Conclusion: The current debate is centered on whether the optimal strategy is to give an aromatase inhibitor initially or after several years of tamoxifen treatment. Multiple important questions remain, including the predictive value of molecular markers such as progesterone receptor, the optimal duration of aromatase inhibitor therapy, the long-term adverse effects, and the relative efficacy and toxicity of the different aromatase inhibitors.
PubMed 16467121 ↗Nolvadex
People mainly take Nolvadex for hormones, performance. Based on 47 first-hand reports and 6 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #135 of 1,974 overall.
Of reports that state an outcome, 68% are positive.
What Nolvadex does, according to users
Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.
4 more with fewer than 3 reports
What the research says
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.
3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.
Conclusion: Vaginal testosterone shows preliminary promise as an option to manage sexual side effects of AI therapy in postmenopausal cancer survivors; however, available data are too limited to draw practice-changing conclusions. .
PubMed 28635978 ↗Conclusion: We can be confident that AIs represent superior adjuvant endocrine treatment to tamoxifen in postmenopausal women, either as initial therapy or as an alternative for women who have started adjuvant therapy with tamoxifen. However, there remain issues regarding the best way to use AIs, such as the optimal length of AI treatment and how a sequence of tamoxifen followed by an AI compares with AI monotherapy; these will require further data to resolve.
PubMed 16870082 ↗Conclusion: Discontinuation due to toxicity was rare, and toxicity did not differ significantly between the treatments. Toremifene, in doses up to 240 mg/d, is an effective, safe treatment for postmenopausal women with ER-positive/unknown advanced breast cancer.
PubMed 9165504 ↗Dosage people report
As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.
Reported side effects
How often each side effect came up across all reports.
What users say
Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.
“I did a 3 month cycle and ran a very light PCT of 20mg per day of nolva for a month.”
“worse after PCT (Clomid, Enclo, Nolva, never same time).”
“I've just done nova @ 20mg a day for 3 days and have the worst sides ever had to stop 2 days ago”
“things like nolva and clomid all lower Igf-1”
“Taking Nolva in cycle isn’t really a good idea either from what I know, can affect your gains and possibly cause sides.”
Other options for hormones
User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate