All the reading I have been doing on the boards people are saying that Nolva won't do anything for gyno reversal. It's only good for stopping the progression of gyno. That's why I picked up Letero and I have been running it for about 10 days now. I can still feel a mess sort of above my nipple and my nipple has a puffy appearance. The problem with the letero is it's killing my joints.
recently I read that raloxifene is better than letero for reversing gyno so I order some up from Lion. I'm not on any AAS right now, but I want to get on a low dose of Test. Even on 200mg Test my gyno flared up so I'd like to be able to keep it under control and get rid of this pre-existing stuff I already have
The reading you've experienced are merely opinions.
Gynecomastia is the enlargement of male breasts by increase in breast tissue development. Not to be confused with fat accumulation around the nipple. This is actual breast tissue. In cases of steroid users, this is due to developing female characteristics from excess estrogen in the body. This can also occur in infants and adolescents due to hormonal imbalances.
There are several types of gynecomastia:
1. Gynecomastia: Enlargement of adult male breast tissue.
2. Pubertal Gynecomastia: Same as above, but develops during puberty.
3. Pseudogynecomastia: This is fatty tissue, not breast tissue.
It's entirely important to identify what you have. There's no reason to attempt treating pseudogynecomastia with SERMs, it will do nothing and could possibly do harm. You would just need to lose weight, period. Nothing else to it. The leaner you become, the more it will dissipate.
With regards to puffy nipples, that may be a sign of beginning stages of gynecomastia development, it most certainly is not a diagnosis. Further testing would be needed to confirm this. However, in most cases, puffy nipples are merely due to a hormonal imbalance (even if estrogen is in range) and in most cases, goes away with time. It could be water retention, fat increase or simply a reaction to the drugs you're taking. Many OTC and prescription drugs may cause this, such as some antidepressants.
Furthermore; it could be due to your tissue surrounding the nipple lacking fat. Yes, low fat can cause a puffy nipple, too. It causes the gland to protrude more, giving the effect of a puffy nipple. So you see, there are plenty of reasons why your nipples could get puffy. Surely there's more than the mentioned, so don't panic just yet. I get puffy nipples every single time I cycle and it goes away, every time.
Sensitive nipples are another concern. This would be an endless topic, frankly, I'm not going to delve into every cause of sensitive nipples because it would be a never ending post. The fact is, we tend to panic when we have sensitive nipples on cycle because we are super extra concerned about gynecomastia development, so we are looking for any and every possible sign. You probably had sensitive nipples off cycle at one point, but didn't give it much thought because you're not on cycle and the chances of it being gynecomastia are slim to none.
Sensitive nipples can be caused by running, from different types of shirt materials used that you're sensitive to as well. Could be a cyst that has developed from an infection. Heck, even fluctuation in body temperature could cause nipples to become slightly sensitive. Now, the panel that most people fail to get is a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), which would indicate any concerns that deserve investigating the liver. Liver diseases such as cirrhosis can cause breast tenderness and sensitivity as well. Again, this could be a sign, not a diagnosis so further testing is required. Liver concerns are not uncommon with steroid users. Some folks don't think that injectables are toxic, while they're less toxic, your sensitivity level would not match mine. So 2 people could yield different results from the same injectables.
Leaking nipples is another one as well, if you're lactating then your prolactin levels are high. This is generally observed in the presence of progestins such as nandrolone and trenbolone . High prolactin levels will lead to lactating males. Do not squeeze your nipples to reproduce the issue, ever. You're making things worse. There is also no such thing as prolactin-gynecomastia. So while you're lactating, it does not mean your breast tissue has developed and growing. It merely means that you're lactating. That's your condition: Male Lactation. Not gynecomastia. Similar to folks who suffer Hyperprolactinaemia.
Now, it's important to note that you'll need to have both your progesterone and prolactin tested to see where you're at. High progesterone can certainly aggravate the issue and result in gynecomastia. This is generally in the presence of excess estrogen; and why estrogen control is first line defense.
So there you have it. There's a million and one reasons why your nipples may be puffy and sensitive. Sure, it's a good chance that the cause is your steroid use , but the chances of those signs being diagnosed as gynecomastia is slim when compared to developing an actual lump. Lump = gynecomastia.
Enlargement of breast tissue is very unnatural in men and you'll likely develop a lump, or a hardened spot behind or immediately around your nipple area. This hard spot tends to get bigger if it remains untreated. This is the biggest sign you need to be looking for. You can feel a lump with the slightest touch. There is never a need to "squeeze" your nipples. It could be a bit off to the side, but usually very close too the nipple. You can move your flat palm across your your pecs and feel it easily.
As for Letrozole,
here is a link that might be of benefit to you...
Best of luck to you.