An increase in prolactin concentration is a common side effect during an AAS cycle. Find out how to prevent an increase in female hormones on a steroid cycle. Before you start using steroids, you must understand that it must be done carefully, following all instructions and requirements. If you treat the sports farm frivolously, then you will not only not get the expected result, but also harm the body.
Although today a lot of information can be found on the net about how to use the AAS correctly, there are still athletes who ignore all the recommendations. As a result, they have certain health problems.
Basically, the negative effects of anabolic steroids are associated with hormonal imbalance. The concentration of testosterone decreases, and the level of female hormones (estrogen, prolactin and progesterone) increases. A lot has already been said about how to deal with estrogens, and you should not dwell on this. The situation is a little worse with progesterone, but still there is information about the main ways to reduce the level of this substance. Today we will talk about what needs to be done when increasing prolactin on a steroid cycle.
What is prolactin?
Prolactin is a breast hormone and can be a big problem for you. Although it is strictly a female hormone, it is also found in minimal quantities in the male body. If his concentration increases sharply, then various unpleasant moments will arise, which we will talk about later.
By and large, prolactin in the male body is superfluous. In women, it is responsible for lactation, and in men, it has some effect on sexual desire. When the level of prolactin is low, then you will not notice this, however, if it even slightly exceeds the normal value, negative phenomena are possible.
First of all, this affects all the same sex drive and potency. The higher the concentration of the hormone in the blood of a man, the lower the libido and potency. At the same time, it is important to remember about the individual characteristics of the organism. In one man, even a serious increase in concentration can lead only to a slight decrease in libido, while in another, even a slight excess of the limit level sharply discourages all desires for women.
Of course, these changes will immediately be followed by psychological problems. Also note that when the hormonal balance is restored, then all problems are eliminated quickly enough.
Reasons for an increase in prolactin levels
Let's say right away that the level of prolactin can increase without the use of AAS. This is due to various factors that can be congenital and acquired. Let's deal with everything in order.
Acquired (congenital) causes
Let's start with those reasons that are not related to the use of a sports farm:
- Diseases of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus;
- Diseases of the kidneys and liver;
- Autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus
- Vitamin B6 deficiency;
- Severe stress;
- High concentration of other female hormones (estradiol and progesterone).
If your prolactin concentration has increased, and you do not use anabolic steroids, then the reason for this is indicated above. You need to check the functioning of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, liver and kidneys. Also check your body's vitamin B6 content.
Particular attention should be paid to stressful situations, although they seem to be the most harmless. Often it is stress that leads to disruption of the hormonal system. It should be remembered, however, that stress does not have to be psychological. Often, prolactin levels can rise as a result of vigorous exercise, sleep problems, or insufficient nutrition. An equally common cause of an increase in prolactin is a malfunction of the thyroid gland. If you have been diagnosed with high levels of hormones produced by this body, then treatment should be started. And in conclusion, it should be said that gynecomastia can also lead to an increase in the concentration of prolactin.
Increased prolactin associated with AAS use
It should be recognized that an increase in concentration for the reasons indicated above is quite rare. In athletes, in most cases, all problems are associated with the thoughtless use of AAS. To a greater extent, this applies to steroids with progestogenic properties - Nandrolone, Trenbolone, Boldenone and Oxymetholone.
We will not talk today about all the mechanisms that contribute to an increase in the concentration of prolactin. Most athletes are less interested in this. You only need to remember a few points. First of all, this concerns the delivery of tests before the start, during the course and at the end of the course.
When the concentration of prolactin is high even before the start of the cycle, then you cannot use the drugs that we just talked about. If you use steroids in low doses, you should still get tested during your cycle. So you can observe the state of your body and instantly react when negative moments appear.
Take an analysis two weeks after the start of the cycle for prolactin content. If the concentration of the hormone is high, start taking Cabergoline in the amount of one tablet every seven days. This will help you lower your prolactin levels.
What to do if prolactin levels are high?
If you do not use AAS, then you need to check the performance of the organs, which we have already discussed. At the same time, you should not neglect the analysis of the level of vitamin B6, although for you this may not seem like a significant reason. Also, protect yourself from stress as much as possible, although this is quite difficult in modern life.
If you are using anabolic steroids, then immediately start taking Cabergoline. This medication can be purchased at the pharmacy. Recall that the dosage of the drug is one tablet per week. You should also remember that estrogen and prolactin levels are closely related. For this reason, check the concentration of estradiol. In addition, the level of estrogen can increase due to the gain of fat mass.
Learn more about prolactin in this video:
