Testosterone
Introduction
The building block of all steroids, testosterone is a naturally-produced hormone in the body. It is secreted by the testes and is responsible for the balanced growth and maintenance of primary and secondary sexual characteristics in males – deepening of the voice, broadness of shoulders and narrowing of the pelvis, rapid hair growth (especially on the face, legs and pubis), and the production of semen for sexual reproduction.
Most anabolic androgenic steroids are derived from this hormone and they are then used for improving performance and inducing significant muscle and strength gains.
Use of this hormone is associated with dramatic and nearly-permanent gains in terms of muscle function, muscle mass and size, strength, aggression, endurance, and ability to handle intense workouts. This hormone is required by the body for bone density, muscle strength and mass, sex drive, fat distribution, red blood cell production, and sperm production. Testosterone is also essential for preventing osteoporosis as well as health and well-being. Furthermore, this hormone is also useful for the stimulation of linear growth and bone maturation. It is also beneficial to regulate cognitive and physical energy and maintenance of muscle trophism. Moreover, testosterone also has the ability to reduce cardiovascular disease risk by improving parameters of good health like decreased visceral fat mass, decreased total cholesterol, and glycemic control.
Derivatives Of Testosterone
Testosterone Cypionate
This derivative of testosterone is a great hit with American athletes as it provides more of a “kick” than other testosterone derivatives like testosterone enanthate. In addition to this, the cypionate version of testosterone is believed to produce a marginally higher level of fluid retention but not much to be discerned. This long-lasting oil-based injectable has the potential of keeping the levels of testosterone sufficiently elevated for as many as two weeks.
It is classified as the oil-soluble 17β-cyclopentylpropionate ester of the androgenic hormone (testosterone). Its chemical name is androst-4-en-3-one, 17-(3-cyclopentyl-1-oxopropoxy)-, (17β)- and the molecular weight is 412.61 and its molecular formula is C27H40O3. Use of this anabolic androgenic steroid can be easily associated with significant gains in the levels of body strength and muscle mass during a bulking cycle.
The recommended dose of testosterone cypionate for men is 200-800mg per week and this steroid is usually injected on a weekly basis.
The use of testosterone cypionate can lead to the suppression of endogenous testosterone production and therefore it is best to include a testosterone-stimulating drug such as HCG, Clomid, or Nolvadex at the end or just before the end of an anabolic steroid cycle. These drugs also have the ability to help users avoid a strong “crash” because of the hormonal imbalances that may nullify or reduce much of the new muscle mass and body strength. Abuse of testosterone cypionate can lead to side effects such as acne, change in sex drive, irritation, gum pain, hair loss, and headache.
Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone enanthate is one of the most popular drugs to treat hypogonadism in men and other health complications related to androgen deficiency. This anabolic androgenic steroid is an oil-based injectable steroid that is designed to release testosterone (the primary male sex hormone) slowly from the injection sites. When administered, this derivative of testosterone will increase the serum concentrations of testosterone for about two to three weeks.
The recommended dose of testosterone enanthate for men is 250-750mg per week. This steroid is best stacked with Anadrol or Dianabol and some users prefer stacking it with Deca Durabolin or Equipoise. It is best to include a post cycle therapy drug like Clomid or HCG at the end or after the end of a cycle involving testosterone enanthate as one of the anabolic agents. This is not only helpful to restore the production of naturally-occurring testosterone, but it may also be useful to enhance the bioavailability of other steroids and performance enhancing drugs used in the cycle.
Testosterone enanthate abuse can lead to health complications like painful penile erections, vomiting, nausea, increased serum cholesterol, irregular menstrual cycles, and virilizing effects.
Testosterone Propionate
Testosterone propionate, an oil-based injectable testosterone compound, is a popular anabolic androgenic steroid among athletes compared to other testosterone derivatives. This is because this steroid is comparatively much faster acting than other testosterone esters. This powerful mass drug is required to be administered frequently and can easily result in dramatic and rapid gains in terms of muscle size and strength.
