Testosterone
Testosterone is THE male hormone and it’s produced mainly by the testicles. Testosterone is responsible for the development of all males physical characteristics, such as strength, muscle mass, fat distribution, endurance, hair and sex drive. Testosterone was first synthesized in Germany in 1935 and was initially used medically to treat depression. Nowadays it is prescribed by physicians to treat cases of abnormally low Testosterone. As the level of Testosterone in the body gradually decreases after the age of 30, in some cases it may reach very low levels, therefore negatively affecting various aspects of a man’s life. Testosterone replacement therapy is quite common in ageing males and usually prescribed by regular injections typically given by a doctor. Testosterone is also available in oral form and as a gel, but these are far less common than the injectable form.
What is Testosterone used for in bodybuilding
Testosterone, in all his forms (Cypionate, Enanthate, Propionate, Phenylpropionate, Isocaproate, Caproate, Decanoate, Undecanoate, Mix) is the most used anabolic steroid (together with Methandienone). Its benefits are amazing when combined with serious training and dieting. Testosterone Enanthate is the most commonly used form of Testosterone in bodybuilding. Testosterone is considered highly versatile and can be used both for bulking and cutting, alone or stacked with other steroids. Testosterone increases strength, endurance, and muscle size. It also increases the amount of calcium released in cells, which results in a boost to the power of the muscle. Many bodybuilders also use it to burn fat and speed up recovery. Testosterone Enanthate is very common for first-time users of anabolic steroids, as it requires only two injections per week, usually on Monday and Thursday of every week.
Testosterone side effects
The most common side effects of using Testosterone for prolonged periods are acne, pain or swelling of the injection site, and gynecomastia. As with all steroids, injecting Testosterone results in a gradual reduction of the body’s natural production of this hormone. A Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) is necessary to counterbalance the effects of all kinds of Testosterone cycles.
What is the difference between Testosterone Enathate, Cypionate, Enathate?
As the Testosterone hormone is a man-made hormone originally created in a lab, its basic formula can be altered by adding an ester. An ester is an addition to the chain structure of the hormone to increase its half-life. There are a number of different esters of testosterone. Each one is a molecular chain composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. The main difference between the different esters is how many carbon and hydrogen atoms make up the chain. For example, the Propionate ester is composed of 3 molecules of Carbon, 6 of Hydrogen and 2 of Oxygen, while the Cypionate is composed of 8, 14 and 2. Adding esters improves the solubility of Testosterone in oil. As pure Testosterone has a very short half-life, if injected it without any ester attached to it, it would be absorbed too fast, resulting in multiple injections throughout the day. Adding an ester means being able to control the half-life of the hormone and make it user-friendly. Longer life esters are considered more anabolic.
The main types of Testosterone are Enanthate, Cypionate and Enanthate.
Testosterone Cypionate
Testosterone Cypionate is a fat-soluble, slow-acting, long ester. It is dissolved in cotton-seed oil and has a half-life of 8-9 days. Which means it require injecting it only once a week.
Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone Enanthate is almost identical to Cypionate. These two hormones are considered interchangeable. Testosterone Enanthate is dissolved in sesame oil and has also a half-life of 8-9 days.
Testosterone Propionate
Testosterone Propionate is a short-acting ester that has a half-life of just 3-4 days. Therefore it requires injections twice or thrice a week to maintain stable levels. Testosterone Propionate is not often used alone, but it is part of any popular Testosterone blend such as Sustanon. Testosterone Propionate has also the bad reputation of being the most painful injection of all Testosterone esters. This is due to its melting temperature of 120 C, while the other esters melting point is normal body temperature of 36 C.