24-09-2012, 02:03
Well. That explanation is actually incorrect... But I can boil it down even further and give the absolute simplest explanation: Androgens are a class of steroidal hormones found in animals and certain plants that cause masculinizing effects. Anti-androgens are any chemicals or combinations of chemicals that block the effects or production of these hormones.
For a slightly more involved explanation....
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The human androgens are DHEAS, androsteniodone, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone. Additionally, it is possible to get dietary sources of additional plant and animal androgens that can bind to androgen receptors and lead to many and even sometimes worse androgenic effects.
There are in fact several classes of anti-androgens, each acting at different points in the hormonal synthesis pathway. There are also classes of anti-androgens that block the various classes of androgen receptors, but that's a whole nother beast to talk about.
Some block the branching from the progesterones and cortisols, effectively blocking ALL androgens AND estrogens which start life as androgens. These often also lead to PHA and/or progesterone toxicity.
Others block the reduction of androsteniodone to testosterone. These effectively block off just the masculinizing androgens, and are much safer. Your biggest concern here is that many also effect the reduction of Estrone to Estradiol. Your second biggest concern is cutting off too much T leaving yourself without enough T to prevent blood and bone related problems from too much estrogen without T to balance it.
The safest class of anti-androgens are the ones that block the reduction of testosterone to it's much more powerful brother, dihydrotestosterone.
Additionally, there is a class of chemicals that are occasionally called anti-androgens which are in fact pro-aromatase. What these do is accelerate the reduction of the androgens into the estrogens.
Finally, as mentioned above, there are chemicals and combinations of chemicals that interfere with the binding of the androgens to various receptors. This however brings in a level of complexity best left unexplored here.
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What all this boils down to is, you most generally will not need ANY anti-androgens. If you do, low doses of saw palmetto or chinese skullcap or white peony (this is pro-aromatase, not actually anti-androgen per se) should be sufficient.
Unless you are a biologic male, or a PCOS sufferer, you generally will only have slightly heightened T if at all.
For a slightly more involved explanation....
...
...
...
...
The human androgens are DHEAS, androsteniodone, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone. Additionally, it is possible to get dietary sources of additional plant and animal androgens that can bind to androgen receptors and lead to many and even sometimes worse androgenic effects.
There are in fact several classes of anti-androgens, each acting at different points in the hormonal synthesis pathway. There are also classes of anti-androgens that block the various classes of androgen receptors, but that's a whole nother beast to talk about.
Some block the branching from the progesterones and cortisols, effectively blocking ALL androgens AND estrogens which start life as androgens. These often also lead to PHA and/or progesterone toxicity.
Others block the reduction of androsteniodone to testosterone. These effectively block off just the masculinizing androgens, and are much safer. Your biggest concern here is that many also effect the reduction of Estrone to Estradiol. Your second biggest concern is cutting off too much T leaving yourself without enough T to prevent blood and bone related problems from too much estrogen without T to balance it.
The safest class of anti-androgens are the ones that block the reduction of testosterone to it's much more powerful brother, dihydrotestosterone.
Additionally, there is a class of chemicals that are occasionally called anti-androgens which are in fact pro-aromatase. What these do is accelerate the reduction of the androgens into the estrogens.
Finally, as mentioned above, there are chemicals and combinations of chemicals that interfere with the binding of the androgens to various receptors. This however brings in a level of complexity best left unexplored here.
---
What all this boils down to is, you most generally will not need ANY anti-androgens. If you do, low doses of saw palmetto or chinese skullcap or white peony (this is pro-aromatase, not actually anti-androgen per se) should be sufficient.
Unless you are a biologic male, or a PCOS sufferer, you generally will only have slightly heightened T if at all.