Indirect way of monitoring E2 without blood test?

[Aragorn]

Is there any indirect or rough test for Estradiol while on TRT besides bloodwork? Will pregnancy test strips (or any other home tests) show even rough range? I'm having very hard time adjusting Anastrozole dosage since I'm very sensitive to Anastrozole and I don't have any nipple sensitivity as many men do. And both low and high E2 symptoms feel similar to me.

Dialing Anastrozole micro dosage and doing E2 bloodwork frequently is a nightmare for me, not to mention veins poking frequently...

 

[Jerajera]

The most obvious difference for me between low and high E2 symptoms is water retention. When my E2 is too high I start looking really bloated, including my face which makes it really obvious.

Low E2 I'll start peeing like crazy all the time, dropping that extra water weight. Joints will hurt also.

More frequent injections seem to mitigate E2 side effects for a lot of men. You can also try using DHT or DHT derivatives to antagonize E2, it definitely works and might be healthier than AIs long term, although personally I've seen Masteron and Primo hurt my Cholesterol pretty badly even at fairly low dosages.

I think bioidentical DHT would be healthier than any derivative if you choose to try something like that.

 

[Aragorn]

The most obvious difference for me between low and high E2 symptoms is water retention. When my E2 is too high I start looking really bloated, including my face which makes it really obvious.

Low E2 I'll start peeing like crazy all the time, dropping that extra water weight. Joints will hurt also.

Neither of these is my symptom, at least I can't distinguish one.

You can also try using DHT or DHT derivatives to antagonize E2

I've tried T cream to scrotum in the past - it raised my DHT insanely high which caused rapid hair loss... I'm now scared of high DHT and trying to keep DHT in check. Is DHEA considered to be a DHT derivative? Prior to re-starting TRT I've tried DHEA alone which caused high DHT but I felt bad actually, although no hair loss....

You can also try using DHT or DHT derivatives to antagonize E2, it definitely works and might be healthier than AIs long term, although personally I've seen Masteron and Primo hurt my Cholesterol pretty badly even at fairly low dosages.

I don't know anything about those steroids. So far I'm a bit reluctant to try them...

As far as my original question: there's no test to gage E2 besides bloodwork?

 

[Seagal]

Salvia test

 

[Aragorn]

Salvia test

Is that the female menopause saliva test ?

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Is there any indirect or rough test for Estradiol while on TRT besides bloodwork? Will pregnancy test strips (or any other home tests) show even rough range?

At-home test:

https://www.maximustribe.com/lab-tests

 

[Aragorn]

At-home test: https://www.maximustribe.com/lab-tests

Damn, so expensive. Plus I'm not in US (although originally from US) so it's not available here.

Any cheap female test strips?

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Dialing Anastrozole micro dosage and doing E2 bloodwork frequently is a nightmare for me

Your only hope of dialing in anastrozole is frequent bloodwork, and even that can be misleading, as the blood levels of E2 don't necessarily correspond to the effects of aromatase inhibition in tissues. Without the bloodwork though, your already low chance of success is reduced to pretty much nil:

Post in thread 'Building a TRT protocol around hCG' Building a TRT protocol around hCG - Excel Male TRT Forum

I would reconsider the whole project and adjust the TRT protocol such that you don't feel a need for the AI.

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

Another option is to supplement things that act like and AI such as Zinc, melatonin and Cialis, but which don't seem to have the excessive and unpredictable downsides of AIs, and go by symptoms from there. I have the opposite problem of trying to raise E2 so I have been on the lookout to avoid these things, but you could add them and see if your symptoms resolve.

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Also, please watch this video (my goal is for the entire TRT-using population to watch this video):

 

[Seagal]

Is there any indirect or rough test for Estradiol while on TRT besides bloodwork? Will pregnancy test strips (or any other home tests) show even rough range? I'm having very hard time adjusting Anastrozole dosage since I'm very sensitive to Anastrozole and I don't have any nipple sensitivity as many men do. And both low and high E2 symptoms feel similar to me.

