Types of Androgen Replacement Therapy

Androgen use is very prevalent in society. Much of this is due to androgen abuse among athletes and bodybuilders, where black market androgen abuse has reached epidemic proportions. Indeed, in various studies of high school boys, it has been found that 4-12% had used androgens at least once. Androgens have also been prescribed for many conditions by physicians throughout the last several decades.

Despite the prevalence of legal and illegal androgen use, the science of androgen effects has greatly lagged behind the understanding of biological effects of estrogen and indications for estrogen replacement therapy. Female oral contraceptives have been in use for many years, but only recently have we seen studies regarding hormone contraceptive agents in men. Although there are a few very well-defined clinical syndromes of male hypogonadism which require androgen therapy, the use in other clinical situations, such as mild hypogonadism and hypogonadism associated with aging is less well established.

• Oral agents:

Testosterone itself cannot be given orally because in the first pass through the liver after oral administration, the breakdown is substantial and very little androgenic effects would be seen. Alkylated forms of testosterone (see table below) are much more resistant to hepatic metabolism and can exert a clinical effect when ingested. Alkylated forms of testosterone are weaker than Testosterone itself. The clinical efficacy is further complicated by irregular absorption and varying degrees of hepatic breakdown on the first pass through the liver. Therefore, varying results can be seen when giving these agents. Liver toxicity may be substantial with oral androgens, and such toxicity may range from an elevation of liver enzymes to development of hemorrhagic liver cysts. Liver neoplasms have also been reported in men undergoing oral androgen therapy. Because of these problems, oral androgen therapy has very little place in the treatment of hypogonadism.

• Injectable agents:

Testosterone esters have certain advantages as injectable agents. They are relatively resistant to hepatic breakdown, are released slowly from oil-based carriers, and are hydrolyzed to yield testosterone itself. Therefore, delivery in a long-acting injection is possible, and the biological effects of the injected form of Testosterone is indistinguishable from the native hormone. The usual dosage is approximately 100mg. of drug per week is given and the interval can be varied to smooth out these wide swings, i.e. 100mg. every week, 200mg every two weeks, 300mg. every three weeks, etc. acting injection is possible, and the biological effects of the injected form of Testosterone is indistinguishable from the native hormone.

Following a testosterone injection, the serum Testosterone level rises to high normal or supranormal range for the first few days, followed by a progressive drop until the next injection is administered. The Testosterone level may drop below the normal range during this time. These wide swings may cause varying efficacy from the treatment.

Human Growth Hormone: Everything You Need to Know About HGH

Human growth hormone can turn back your body’s internal clock, helping you rapidly build muscle, slash fat, and increase libido, all while sending energy levels through the roof, but when it comes to discussions on HGH, there are often more questions than answers.

The body naturally produces growth hormone in the pituitary gland, and, as its name implies, it is responsible for cell growth and regeneration. Increasing muscle mass and bone density are impossible without HGH, but it also plays a major role in maintaining the health of all human tissue, including that of the brain and other vital organs. When secreted, HGH remains active in the bloodstream for only a few minutes, but this is enough time for the liver to convert it into growth factors, the most crucial of which is insulin-like growth factor-1, or IGF-1, which boasts a host of anabolic properties. Scientists began to harvest HGH from the pituitary glands of cadavers in the 1950s, but didn’t synthesize the first HGH in laboratories until 1981, with its use as a performance-enhancing drug becoming popular shortly thereafter. Healthy adult men typically have just less than 5 nanograms per milliliter circulating in the blood. Healthy females can produce about twice that amount for child-bearing purposes. Levels for both sexes peak during puberty and drop sharply starting in the early 20s.

Remember when creatine was billed by the mainstream media as potentially dangerous? Now it’s the most heavily researched supplement in the world, and studies bear out the fact that it’s one of the safest and most effective supplements you can take. Medical professionals say that the dangers surrounding HGH are similarly overblown. “Complications [with HGH use] are very minimal,” says Eric Braverman, M.D., who specializes in anti-aging at Path Medical Center in New York City. “Some people experience fluid retention, and a blood sugar rise, but even these are very rare un- less you take a lot. Only a few people ever come in with big feet or big livers—from mega-doses—and they weren’t my patients. It’s very rare.”

Aside from HGH’s crucial role in building muscle mass, not all of its benefits are necessarily evident to the naked eye. HGH has been shown to slow the progression of age-related degenerative diseases, as well as increase sex drive, help maintain mental acuity, and engender a general sense of well-being. The flip side of the coin - low HGH - can result in the exact opposite: muscle loss, fat gain, low sex drive and energy levels, and a poor sense of well-being.

