Estrogen receptors, as well as aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen, are abundant in brain, penis, and testis, organs important for sexual function. As noted in a 2016 study:Įstradiol in men is essential for modulating libido, erectile function, and spermatogenesis. Of course, the brain is also a vital part of sexual health, and estrogen levels in both the brain and the testicles are instrumental in the functioning of the libido, sexual performance, and reproductive capacity. As one study on estrogen inhibitors pointed out, “Men with estrogen deficiency caused by a mutation in the CYP19 gene suffer from low bone mineral density (BMD) and unfused epiphyses.” (The latter part is the rounded part of a long bone not having it fused can lead to serious mobility issues.) This does not mean that estrogen inhibitors will necessarily hurt bone density, but it is an example of the importance of estrogen to structural health.Įqually interesting is the role estrogen plays in the brain, where it works as a neuroregulator, helping to promote impulse control and curb anti-social behavior. Much like in women, estrogen is important to bone health in men. It is produced in a man’s skin, brain, bones, and testicles-so we can already guess that it is pretty important. In fact, estrogen is found throughout a man’s body. But it also does similar things, to different levels, in a man’s body. We all know that estrogen plays a pivotal role in a woman’s body, regulating the reproductive cycle, protecting bone density, and even regulating mood. Often, there are better, healthier, and more effective ways to improve the symptoms of low testosterone. The truth is that estrogen is an important hormone for men’s health, and artificially blocking it is usually unnecessary or ill-advised. But even if men succeed in lowering their estrogen levels with these supplements, they may find that the effects of low estrogen may actually worsen their symptoms and bring new side effects along for the ride. For starters, even the most popular OTC estrogen blockers, such as diindolylmethane (DIM) supplements, have only limited evidence of efficacy, and scientists know practically nothing about their potential long-term health effects. At best, these supplements are ineffective and at worst, they put you at risk of serious health problems. Not only is this wrong-headed, it is also potentially dangerous. It doesn’t help that some supplement companies actively encourage this thinking by marketing estrogen blockers as a miraculous shortcut to weight loss, lean muscle gain, and a higher sex drive. The thinking is that because estrogen is a “female hormone,” it inhibits them from being stronger, leaner, and more virile. The problem is that some men take unregulated OTC supplements marketed as estrogen blockers for men to ostensibly boost testosterone to increase muscle mass, workout abilities, and energy. They’re also used (again, with a prescription) to help fight breast cancer. With proper medical supervision, estrogen blockers can have meaningful benefits, including increasing testosterone and even reversing infertility. These drugs do have legitimate therapeutic uses, particularly for men with low testosterone and genuinely excessive levels of estrogen. Multiple types of estrogen blockers exist, including selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) such as anastrozole. What are Estrogen Blockers Used for in Men?Įstrogen modulators, sometimes called anti-estrogens or estrogen blockers, are a group of compounds that suppress the body’s estrogen production or block estrogen from binding to receptors. This, in turn, has spurred the growth of over-the-counter estrogen blockers for men, which can cause harmful side effects and confuse the sometimes-genuine need for estrogen moderation. Of course, such logic is scientifically inaccurate, but that hasn’t stopped people from thinking that estrogen is something men should avoid. If women and men are so different-indeed, dimorphic-then hormones thatĪre more prevalent for women must be bad for men. For another, it promotes dangerous thinking about For one, it erasesĬomplexity of sex and gender. Truth to that, but that kind of thinking does a few things. Scientific extension of bad standup comedy: hey, did you know that men and And while there were some cute parts to it, it was a sort-of The early 90s, a book called Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus wasĪ huge sensation.
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