Considered by many as the mildest testosterone ester, this steroid is commonly used for dieting or cutting phases of training though it is also popular as a bulking drug. The most common dosage schedule for this anabolic steroid is to inject 50-100mg every second or third day and the weekly dosage of the steroid is usually kept in the range of 200-400mg. It is generally stacked with Winstrol, Primobolan, and Oxandrolone. Some users add a non-aromatizing androgen such as Halotestin or Trenbolone to experience dramatic and extreme effects on subcutaneous body fat and muscle hardness.
Testosterone Suspension
Ranked by many as the most potent mass agent, testosterone suspension produces an incredibly rapid gain of body strength and muscle mass. This fast-acting and water-based steroid enters the bloodstream almost immediately after being administered and peak testosterone levels can be achieved very quickly with this steroid.
Testosterone suspension is one of the best drugs for promoting IGF-1 (insulin like growth factor-1) and red blood cells. This derivative of testosterone is also used by athletes as it promotes nitrogen storage and protein synthesis besides offering protection to muscle tissue against catabolic (muscle wasting) glucocorticoid testosterone. In addition to these advantages, this anabolic androgenic steroid can also improve immunity, growth and development of male sexual organs, energy, endurance, and the maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics.
Dosages and Uses
Testosterone can be dosed from little as 100mg per week for therapeutic use, to as much as 1,000mg per week for hardcore bodybuilders looking for the ultimate stack. Some professional bodybuilders have been reported as using as much as 2,000mg of testosterone per week.
Most bodybuilders whom are just beginning to dabble with testosterone will opt for doing a testosterone-only cycle as their very first run. Dosages of 500mg per week are enough to put on considerable mass and size on any bodybuilder who is training hard and eating properly during their cycle.
Cycles
Bulking Testosterone Cycle
Week
|
Testosterone
Cypionate
|
Cardarine
(GW)
|
Arimidex
|
N2Guard
| |
1
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
2
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
3
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
4
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
5
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
6
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
7
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
8
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
9
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
10
|
500mgs/wk
|
600mgs/wk
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
Cutting Testosterone Cycle
Week
|
Testosterone
Propionate
| ||||
1
|
200mgs/EOD
|
50mgs/ed
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
2
|
200mgs/EOD
|
50mgs/ed
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
3
|
200mgs/EOD
|
50mgs/ed
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
4
|
200mgs/EOD
|
50mgs/ed
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
5
|
200mgs/EOD
|
50mgs/ed
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
6
|
200mgs/EOD
|
50mgs/ed
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
7
|
200mgs/EOD
|
50mgs/ed
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
8
|
200mgs/EOD
|
50mgs/ed
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
9
|
200mgs/EOD
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
| |
10
|
200mgs/EOD
|
20mgs/ed
|
0.5mgs/ed
|
7caps/ed
|
Esters and Half-life
Methyl-testosterone (active half-life 6-9 hours)
Methyl-testosterone does not have an ester, but rather it is methylated for oral use and it is the oldest known oral steroid made. Methyl-testosterone was originally used as a prescription drug to treat men with low testosterone levels, although it fell out of favor and has been replaced with injectables since methyltestosterone is quite liver toxic. Gym folklore touts methyl-testosterone as a very strong androgen capable of increasing aggression with one dose when taken right before a workout.
Testosterone base (active half-life 4-6 hours)
Testosterone base (suspension) is an injectable testosterone hormone in a water base that was developed and used for decades, and is actually the first anabolic androgenic steroid made. This is the purest form of testosterone and yields 100 mg of actual testosterone. It is a pure form with no ester attached. A few things to keep in mind with suspension: The injections can be extremely painful. They can be a lot of PIP (post injection pain) when using suspension. There is also a much higher likelihood of estrogen conversion and it needs to be taken very seriously. It is used much differently than other forms of testosterone. The water-based carrier is more prone to breed infection at the injection site than oil-based preparations.
Testosterone Propionate (active half-life: 2-3 days)
Testosterone propionate is one of the most popular single-ester preparations next to testosterone enanthate. Even women who decide to take testosterone will often use testosterone propionate because of its short acting effects. Due to its short half-life the propionate ester should be injected every day or every other day to maintain steady levels. Aside from testosterone suspension, propionate has the shortest ester of any other form of testosterone, providing 83 mg of actual testosterone.
