i was referred to this forum from a trusted source at gynecomastia.org. he says that this community has a wealth of info about addressing low testosterone and dealing with endocrinologists.
six months ago i noticed a small mass in my chest, near the nipple. it didn't go away after a couple months, and i noticed a dull ache/minor discomfort in my left testicle. after seeing several doctors, i was eventually diagnosed with gynecomastia. the urologist ruled out testicular cancer -- his physical exam and sonogram showed that the boys were working properly, and i haven't noticed any pain there since.
i've seen two endocrinologists to try to uncover the cause of my gynecomastia.
- 28 years old
- 5'11", 175 lbs, 10-12% body fat
- healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels; resting heartbeat 50-60/min
- previously very active, exercising vigorously 4 times a week. i gained 10 lbs last year through consistent strength training
- no history of serious illness. don't smoke, drink, use steroids, etc. the only prescription i take is an antihistamine for allergies
if you'd asked me six months ago, i would've said that i was in the best shape of my life.
here are the basics of my lab results:
in the first test, the blood was drawn around 5pm:
- estradiol: 35.5 pg/mL (no range provided)
- total T: 288 ng/dL (262-1593)
- free T: 83 pg/mL (50-350)
- all other measures, including prolactin (for pituitary), were normal
in the second test, the blood was drawn at 11am:
- estradiol: 20.3 (7.6-42.6)
- total T: 342 (348-1197)
- free T: 9.9 (9.3-26.5)
- again, all other measures appear normal
both endocrinologists said that i might have "an increased sensitivity to estrogen." they both prescribed tamoxifen, which i haven't started taking yet. the second one told me to run the blood tests again in three months, first thing in the morning while fasting.
i've been under quite a bit of stress and anxiety. bouncing around the medical system and not getting answers hasn't helped.
i'll consider surgery to address the gynecomastia, but i first want to be sure i've addressed the underlying cause.
- is it possible that chronic stress can suppress testosterone production, enough to cause an imbalance and trigger the onset of gynecomastia?
- if so, is it possible for the natural production to rebound as i reduce stress and recover?
- what would you do in my situation?