Bodybuilding Gyno – How to Avoid Gynecomastia from Steroids
October 11, 2021
Steroids entice us with a fast and easy way to gain muscle and burn fat, but at what cost? Steroids are one of the most common ways to develop bodybuilding gyno, better known as man titties.
- What is Gynecomastia?
- Bodybuilding Gynecomastia Causes
- Why Anabolic Steroids Cause Bitch Tits
- What Steroids Have The Worst Effect
- How to Get Rid of Gyno from Steroids
- Avoid Steroids or Use Alternatives (recommend CrazyBulk supplements)
- Gyno Surgery
- Exercises
- Prescription Drugs (Nolvadex)
- Post Cycle Therapy
Did you know that an average of 30% of men will experience symptoms of gynecomastia, more commonly known as gyno or man boobs, at some point in their lives? According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, thirty percent is a generous estimate with some researchers saying this number is much higher.
One of the most common causes of gyno is steroid use. It seems ironic, right? You’re chasing after rock-hard muscle and you end up with bitch tits. If you’re considering anabolic steroids to move to the next level of swole, you could be putting yourself at risk for bodybuilding gyno.
Let’s breakdown bodybuilding gynecomastia, why steroids cause gyno, and how to get rid of bitch tits if you have them.
What is Gynecomastia?
To be blunt, gynecomastia is when a guy develops man titties. Studies define gyno as the enlargement of the tissue in the chest area in men. While it’s physically harmless, having bitch tits can cause some serious anxiety and discomfort in social situations, especially when going shirtless is a must.
Gynecomastia is caused by an excess of the hormone estrogen and a simultaneous decrease in the male-dominant hormone testosterone. We’ll expand on this more below.
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Bodybuilding Gynecomastia Causes
There are a variety of causes of gynecomastia, but here are the most commonly cited reasons:
Stress: Studies show that when times get tough, our bodies may respond by pumping out more of two hormones: estrogen, which is associated with feminine characteristics, especially breast growth, and cortisol, a catabolic hormone that can cause trouble with your testosterone levels. Low testosterone combined with high estrogen levels is a recipe for bitch tits.
Low Testosterone: In no other time in history has the medical community seen such low levels of testosterone in men around the globe. Low testosterone can be caused by a number of lifestyle choices including diet, lack of exercise, and stress. Many of the same life choices that kill testosterone levels also increase estrogen level, priming the body for gyno.
Certain Medications: Everyday medications can play a part in promoting gyno. Common culprits include antianxiety, antibiotics, antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, and ulcer medications. If you’re concerned about the side effects of your medication, chat with your doctor about a possible alternative option.
Steroid Use: Depending on which anabolic you take, gynecomastia from steroids could be a guarantee. In fact, steroid bitch tits are so common with an anabolic cycle that a post-cycle therapy supplement is a requirement in attempting to minimize the damage that’s done.
Why Anabolic Steroids Cause Bitch Tits
You get it: steroids cause man boobs. But how exactly does that happen?
There are two sex hormones in the human body: estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen is associated with feminine features such as curvy hips, a higher-pitched voice, and breasts. Testosterone is an androgenic hormone that promotes masculine traits including a deep voice, facial hair, and muscle mass.
Research shows that when a guy uses an anabolic steroid, two things happen that drive the development of gyno. First, he is providing his body with far more testosterone than it needs. In response, the body will shut down its natural production of testosterone. Second, the body will try to achieve hormonal homeostasis by elevating estrogen levels.
While you’re on a steroid cycle, you may not think much of estrogen because your testosterone is so damn high. But once you finish your cycle, look at what you’re left with: your body’s natural production of testosterone has shut down, and your estrogen levels remain sky high. What’s more, the remaining testosterone you do have has a good chance of being aromatized or converted into more estrogen!
Estrogen promotes fat storage in the areas of the hips, butt, and breasts. Guys don’t have to worry about more junk in the trunk, but they do have to worry about gynecomastia from steroids.
