Anastrozole, sold under the brand name Arimidex, is an aromatase inhibitor that is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It works by lowering estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen is produced from testosterone via the aromatase enzyme. By inhibiting this enzyme, anastrozole causes testosterone levels to increase.
- Exactly how much testosterone increases can vary substantially from person to person. In studies of men using anastrozole to boost testosterone:
- Testosterone levels increased by 46-60% over the course of 6-12 months
- Free testosterone went up by 55-100%
So the boost can be quite significant. However, there are some important caveats around safety and responsible use:
- Anastrozole lowers estrogen, which can negatively impact bone density, blood lipids, mood, libido, and other health parameters in both men and women. Estrogen plays important roles in the male body. Suppressing it indefinitely is ill-advised.
- Using anastrozole continuously for a long time may not make clinical sense. Like other medicines, the body adapts to some degree and the testosterone boosting effects can decrease over time.
- There are other ways to increase testosterone that may be tried first before resorting to prescription aromatase inhibitors, such as lifestyle changes around diet, exercise, sleep, stress, vitamin D, etc.
- If using anastrozole, it should generally be done short-term such as for 2-3 months. This allows the increase in testosterone production to have beneficial effects, without putting too much downward pressure on estrogen for too long a time period.
- Objective blood testing should be done before, during, and after anastrozole use to properly monitor hormone changes and watch for side effects. Dosing can then be individualized as needed. Using a standard daily dose blindly without testing is not a good idea.
If aromatase inhibition is being considered specifically to increase testosterone, some clinical guidelines suggest the following monitored approach:
- Try natural methods and lifestyle optimization first
- If unsuccessful after 3-6 months and symptoms are significantly negatively impacting quality of life, consider a course of an aromatase inhibitor therapy
- Use the lowest effective dose
- Monitor estrogen levels and aim to keep them above 15 pg/mL during therapy
- Limit use to 3 months
- Allow at least 3 months off therapy before doing another round if needed
So in summary - Studies show anastrozole can increase testosterone substantially, sometimes even
doubling it. However for safety and efficacy reasons, it should be viewed as a
short-term option and not a continuous long-term therapy for boosting androgens. Proper medical monitoring is essential.
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Hormone Harmony clinic, we specialize in effectively and safely optimizing hormone levels to improve health and vitality. If low testosterone or high estrogen is negatively impacting your life,
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