Two major factors that contribute to increased HGH levels are ones you can control without drugs: weight training and proper sleep. The more you exercise, the more HGH you release naturally. A recent study observed significant increases in circulating HGH and IGF-1 after intense resistance exercise in a group of trained men, but found no significant diferences in untrained men who performed the same workout. HGH is also secreted while you sleep, and studies have shown a spike in HGH levels at the onset of deep sleep, so getting the recommended seven to nine hours per night is essential to maintaining HGH. Diet is the third major factor in keeping HGH levels topped of.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) and Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)

Ideally, HCG should not be used at all in PCT. For steroid cycles, HCG really should only be used in PCT if a mistake has been made which needs a correction.
When it’s used in PCT, the purpose is to correct testicular non-responsiveness or atrophy which has developed during a cycle. The longer the cycle, the more likely there will be a problem, and the worse the problem is likely to be.

When non-responsiveness occurs, then even after LH production is recovered the testes still do not produce testosterone in good amounts, and overall recovery is quite delayed. Losses from this steroid side effect can be severe.

A total HCG use of 5000-10,000 IU over a period of about 4-8 weeks can restore responsiveness.

It’s a poor and unnecessary plan to allow the testes to atrophy by starting HCG after the steroid cycle ends. It’s better to avoid atrophy and non-responsiveness from occurring in the first place. Further, HCG use during post-cycle therapy can impair recovery of LH production. So it’s not at all the ideal time to use it.


Instead, HCG should be used in the middle or late part of the cycle, and no later than the last steroid injection of the cycle.

The period of HCG use will typically be about 4 weeks. In an 8-12 week cycle, the 4 weeks (approximately) of use would be immediately prior to the last steroid injection. In a 14 week cycle, the about 4-week period should be in the late-middle part of the cycle. Examples would be using HCG in weeks 6-9, in weeks 9-12, or anywhere in-between.

The dosing is divided into at least 3 times per week. For example, 275 IU 3x/week provides 5000 IU over four weeks. But dosing could be daily, every other day, or 4x/week, as examples. There is little or no practical difference in results among these different schedules. It’s a matter of personal preference. The total amount taken per week doesn’t need to be any exact figure. For example it also would be fine to take 500 IU three times per week or to take 200 IU daily. Taking more than 1250 IU per week result in a 5000 IU vial lasting less than four weeks. For example, at 500 IU 3x/week, a vial lasts just over 3 weeks. This is acceptably close to 4 weeks, and ordinarily with this schedule a single vial still suffices. Much higher dosing than this gives no further results per week, and gives less results per vial.

When HCG is used according to this method, the side effects of testicular atrophy and loss of responsiveness are avoided, and recovery is complete as soon as LH production is restored. There’s then no need for PCT use of HCG, and recovery is faster as a result.

It’s worth mentioning also that in some cases, it will be better to use HCG throughout the steroid cycle rather than using it for only a 4 week period. One case is where the cycle uses only non-aromatizable steroids, such as Masteron, Primobolan, trenbolone, Anadrol, or oxandrolone. Estradiol levels drop undesirably low during non-aromatizing cycles, because testosterone levels drop very low and estradiol is produced principally from testosterone. By maintaining normal testosterone levels, HCG used throughout the cycle will also maintain sufficient estradiol levels.

Another case where it can be desirable to use HCG throughout the period of steroid use is where the user is not cycling at all, but using steroids chronically with no break.

The importance of leg workouts

One of the most neglected areas in terms of bodybuilding training is the legs. Why? The answer varies from person to person, but as many bodybuilders have said, “I find leg exercises to be a chore, and I skip leg day more often than not. I prefer focusing on my upper body anyway.” Many people probably feel that the legs are less important than the upper body because they are usually not as easily seen or noticeable.

However, in terms of bodybuilding, a symmetrical physique from head to toe is optimal. Scrawny legs are not a great look with a built upper body! Additionally, the legs should be worked out consistently for overall strength and general health. Here are some vital tips on bodybuilding training for your legs.

The calves are one of the primary areas in the legs. They are also probably the most noticeable leg area. The calf muscles can be trained with a variety of exercises. One of our favorite calf exercises is known as the standing calf raise. To do a rep, stand on a block with the front parts of your feet. Make sure that you are positioned properly under the weight bar and lower your heels a few inches. Next, steadily raise your heels back up. If done correctly, this exercise is extremely effective. A few other effective bodybuilding training exercises consist of the seated calf raise, leg press calf raise, dumbbell jump squat, and box jump.

