When do you actually need an AI on a first cycle? Getting conflicting advice everywhere

[OhioStrong]

Starting my first cycle soon, 500mg test e per week. I have been reading for months and half the people say start anastrozole from day one and half say wait for symptoms. I do not know which to follow. My reading says high e2 causes water and nipple issues but I have also read that crashed e2 is worse. I bought some adex just in case but I do not want to make things worse by taking something I do not need. Any advice from guys who have actually done a first cycle and tracked this?

[ScouseLad]

i made the mistake of starting adex from day one on advice from a mate. crashed my e2 and felt terrible for two weeks. definitely wait for symptoms first like others are saying here

[HighAltitude]

I waited for symptoms on my first cycle and never needed the AI at all. Bloodwork showed E2 at 42 pg/ml at week 6, right where it should be. Not everyone aromatizes heavily at 500mg. Waiting for symptoms is the correct approach.

[OsloFit]

Thank you for raising this question. I was also planning to start an AI from day one based on advice I had read. The approach of waiting and monitoring symptoms is more cautious which suits me as a first-time user.