with erections, not much of a sex drive,etc.

> Seems to have changed more over the past year or two.

>

> I've been on Avodart (Dutasteride) for hair loss. I know this has

> some side effects, but I don't want to stop taking it. I also have

> sleep apnea.

>

> My test levels were 559

> Estrogen was 47

> Free test 17.2

>

> What do these results indicate, in your opinion? I also have gyne

> that started at like 13. I want to try an anti-estrogen. My doctor

> almost laughed cause I'm within the " normal " range.

>

> Anyone have good experience with DIM?

>

[Guest guest]

Dutasteride blocks both 5 alpha reductase 1 & 2 enzymes (which convert

testosterone to DHT). That lowers dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

significantly, which can cause erectile dysfunction. Likewise, high

estrogen (which one? there are three major ones, estradiol considered

the " strongest " ) can cause ED. I visited a well-reputed endo in

Monterey, CA- DR. Romeo no- who mentioned that blocking the

conversion of T to DHT can favor the conversion of testosterone to

estrogen/estradiol. Which may account for your elevated estradiol.

(By the way, recent studies show an estradiol/E2 result of over 35

pg/mL doubles the risk of stroke. As you suspect, normal doesn't

equal optimal or healthy.)

Going off dutasteride might help restore things to normal. You might

want to try this before experimenting with anti-estrogens - they can

be hard to gauge the effective/safe dose.

~Xian

> >

> > I'm 27 -- never wake up with erections, not much of a sex

> drive,etc.

> > Seems to have changed more over the past year or two.

> >

> > I've been on Avodart (Dutasteride) for hair loss. I know this has

> > some side effects, but I don't want to stop taking it. I also have

> > sleep apnea.

> >

> > My test levels were 559

> > Estrogen was 47

> > Free test 17.2

> >

> > What do these results indicate, in your opinion? I also have gyne

> > that started at like 13. I want to try an anti-estrogen. My doctor

> > almost laughed cause I'm within the " normal " range.

> >

> > Anyone have good experience with DIM?

> >

>