The upper leg is another main area that should be focused on. Like the calf muscles, the upper leg muscles can be trained with many different exercises. Our favorite upper leg exercise is probably one that you are already familiar with, the squat. It is highly effective if properly performed. Some other effective bodybuilding training exercises that are recommended are the lunge, leg extension, and leg curl.

Certain cardio exercises also effectively train the leg muscles. For instance, biking up a hill or with resistance is one cardio exercise that we would recommend. Another example that we would suggest is using an elliptical machine with resistance. The key is to make sure that the cardio involves some resistance against your leg muscles.

To get the best results for your legs from bodybuilding training, you should perform some type of appropriate cardio and a combination of some of the exercises mentioned. Additionally, you should keep a proper diet and use anabolic steroids that promote the muscle buildup in the legs. Your duration, amount of weight, sets, and reps depend on if you are just beginning, or at an intermediate or advanced level. As a beginner, remember not to over train the muscles in your legs. Just like other muscles, they need the right amount of recovery time in order to develop!

The legs are often neglected in bodybuilding training for a variety of reasons. However, they should be trained for overall symmetry and proper health function.

Metribolone by HardCoreLabs - potent androgen like tren

In the world of professional sports including bodybuilding, Metribolone is considered to be one of the most potent anabolic steroids ever produced.

Metribolone, which is also known as Methyltrienolone, is commonly referred to as “Oral Tren” due to its resemblance to structure of Trenbolone. This potent and non-aromatizable androgen is highly effective even at low doses. It is believed by many that several athletes made use of this drug during the late 1990s and even cleared the doping tests successfully, suggesting its efficacy.

One will be surprised to note that Metribolone is stronger (milligram for milligram) than any active steroid sold in today’s commercial market and brings dramatic benefits even at low doses of 0.5-1.0 mg per day. However, Metribolone should not be used for a period exceeding four weeks at a stretch.

Metribolone is used by bodybuilders before the start of a competition. Since it does not lead to estrogen conversion and works best even at low doses (with no side effects), it is admired by one and all. The strong anabolic/androgenic actions of Metribolone have been utilized by medical practitioners, over the years, to inhibit the local effects of endogenous estrogens for regressing tumor growth in incidents of advanced breast cancer.

Use of low-grade Metribolone or Metribolone abuse can lead to possible progesterone related side effects. It can also lead to side effects such as gynecomastia, fluid retention, acne, oily skin, and development of breasts in men.

For steroid users making use of Metribolone, antiestrogens such as Clomid and Nolvadex are highly recommended for restoring the natural production of testosterone after end of a steroid cycle.

Three components of fitness for steroid users

Steroid usage is catching rage among people by the day, especially the younger players. Where its use is in no way fatal, it would still remain in one’s best favor if they are taken with the help of a medical expert. Many people think that reading about them in magazines or the internet is enough. Where knowledge imparted through these mediums is not wrong, there are minute things that one must know while practically administering steroids.

Hence do not, under any circumstances skimp on your doctor’s visit if you are following a steroid regime. This also becomes necessary because many a times excessive usage can lead to serious illnesses. So let’s have a look at three components of fitness that a user should focus at while administering anabolics.

These are his:

• Cardio-vascular health
• Muscular strength and endurance
• Flexibility

So to ensure that your fitness levels are maintained during the administration of  steroids, it is imperative to keep up with cardio along with plenty of stretching. This will greatly help in regulating the cholesterol level of the user as well. Flexibility will aid in circulation as well as assist with injury prevention.

Many anabolic steroid users often say that their cholesterol levels shoot up to great level after a cycle but are readily brought back to normal with proper nutrition and aggressive cardio workouts.

For flexibility, stretching at least three times a week for 20 minutes each time greatly helps. Also, it is becomes important to hold any given stretch for at least 20 seconds at a time. This is because durations less than that can serve to make the muscle contract and tighten up, thereby making it to become counterproductive to flexiblity and injury prevention. The user will feel a slow release when one holds a stretch steadily for over 20 seconds and stretching of the muscle will begin to happen. This is called stretching in its true sense and is what we should aim for.

Significance of testosterone in females

When it comes to women, they are more influenced by hormones as compared to men. Testosterone, for instance. It is a male sex hormone and the females only produce one-tenth of Testosterone than men, but it still plays a vital role in their physiology. A normal woman will have 300mcg hormone production at the beginning of the day but unlike men, they are able to retain a greater percentage of the hormone in blood.

The problem is that the importance of this hormone in females has not yet been understood completely. You will rarely hear that the blood testosterone levels of a female are measured or she is recommended to buy testosterone injections owing to her deficiency. In fact, most doctors don’t know how to administer testosterone even if it declines in females. So far the world only knows that androgens are male hormones and estrogen is the female hormone.

