estrogen & Testosterone - The importance of managing both

Monitoring estrogen levels is crucial when undergoing Testosterone Therapy. Testosterone can be converted into estrogen in the body through a process called aromatization. As Testosterone Therapy increases the amount of Testosterone in the body, in some poeple this also leads to an increase in aromatization.

If estrogen levels become too high, this can lead to issues such as water retention, mood swings, and even more serious health risks like cardiovascular problems. On the other hand, low estrogen levels can cause symptoms like bone density loss and can also crash your mood and energy levels. Therefore, maintaining a balanced level of estrogen is essential for optimizing the benefits of testosterone therapy while minimizing potential side effects.

At ALPHA, we monitor Estradiol (the blood marker for Estrogen), in every set of labs, and we run labs at week 0, 8, and then every 12 weeks to keep your levels in check. If estrogen levels get out of balance, or our patients are experiencing symptoms associated with excess estrogen (such as nipple sensitivity, bloating, or mood swings), then our clinical providers can prescribe an additional medication named Anastrozole, which is an aromatase inhibitor. This oral medication is taken in conjunction with testosterone therapy by those susceptible to increased estrogen levels, and will inhibit the conversion of testosterone into estrogen, preserving more testosterone for use by the body, and keeping you feeling your best.