Hormone imbalances - which side effect is due to the loss of which hormone?

[Evolver]

I was recently doing some research online in an attempt to arm myself with enough relevant information to enable me to adequately add to a thread on another forum. I came across an article that I hadn’t seen before (turns out it’s pretty new). It describes the side effects typically experienced by men undergoing Androgen Deprivation Therapy as part of their regime to deal with advanced prostate cancer. ADT is designed to knock out testosterone which feeds PCa, but due to aromatization, it also results in an 80% loss of the small but significant amount of estradiol in men.
 
As we know, hormone imbalances (or our individual ‘stew’) result in all sorts of things, including gynecomastia. This in itself is not new, whether the imbalances result naturally, medically or surgically. What I didn’t completely know until now is which hormone, specifically the lack of it, is responsible for each side effect. I have known for a long time that hot flashes are due to a lack of estrogen, not testosterone, for example. Same with osteoporosis and cognitive function. But I didn’t know that reduced E levels were also the culprit for weight gain and joint pain!

I know that several of us here have dealt with hormone imbalances FOR WHATEVER REASON including age related reductions in T and the commensurate loss of E (again, 80% of your E is aromatized from T). I hope that Table 1 near the top of this article might come in handy for y’all, to explain why you might be experiencing certain things and not others.

I’m also beginning to think that E is more important than T for men in their senior years.

Anyway, I hope you find this handy, even it is not specifically aimed at gynecomastia ‘sufferers’. 😉


Loss of Estradiol by Androgen Deprivation in Prostate Cancer Patients Shows the Importance of Estrogens in Males | Journal of the Endocrine Society | Oxford Academic

[JJ_Gyne]

Ok so I don't know about anyone else but I go through the table and can relate to almost everyone that has a E by it.
Guess I should be taking a regimen of E.

Weight gain (E)
Gynecomastia (T & E)
Hot flashes & sweating (E)
Arthralgia (joint pain); (E)
Loss of bone, decreased BMD and increased fracture risk (E)
Metabolic syndrome (E)
Increased cardiovascular risk (loss of E)
Fatigue (T & E)
Sleeping problems (T & E)
Loss of energy (T & E)
Apathy (T & E)
Mood changes and depression (E)
Cognition and memory problems (E)

[WPW717]

My roller coaster ride with MEN 4 syndrome involved it all. It caused a rapid advance of osteoporosis for a total of 5 reasons. The docs were so compartmented no one saw a need to treat me. I finally got one to prescribe E low dose. What a difference! I am really surprised that my mental and emotional state remained so good during this period. I am even happier now that I have the hormone . Many unusual changes with this syndrome. Hair, skin, bones & strength ( loss )
The chemotherapy for the cranial tumor was no fun but that’s over now.

[Justagirl💃]

My PMDS (diagnosis late in life) causing my intersex condition caused breasts and birthing hips in my teens, but caused little to no major problems until my 50's where night sweats and hot flashes became my daily routine. 
The doctor floated the idea of birth control pills but later decided to let things play out. My condition does place me at risk for bone deterioration like osteoporosis. But according to him, that's common in people my age anyway.
Hormonal imbalances also caused lactation, but they took a sit back and wait approach to that as well.
Basically he said "you were born that way, let nature play itself out" approach.

[WPW717]

Birdie needs a new doc !

[50/50]

All I know is that I developed a hormonal imbalance and the doctor did several tests.
In 6 years time I grew a very healthy set of boobs. One a little bigger than the other.
Im not going to do any kind of synthetic hormone therapy and no more tests.
As per my mammogram my boobs are healthy but just big for a man.
I have learned to hide them, accentuate them and protect them.
I am leaving it at that....it is what it is.

I’m at a happy place with it all now.😃👍

[Justagirl💃]

Birdie needs a new doc !

Yes I do. This doctor believes EVERYTHING can be addressed with proper diet alone. 

Proper diet is of course VERY important, but some things require medical intervention that they aren't too keen on providing. 

Pain meds other than Tylenol are never prescribed as the doctor stated, "there doesn't exist pain that Tylenol won't handle. I don't prescribe pain medications."

My recent scare of tumors on my liver (benign) were addressed by telling me liver cancer is mostly incurable, so they would only provide comfort care. Thank God they were not cancerous!

I can't wait to move to Oregon and change doctors. 

[Evolver]

Ok so I don't know about anyone else but I go through the table and can relate to almost everyone that has a E by it.

It was a few years ago now that it was suggested to me that I would probably end up on Androgen Deprivation Therapy one day. I'm still not there yet, but I've done plenty of ongoing research since then. Warned about a couple of the nasty side effects by my doctor, I discovered many more, and compiled a list of things that I was willing to tolerate (like gynecomastia and atrophy, etc.) and the things that I wanted to avoid (like hot flashes, cognitive issues and poor mental health). I had no idea back then that it wasn't just a lack of testosterone from ADT that caused all the side effects. It just so happens that all of the side effects that I am desperate to avoid are all due to a lack of estrogen! This was purely coincidental.

I firmly believe that to maintain good health, estrogen is vastly underappreciated, particularly in men.