An Overview of Testosterone

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone belongs to the androgens class of hormones. It plays an important role in the prostate, testicular tissues, and muscle tissue growth. It is also very important for bone strength and density.

Testosterone is also very essential for the well-being and general health. Low level of testosterone levels have a severe negative effect on bone and muscle strength as well as general mental health.

A very powerful anabolic steroid is testosterone. The same as with other steroidal hormones, cholesterol is used to make testosterone. The key regulators of testosterone are LH and FSH. These hormones only released when pituitary gland is excited or stimulated. Following this, FSH  and LH released, which boost the production of testosterone by the testicles. Therefore, the pituitary gland plays a identical role to testicles in the production of testosterone.

The generation of natural testosterone is impossible without healthy pituitary function.

Birth/Origin of Testosterone:

Since ancient times, sportsmen of all stripes have experimented with testosterone, a hormone that our bodies naturally make. The achievement of scientists Adolf Butenandt and Leopold Ruzicka in isolating and synthesizing the testosterone hormone for human use was recognised with a Nobel Prize, but not until 1935. Testosterone-Propionate, the first effective testosterone injectable, was made available. Numerous more types of synthetic testosterone were made available for human use after the initial testosterone batches. But it's crucial to recognise that testosterone in general is the same. It's the ester attached to it that gives it a unique function regarding time release and duration of activity. Essentially, all exogenous testosterone is the same testosterone, which we'll explain further as we delve into understanding half-lives.

The Benefits of Using Exogenous Testosterone

The use of testosterone can provide various benefits that can be largely dose dependent. Men who use testosterone often do so for hormone replacement therapy or performance enhancement. Some of the benefits of testosterone use are:

  • Increased Recovery Abilities: Testosterone can enhance the rate and efficiency of muscle tissue recovery, leading to a more efficient and capable physique.
  • Stronger Anti-Catabolic Protection: Testosterone can block and reduce the negative effects of hormones like cortisol on muscle tissue, protecting it from breakdown and preventing body fat accumulation.
  • Increase Red Blood Cell Count: Testosterone can increase endurance by boosting the amount of oxygen entering the blood. This increased endurance can lead to more work and greater muscle tissue efficiency.
  • Increased Protein Efficiency: Testosterone can increase protein synthesis and nitrogen production, leading to faster muscle tissue growth or protection during a calorie-restricted diet.

Benefits of Testosterone

Testosterone Forms

These six forms are of the greatest importance for anyone interested in using testosterone.

  • Testosterone-Propionate
  • Testosterone-Enanthate
  • Testosterone-Cypionate
  • Testosterone-Suspension
  • Sustanon-250
  • Omnadren

Testosterone-Propionate

Testosterone-Propionate, the original form of testosterone, is widely used around the world. It is characterized by a fast-acting short ester called the Propionate ester. While its effects are similar to those of other testosterone forms, its short half-life distinguishes it the most. With a half-life of around 48 hours, users typically need to inject it frequently to maintain stable blood levels. Most performance-enhancing athletes inject it every other day.

Milligram for milligram, Testosterone-Propionate has been reported to be slightly more potent than other testosterone forms, but the difference is negligible. Some users have also reported less water retention with Test-Prop compared to other forms. However, all testosterone forms can cause water retention, which is largely dependent on diet.

Despite its simplicity, Testosterone-Propionate is a highly effective choice for most athletes. However, some individuals may find it difficult to use due to sensitivity to the Propionate ester, causing discomfort. In such cases, other common forms of testosterone may be better tolerated.

Testosterone-Enanthate

Testosterones Vial

Testosterone-Enanthate, also known as Test-E, is a highly sought after form of pure testosterone with a slow-acting long ester attached. It is widely used by athletes looking to enhance their performance, and is one of the most common forms of testosterone used globally. When compared to the Propionate version, Testosterone-Enanthate provides similar results assuming the doses are similar.

Due to its long half-life of approximately 15 days, Testosterone-Enanthate does not require frequent injections, especially when used in hormone replacement plans. However, athletes typically administer two injections per week, with equal doses, which has proven to be effective. Some bodybuilders choose to inject more frequently, such as once every other day, to maintain maximum peak testosterone levels. Although unnecessary, this can provide more stable blood levels and an overall better feeling.

When using Testosterone-Enanthate, there are many quality brands available. However, Testoviron Depot is universally accepted as the premier form and has gained immense popularity among bodybuilders. Despite the availability of many other quality pharmaceutical grade brands, Testoviron Depot has developed a mystique that sets it apart and makes it the most popular brand of Testosterone-Enanthate or any testosterone in history.

Testosterone-Cypionate

Vials Packet

Testosterone-Cypionate is a highly popular, slow-acting long ester testosterone that is almost identical to Testosterone-Enanthate in every way. The only minor difference is that Test-Cyp, as it's commonly known, has a half-life that is approximately 24 hours longer than that of Enanthate. However, this slightly longer half-life is negligible and does not affect injection frequency schedules, which remain the same for both forms of testosterone.

