Testosterone propionate first appeared in 1935. In a series of experiments, it increased the therapeutic effect of testosterone by slowing its release into the blood. Two years later, Schering AG in Germany launched the first testosterone propionate product, testoviron. Propionate is also the first commercially available injectable testosterone ester in the US prescription drug market and remained the main form of testosterone worldwide until 1960. For example, in the early 1950s, when steroids were first used by Americans in athletes, easily available anabolic / androgen steroids were methyltestosterone, testosterone propionate and testosterone suspension. Interestingly, testosterone propionate was also available orally during this period, but disappeared from the U.S. market in the 1980s.
Side effects (estrogen):
Testosterone is easily aromatized into estradiol (estrogen) in the body. Aromatase (estrogen synthase) is the cause of testosterone metabolism. Elevated estrogen levels can cause side effects, such as increased water storage, increased body fat and male breast development. Testosterone is considered a medium estrogen steroid. Antiestrogens such as clomiphene or tamoxifen may be necessary to prevent estrogen side effects. Aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole (anastrozole) can also be used, which can more effectively control estrogen by preventing its synthesis. However, compared with anti estrogen, aromatase inhibitors are quite expensive and may also have a negative effect on blood lipids.
Estrogen side effects will occur in a dose-dependent manner, and higher doses of testosterone (higher than the normal treatment level) need to use anti estrogen or aromatase inhibitors at the same time. Since water retention and muscle loss are common for the use of higher doses of testosterone propionate, this drug is generally considered a bad choice during the diet or cutting stage. Its moderate estrogenicity makes it more suitable for the expansion stage. Its stored water will provide the original strength and size of muscle and help to provide a stronger anabolic environment.
Side effects (androgen):
Testosterone is the main male androgen and is responsible for maintaining male secondary sexual characteristics. Elevated testosterone levels may have androgenic side effects, including oily skin, acne and body / facial hair growth. Men with a genetic predisposition to hair loss (androgenic alopecia) may notice accelerated baldness. Those who are concerned about hair loss may find a more comfortable option in norone kuilate, a relatively low androgen steroid. Women have also been warned that anabolic / androgen steroids have potential pathogenic effects, especially strong androgens such as testosterone. These side effects may include sound deepening, irregular menstruation, skin texture changes, facial hair growth and clitoris enlargement.
In androgen reactive target tissues such as skin, scalp and prostate, testosterone is relatively male because it is reduced to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). 5- Reductase is the main cause of testosterone metabolism. Simultaneous use of 5- Reductase inhibitors such as finasteride or dutasteride can interfere with the site specificity of testosterone action and reduce the tendency of testosterone drugs to produce androgen side effects. It is important to remember that anabolism and androgen action are mediated through androgen receptors. It is impossible to completely separate the anabolism of testosterone and the role of androgen, even in all 5- Reductases are inhibited.
Side effects (hepatotoxicity):
Testosterone has no hepatotoxic effect, so hepatotoxicity is unlikely. One study examined the hepatotoxic potential of high-dose testosterone by administering 400 mg of hormone per day (2800 mg per week) to a group of male subjects. Oral steroids can reach a higher peak concentration in liver tissue than intramuscular injection. After 20 days of hormone administration, there was no significant change in liver enzymes, including serum albumin, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase.
Side effects (cardiovascular):
Anabolic / androgen steroids can have harmful effects on serum cholesterol. This includes the tendency to lower HDL (good) cholesterol and increase LDL (bad) cholesterol, and may also convert HDL to LDL, resulting in a greater risk of arteriosclerosis. The relative effect of anabolic / androgenic steroids on serum lipids depends on the dose, route of Administration (oral and injection), type of steroids (aromatic or non aromatic), and the level of resistance to liver metabolism. Anabolic / androgen steroids may also adversely affect blood pressure and triglycerides, reduce endothelial relaxation, and lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction.
Compared with synthetic steroids, testosterone has a much smaller effect on cardiovascular risk factors. Partly because of its openness to liver metabolism, it has little impact on the liver management of cholesterol. The aromatization of testosterone and estradiol also helps to reduce the negative effect of androgen on serum lipids. In one study, 280 mg of testosterone ester (heptanate) per week had a slight but not statistically significant effect on HDL cholesterol after 12 weeks, but a strong (25 percent ) reduction was observed when aromatase inhibitors were used. Using 300 mg testosterone ester (heptanate) for 20 weeks per week, aromatase inhibitor free showed only a 13 percent reduction in HDL cholesterol, compared with 21 percent at 600 mg. The negative effects of aromatase inhibition should be considered before testosterone treatment.
