Not placebo. I have not had a hormone profile done for quite some time, but I had tests done regularly when I was younger from early 20's to mid 30's. I always had low T/free T, high E/SHBG. Never done a cycle, but I've had gyno in the past when I was younger. The most I've tried is clomid, nolva, exemestane, anastrozole and combinations of them. But I still prefer to find and use natural alternatives. I still get gyno symptoms from certain supplements that can raise estrogen or increase aromatization of T to E and symptoms always include sore, itchy, puffy nips, water retention/bloat, estrogen flush etc. I've researched and tried everything possible to manage things long term without going pharmaceutical or at least delaying the pharmaceutical optional as long as I possibly can.
I *might* have had the same problem. Did not know then, but what I inadvertently did and what happened:
Went on a health kick circa ~'01-'03- Made a huge batch of the best lentil dish I ever tried (got lucky), extra firm tofu, lentils, tomatoes, garlic, onions, spinach. This dish was so good I could eat the leftovers straight out of the fridge for 3 days and felt healthy but like eating ice cream. Have not been able to duplicate, could not find the exact same tofu after 2 batches.
Sides: After the 2 batches, my nips got so sensitive (but no gyno) I had to use band-aids over them for 3 weeks to avoid any rubbing on shirts, skin on my face started peeling off/exfoliating in small pieces but not quite like sunburn. I completely lost the desire to and quit smoking for ~3-5 weeks (after smoking for 29 years) with no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. My regular lady barber kept asking me what I did, my skin was so radiant and young looking (after the peeling) lol. Libido was through the roof (at 49).
Didn't do this at the same time but I bought some cheap soy protein from Fred Meyers, after a week of taking it, band-aids again over the nips but no facial skin peeling or libido increase lol.
Looking back, a seriously doubt I had high test aromatizing to E, but was probably experiencing sides from phyto-estrogens. Curiously, I don't recall taking high quality Soy Lecithin daily at a later time for the phosphatidylserine/choline affecting me the same way.
I've realized since that anytime my nips get slightly sensitive (no puffiness or gyno) E was probably high, for whatever reason, and to eliminate something from my diet/supplementation or to supplement with a natty suicidal AI/Serm or when available, Nolva. Pretty sure it was phytoestrogens because I never got those sides running/cycling gear back to back ~'04-08, (alternating/stacking compounds TestP, E, Tren, Mast. Dbol, Win, Var etc). Seemed to keep all my gains too. Been staying with supps since and started a 3 bottle run of testruction + rebirth & letrone + FD2.
What's estrogen flush? Same as niacin?