Despite this similarity, there is an urban legend in the United States that Testosterone-Cypionate is stronger than Testosterone-Enanthate, which is simply untrue. While some underground versions of Cypionate may be more powerful, both Test-E and Cyp are virtually identical in terms of their pharmaceutical grade and the kick they provide.

Testosterone-Suspension

Testosterone Suspension

Test-E and Cyp are almost indistinguishable, while Test-Prop is similar except for the shorter ester. On the other hand, Testosterone-Suspension, although still testosterone, has some notable differences. One of the most significant differences is that Testosterone-Suspension does not have an ester attached, resulting in a 100% conversion rate of usable and absorbed testosterone from each injection, compared to other forms with absorption rates of approximately 75%.

The lack of an ester in Testosterone-Suspension also affects its duration of activity, requiring very frequent injections to achieve desired effects. Unlike other forms that have a longer half-life due to the attached ester, Testosterone-Suspension has no active testosterone left in less than 24 hours after injection. In fact, athletes usually inject Testosterone-Suspension at least once a day or even twice to achieve desired results.

Furthermore, Testosterone-Suspension is suspended in water, unlike almost all other forms that are suspended in oil. This gives it a more potent and fast-acting effect, but it can also be very painful to inject, making it intolerable for some athletes. Steroid use often involves trial and error, and some individuals may find that injecting Testosterone-Suspension is very painful while others may not experience any discomfort at all.

Sustanon-250

Vials

Sustanon-250 is not a distinct form of testosterone but rather a blend of four different types of testosterone. Despite being the same as other forms of testosterone, each type in Sustanon-250 has a distinct ester attached to it, providing a slow and steady release of testosterone for an extended period. The makeup of Sustanon-250 includes 

  • Testosterone-Propionate (30mg), 
  • Testosterone-Phenylpropionate (60mg), 
  • Testosterone-Isocaproate (60mg), 
  • Testosterone-Decanoate (100mg). 

While the Propionate ester is well-known, the other three esters are typically only found in mixtures or compounded anabolic androgenic steroids.

Organon developed Sustanon-250 to serve as a testosterone form suitable for hormone replacement therapy, requiring administration only once every few weeks. For performance enhancement purposes, Sustanon-250 is also an excellent choice, but the idea of injecting only once or twice a month is not applicable here. This blend of testosterone has two fast-acting, short esters (Propionate and Phenylpropionate), a longer, more moderate ester (Isocaproate), and a very slow and long ester (Decanoate). To maintain stable testosterone levels and achieve optimal results, most athletes inject Sustanon-250 every 3 days or, more commonly, every other day.

Omnadren

Like Sustanon-250, Omnadren contains four distinct testosterones, each with its own ester. However, the final and longest ester in Omnadren is Caproate, which is also dosed at 100mg, rather than Decanoate, as in Sustanon-250. Aside from this minor difference, there is nothing noteworthy to mention about Omnadren.

Side-Effects of Testosterone Use

Like all the anabolic steroids, testosterone utilization also cause undesirable side effects which can cause the adverse reactions. The most frequently encountered potential side effects are:

  • Testicular Atrophy
  • Water Retention
  • Gynecomastia
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Acne
  • Adverse Cholesterol Reactions

Only one of the potential negative effects is testicular atrophy. This means that a man's testicles would shrink if he used exogenous testosterone, but they would grow back to their normal size once he stopped. The simple explanation for this is that our bodies naturally manufacture testosterone in the testicles. The testicles shrink when exogenous testosterone is given since the body no longer needs to manufacture any more. The other side effects, on the other hand, may frequently be avoided or treated if they do arise. The remaining side effects are summarized in the following mann

  • Water retention: Using testosterone can lead to water retention, which a high-carb diet can make worse. A good aromatase inhibitor, however, can largely solve this issue.
  • Gynecomastia: It can result from testosterone use. Most of the time, using aromatase inhibitors properly can prevent this, but some people may still be vulnerable to using testosterone and require surgery to fix the issue.
  • Blood pressure and cholesterol levels: Testosterone use can negatively affect blood pressure and cholesterol levels.. However, taking supplements of beneficial omega fatty acids can aid in avoiding these negative effects.
  • Acne: While testosterone use can result in acne, this risk is frequently overstated. In most situations, this side effect can be avoided by using premium, human-grade testosterone.

Testosterone Doses & Cycles

A doctor will determine the suitable dose that will be administered to patients receiving hormone replacement treatment. However, the dose will typically be significantly higher for athletes seeking performance enhancement. Although 250 mg of testosterone/per week can offer a significant benefit, many sportsmen believe a dose of 500 mg per week is best for the desired results. The larger the amount, the greater the adverse effects and impairment it causes to general health. Some athletes may take weekly doses of 1,500 mg or even 1,000 mg. Even seasoned users may find this dosage appropriate; beginners are advised not to exceed 500mg per week.

Cycles, or the period of use, typically last at least eight weeks, but 12 weeks is advised for the best results. However, doing so significantly increases the danger-to-benefit ratio. Expert users frequently cycle for at least 16 weeks; some may cycle longer. Regardless of an athlete's level of expertise, cycles lasting 12 to 16 weeks will yield the best outcomes and benefit most athletes' long-term health.

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