Omnadren
Omnadren is quite similar to the popular testosterone blend known as Sustanon. Omnadren is comprised of 4 different types of testosterone. One 250 milligram ml of Omnadren looks like this:
- 30mg testosterone propionate
- 60mg testosterone phenylpropionate
- 60mg testosterone isocaproate
- 100mg testosterone caproate (for Omnadren)
- 100mg testosterone decanoate (for Sustanon 250)
As the longest ester in Omnadren (caproate) is slightly faster acting than the longest ester in Sustanon (decanoate), users will notice an increase in their testosterone levels sooner with Omnadren than with Sustanon.
Testosterone Cypionate (active half-life: 6-7 days)
Testosterone cypionate is probably the most popular and widely used form of testosterone. Cypionate is the esters doctors generally recommend for TRT and HRT treatment from doctors. It is desirable because it can be injected once a week as opposed to twice and is a very smooth injection. Each 100mg shot of Cypionate yields approximately 70 mg of actual testosterone once the ester is cleaved off.
Testosterone Enanthate (active half-life: 5-7 days)
Testosterone Enanthate is also one of the more prevalently used forms of testosterone esters. It is quite similar to cypionate, with a small difference being the ester weight is slightly different. Enanthate has a slightly shorter half life and should be injected twice a week. It is very effective and commonly used. Enanthate yields approximately 73 mg of actual testosterone.
Testosterone Phenylpropionate (active half-life 3-4 days)
Phenylpropionate has the shortest duration of all testosterone esters with the exception of Testosterone Propionate. You will need to administer Testosterone-Phenylpropionate three times per week; the first dose will give you lots of energy which will reduce after two days. The second, on the other hand will increase the effects of the hormone in the body, and the third will ensure your blood levels remain stable and peaked. You might be able to get away with two injections per week, and some will find every other day to be extremely useful, but three injections per week is a good protocol to follow. Phenylpropionate yields approximately 66 mg of actual testosterone per 100mg shot.
Testosterone Isocaproate (active half-life 7-9 days)
Testosterone Isocaproate is well known for being part of the popular testosterone blends Omnadren and Sustanon. It is also ideal for TRT or HRT due to the longer half life and once a week injection schedule to keep stable blood levels. Isocaproate yields approximately 72 mg of actual testosterone per 100mg shot.
Testosterone Decanoate (active half-life 12-14 days)
Testosterone Decanoate is well-known as part of the very popular form of testosterone known as sustanon. It is ideal for TRT or HRT users as well as to be stacked with a much longer ester steroid like deca durabolin for less frequent injection schedules. Decanoate can be injected once a week and maintain stable test levels. A 100mg Decanoate shot yields approximately 62 mg of actual testosterone.
Testosterone Undecanoate (active half-life 19-21 days)
Testosterone Undecanoate, also known as undecylenate, is used in androgen replacement therapy primarily for the treatment of male hypogonadism, and is currently under research for use as a male contraceptive. Undecanoate is the longest esteemed form of testosterone you can find and is ideal for users on TRT or HRT. Undecanoate yields approximately 61 mg of actual testosterone per every 100mg shot.
Side Effects
One of the reasons testosterone has become a favorite among most athletes is because it is predictable and easily tolerated by the body. When the side-effects of testosterone use do manifest, there is a wide array of drugs available on the market that can be used to help stop these side effects, if not reverse them in some cases. The same can’t really be said for any other steroid. Yes, granted, some steroids were designed to not have the same side effects as testosterone; however, they carry their own set of problems for which there aren’t many drugs available to mitigate them.
The side effects that manifests the quickest while using testosterone come from its conversion to estrogen, these include problems like: water retention, growth of breast tissue on men (gynecomastia, gyno, puffy nipples), blood pressure, and overall moodiness. These can be easily mitigates with the use of anti-estrogen drugs like aromatase inhibitors (AI) and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS).
There are many side effects that come about due to the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Side-effects from high levels of DHT are usually: male pattern baldness, oily skin, acne, swelling of the prostate and growth of hair in places other than the face. The side effects from DHT can be avoided by using a drug like finasteride.
sources: evolutionary.org
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