Nolvadex is one of the primary drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer. Many bodybuilders and athletes in general also use the drug to prevent the development of gynocomastia, which refers to a tumour in the male breast or mammary gland.

In both cases, Nolvadex acts by binding with the breast's receptor site, which is what estrogen would otherwise do. Here is a closer look at how the drug functions.

Basically, the receptors are some amino acids that fold into a number of helixes, whose conformation can be modified. Nolvadex modifies the conformation of helix 12, which plays a central role in the binding of estrogen. When Nolvadex bonds with helix 12, it folds in a different manner that does not allow estrogen to bind with it. The drug therefore essentially blocks estrogen from binding with the breast receptors.

This brings us back to another important issue. We had described Nolvadex as the 'so-called' anti-estrogen. As you can see from the brief description of its actions, the drug really has nothing against estrogen – it does not affect estrogen in any way. Hence the term anti-estrogen is rather misleading though popular.

For athletes, this is important because they tend to use steroids that enhance the production of estrogen. The advantage of using Nolvadex over other drugs is the fact that it does not really deplete estrogen from the system, but just allows it to move around in the body. Estrogen will thus encourage the growth of muscles, which is important for body builders.

In addition to strengthening muscles, estrogen also strengthens the immune system by enabling it to function at its optimum level. The drug has also positive effects to men suffering from infertility, as it increases the level of testosterone, as well as serum levels in FSH and LH. This ability allows the drug to bring back proper hormonal balance in the body after the use of steroids.

Nolvadex has a number of side effects. First, it counters the primary goal of some bodybuilders by lowering their gains. The most likely reason for this is the fact that the drug can lower Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF), which helps in the growth of muscles.

Other common side effects of the drug include hot flushes, nausea, numbness, vomiting, exhaustion, swollen feet, as well as blurred vision. Nolvadex may also result in mood swings, and it can make it easy to get bruised and bleed.

The drug may as well interfere with menstrual cycle, where the cycle may become irregular with relatively reduced flow. In some cases, affected women may miss their periods all together. In men, Nolvadex may result in lack of interest in sex, or the complete inability to have sex.

When you are taking Nolvadex, you should avoid using Letrozole or Anastrozole, as there is likelihood of severe interactions. Always consult a physician before you start using this drug.

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