Which Steroids Have The Worst Effect
There are a variety of anabolic steroids on the market with varying levels of aromatization or estrogen conversion. Here are the top four steroids that most often linked with bodybuilding gyno:
Deca Durabolin: Also known as nandrolone and 19-nortestosterone, Deca Durabolin is considered the go-to steroid for bodybuilders. It has a long track record of skyrocketing nitrogen retention, boosting protein synthesis, and promoting red blood cell production. It’s ideal for mass building and muscle recovery following an aggressive training program.
Dianabol: The brand name for methandienone, also known as methandienone or methandrostenolone, Dianabol is another foundational steroid in bodybuilding. It’s just as effective, if not more so, as Deca Durabolin for building serious size. Dianabol is often used by those who are focusing on size because it promotes heavy water retention.
Anadrol: Used to treat a low red blood cell count, Anadrol (oxymetholone) is used as a stacking compound with Deca Durabolin or Dianabol. It promotes lean muscle gains and it may alleviate some of the water retention common with Dianabol.
Testosterone: Synthetic testosterone is commonly created from plant-based sources such as yams, and as a medication, it can help reverse the symptoms associated with hypogonadism and age-based low testosterone. It’s a staple of the bodybuilding world since testosterone is essential in building muscle, burning fat, and looking like a marble-cut statue.
Aside from promoting bodybuilding gyno, all four of these steroids have been shown to be liver toxic. The more you use steroids, the greater the risk of permanent damage to your liver.
How to Get Rid of Gyno from Steroids
Let’s say that you decided to try steroids and developed bitch tits. Is there anything that you can do to reduce or eliminate the appearance of your new man titties? If you want to know how to get rid of gyno from steroids, here are the most tried-and-true methods:
Avoid Steroids or Use Alternatives
The best way to avoid gyno from steroids is to not use steroids! Listen, we get it: You want serious muscle size and you want it now. Steroids seem like an easy option, but the price you pay isn’t worth it. What’s more, most guys who use steroids wind up losing their results thanks to the gyno that follows.
With that said, there are natural alternatives to anabolic steroids that deliver comparable results without the risk of side effects. Here are some direct substitutes that have been designed to provide the same benefits as their steroid counterparts:
DecaDuro: Excellent for strength boosting and getting swole, this natural substitute to Deca Durabolin is completely safe and effective.
D-Bal: This is a natural alternative to Dianabol that promotes the same nitrogen boost and muscle gains.
Anadrole: If you want to boost recovery and promote lean muscle gains, Anadrole is the natural alternative to Androl that can make it happen.
Testo-Max: Boost your testosterone levels naturally without the worry of aromatization with Testo-Max, a great substitute to synthetic testosterone.
Gyno Surgery
For men with stubborn man titties and some extra cash, gynecomastia surgery is an option. This is a type of cosmetic or plastic surgery that involves removing excess fat and tissue to restore a firmer looking chest. Studies show that the success rate is excellent with both patients and surgeons expressing high approval.
Exercises
A natural way to get rid of gyno and support overall health is to focus on a combination of high-intensity interval cardio and chest-based workouts.
High-intensity cardio can accelerate fat burning. Performing a complete chest workout that targets all angles of the muscle is great for firming up the tissue. We recommend the following exercises:
- Incline dumbbell chest press
- Dumbbell flies
- Decline barbell bench press
- Plyometric (explosive) push-ups
To learn more check also our Man Boobs Exercise Guide.
Prescription Drugs
Prescription medications are available to men suffering from bodybuilding gyno. The most popular is Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator or SERM. Studies show that Tamoxifen is well tolerated and effective as an alternative to cosmetic surgery.
Post Cycle Therapy
Post-cycle therapy supplements can help to boost liver health, put estrogen in check, and increase testosterone levels to where they should be.
Combine Natural Options
If you want to avoid bodybuilding gynecomastia, don’t use steroids to achieve short term gains. If you already have gyno from steroids, combine all of the natural options you have before seeking prescription medication or surgery. Increase cardiovascular exercise and chest-focused workouts while trying natural supplements to restore testosterone levels to normal.
You can also use natural supplements to treat your man boobs and burn your chest fat.
If you take the all-natural route with little to no success, then we recommend talking with your doctor to see what the next steps should be.
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