Tamoxifen citrate or clomiphene citrate is superior to aromatase inhibitors because of the positive effect of estrogen on serum lipids and because they have partial estrogen effect in the liver. This allows them to potentially improve lipid distribution and counteract some of the negative effects of androgens. The effect of 600 mg or less per week on lipid mass spectrometry is often obvious, but not dramatic, which also makes anti estrogen (for cardiac protective purposes) unnecessary. Doses of 600 mg or less per week also failed to make statistically significant changes in LDL / VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B / C-III, C-reactive protein and insulin sensitivity, indicating their relatively weak impact on cardiovascular risk factors. When used in moderate doses, testosterone ester injection is generally considered to be the safest of all anabolic / androgen steroids.
To help reduce cardiovascular stress, it is recommended to maintain an active cardiovascular exercise program and always minimize the intake of saturated fat, cholesterol and simple carbohydrates during AAS use. It is also recommended to supplement fish oil (4 grams per day) and natural cholesterol / antioxidant formulas such as lipid stabil or products with similar ingredients.
Side effects (testosterone inhibition):
All anabolic / androgenic steroids are expected to inhibit endogenous testosterone production when taken at a dose sufficient to promote muscle gain. Testosterone is the main male androgen, which has a strong negative feedback on endogenous testosterone. Similarly, testosterone based drugs also have a strong effect on the hypothalamic regulation of natural steroid hormones. Without the intervention of testosterone stimulating substances, testosterone levels should return to normal within 1-4 months of drug division. Please note that hypogonadism may be secondary to steroid abuse and requires medical intervention.
In addition to the above side effects, for a more detailed discussion of potential side effects, please refer to the steroid side effects section of this book.
Treatment guidance (general):
Testosterone propionate is usually considered a painful injection. This is due to the very short carbon chain of propionate, which stimulates tissue at the injection site. Sensitive individuals should stay away from using this steroid, otherwise their bodies will have obvious pain and low-grade fever reaction, which will last for several days. Even the mild soreness experienced by most users is very uncomfortable, especially when you take it
It is thought that the drug needs to be administered many times for many weeks.
Treatment guidance (male):
In order to treat androgen deficiency, early prescription guidelines recommend giving a dose of 25mg 2-3 times a week. The modern product literature also recommends doses of 25 mg to 50 mg two to three times a week. The average dose range for male athletes is 50-100mg per injection, administered every two or three days. Similar to other testosterone esters, testosterone propionate is usually used at a total dose of 200 mg to 400 mg per week. This level is sufficient for most users to notice a significant increase in muscle size and strength.
Testosterone propionate is usually used during training. When the increased water will have no consequences, users will pay more attention to muscle quality rather than shape. Some people also use this drug in shaping muscle lines, but it is usually used in lower doses (100-200mg / week) and accompanied by aromatase inhibitors to maintain estrogen levels. Testosterone propionate is a very effective anabolic drug, which has great benefits when used alone. However, to achieve a stronger effect, it needs to be stacked with other anabolic / androgenic steroids. In this case, an additional 200-400 mg of baodanone undecanoate, metinolone heptanoate or norone decanoate per week can provide substantial effect without obvious hepatotoxicity. Testosterone is very versatile and can be combined with many other anabolic / androgen steroids to achieve the desired effect.
Treatment guidance (female):
Testosterone propionate is rarely used in women in clinical medicine. When applied, it is most commonly used as an adjuvant for inoperable breast cancer. When other therapies fail to produce the desired effect, they need to inhibit ovarian function. Due to the strong androgen and the characteristics of side effects and slow effects (making the blood level difficult to control), testosterone cyclopentanoate is not recommended for the purpose of physical fitness or performance enhancement. However, female bodybuilders who insist on testosterone usually choose testosterone propionate because the level of this ester in the blood is easier to control than testosterone cyclopentanoate or testosterone heptanate. If there are viral symptoms, the drug should be stopped and hormone levels will drop within a few days. The dosing regimen is usually conservative, with small injections (up to 25 mg) every 5 to 7 days, and the duration of the cycle is limited to 6-8 weeks or less.