Dialing Anastrozole micro dosage and doing E2 bloodwork frequently is a nightmare for me, not to mention veins poking frequently...

What are your symptoms of too high E2?

 

[Seagal]

 

[Jerajera]

I've tried T cream to scrotum in the past - it raised my DHT insanely high which caused rapid hair loss... I'm now scared of high DHT and trying to keep DHT in check. Is DHEA considered to be a DHT derivative? Prior to re-starting TRT I've tried DHEA alone which caused high DHT but I felt bad actually, although no hair loss....

The other way around, DHT is a metabolite of DHEA. DHEA will also raise E2, especially oral versions of DHEA because they disproportionately increase DHEA-S relative to free DHEA due to liver first pass metabolism, which in my opinion explains why some men feel bad on oral DHEA.

You could try sublingual DHEA, which should give you a ratio of DHEA to DHEA-S much closer to your natural one. Douglas Labs and Nootropics Depot are reliable brands in my experience.

But yes, DHT will increase hair loss if you're predisposed. Personally i don't care because I prioritize brain chemistry over everything else, but everyone has different priorities.

I don't know anything about those steroids. So far I'm a bit reluctant to try them...

Those are worse for your hair and cholesterol than pure DHT, so if you dont' want to raise DHT I definitely wouldn't mess with Proviron, Masteron or Primo.

As far as my original question: there's no test to gage E2 besides bloodwork?

Not that I know of, just symptoms if you already know what they are for you.

 

[Aragorn]

Another option is to supplement things that act like and AI such as Zinc, melatonin and Cialis,

As far as I know Zinc also raises DHT. So higher DHT doesn't help with libido as much as higher E2 for you?

 

[Aragorn]

What are your symptoms of too high E2?

Nonexistent libido and bad erections, just like when my E2 is low.

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

As far as I know Zinc also raises DHT. So higher DHT doesn't help with libido as much as higher E2 for you?

A best I can tell, higher E2 is better for me (higher being above rock bottom) but libido is really not an issue for me. Some people are high responders to DHT and similar substances but as far as I can tell I'm not. Creatine also supposedly raises DHT, but I suspect moderate rises are offset by some sort of equilibrium function and the benefit for me would be short-term. I find PT-141/MT-2 to be much more consistent for example.

 

[Aragorn]

Also, please watch this video (my goal is for the entire TRT-using population to watch this video):

Thanks but I don't care about E2 numbers. My erections and libido are only decent when there's an appropriate E2 levels (or maybe T to E2 ratio). That's why I'm trying to keep E2 at a certain level that I noticed is good for me.

So the guy on the video says Metformin is better. Do you know what dosage of Metformin (and how long) is known to knock E2 by 10 or 20 or 30 points?

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Thanks but I don't care about E2 numbers. My erections and libido are only decent when there's an appropriate E2 levels (or maybe T to E2 ratio). That's why I'm trying to keep E2 at a certain level that I noticed is good for me.

You don't care about E2 numbers but are trying very hard to keep your E2 at a specific number. Got it.

So the guy on the video says Metformin is better. Do you know what dosage of Metformin (and how long) is known to knock E2 by 10 or 20 or 30 points?

No, I've never seen it used for this purpose before. Metformin is a cutting edge adjunct in the TRT space. Let us know what happens if you try it.

 

[Aragorn]

You don't care about E2 numbers but are trying very hard to keep your E2 at a specific number. Got it.

People that the guy on the video talks about - care about numbers for the sake of numbers. But I know what E2 number actually causes a specific symptom - no erections and libido. And since noone offers a solution of how to achieve that E2 number otherwise, I'm seeking Anastrozole and a way of measuring E2.

You got it from beginning but for some reason want to make fun of me ). Ok, whatever.

 

[Seagal]

If you need to use an AI. Start low and increase slowly. You don't need to measure it in that process, you can go by symptoms. Once your symptoms resolved and it's stable, then you could measure E2 for reference.