Unfortunately, there are just a few studies that explain the implications of testosterone therapy on females and in most cases the administration of the hormone was done either orally or transdermally. Since female don’t require testosterone in high concentration, these means of administration are enough to help them cope with the deficiency. But the use of testosterone is rarely considered to address the problem in females.

If you think you can get help on testosterone deficiency by seeing your local physician, then you are wrong. Seriously, it’s hard to find a physician who will be willing to give you a testosterone prescription. The fact of the matter is that you cannot find help with the normal pharmacies. You will have to do a little bit of research to find doctors who can recommend sublingual or transdermal testosterone for both men and women. However, a genuine doctor will ask for your saliva test first to identify the deficiency and to find out the testosterone levels are low enough to provide supplements. To determine the level of freely available testosterone, a blood test is also required.

In most cases, the female deficiency can be treated with testosterone patches that are capable of releasing 150mcg of testosterone on daily basis. But the treatment is way too expensive and because there is already very less testosterone in females, scientists and physicians alike don’t feel the need for women to buy testosterone injections. You can order testosterone creams or gels from online pharmacies if there are no local venders.

The females suffering from testosterone insufficiency face more or less the same symptoms as the men with androgen deficiency. They have decreased libido and desire for sexual pleasure. Besides that, they experience constant fatigue and low energy levels along with reduced bone density, increased body fat, lack of cognitive abilities, irritability, and depression. The condition is often characterized by hot flashes which compelled most doctors and scientists to understand the importance of measurement of bioavailable testosterone in females and its supplementation in case insufficiency.

A Mild Steroid Oxandrolone

Anavar is the trademark name of the anabolic steroid, Oxandrolone (Oxandrin), created by Pfizer, Inc. It is taken orally and has few known side Oxandroloneeffects, binding well with the androgen receptor when taken in sufficient dosage.

Compared to other anabolic steroids available in the market Anavar is mildly anabolic, only slightly androgenic, and is not very toxic. It is also mild on the body's Hypothalamic-Testicular-Pituitary-Axis (HPTA) and does not aromatize or convert to estrogen a major problem for stronger anabolic steroids, which causes unwanted breast tissue to form (man boobs), called gynecomastia. As with any anabolic steroid however, high dosage of Anavar can reduce the production of luteinizing hormone (LH), halting the stimulation of Leydig cells in testicles to produce testosterone, and therefore can cause the testes to shrink or to atrophy. High dosages of Anavar (about 40-50mg) require Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) to stabilize protein catabolism and normalize the body's testosterone secretion. Anavar is also very popular because of its fat burning capability. Called a "fat-burning steroid," Anavar is said to reduce abdominal and visceral fat for those with the low to normal natural testosterone range.

Doctors usually prescribe Anavar for halting wasting related to AIDS and recovering involuntary weight loss to promote the regrowth of muscles. The drug Oxandrolone has also been used in treating cases of Osteoporosis in the past, showing partially successful results. Due to bad publicity in the abuse of the steroid however, Searle Laboratories (now Pfizer, Inc.) discontinued the sale of oxandrolone, but was later picked up by Bio-Technology General Corporation (now Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), released in 1995 under the trademark name Oxandrin. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Oxandrolone for orphan drug status in treating weight loss caused by HIV, Turner's syndrome, and alcoholic hepatitis. Oxandrolone has also showed positive results in treating hereditary angioedema and anemia. In a study of the effect of Oxandrolone on burnt victims, those treated with Oxandrolone were found to have improved body composition, reduce hospital stay time, and preserved muscle mass.

Because Anavar is a mild steroid, it may require a higher dosage compared to stronger steroids. It is not without side effects however. Those thinking of upping their dosage for this drug just because it is comparably mild should think twice. Some studies show that there is a link between the prolonged use of Anavar and liver toxicity, similar to the effects of 17-alkylated steroids. Even in lesser dosages, some users have reported side effects such as nausea, bloating, itching (hives), gastro-intestinal problems, depression, skin rash, diarrhea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual bleeding, swelling, and unusually colored stools. In rare cases, serious or even fatal liver problems can occur, as well as the development of heart disease. Regular laboratory testing is highly recommended when taking this drug, to closely monitor the liver and to ensure that low density lipoprotein (LDL; also called the "bad cholesterol") has not increased.
For bodybuilders, normal dose for a first time Anavar user is considered to be at 10-30 mg's per day. However, 10 mg may be sufficient for someone who has never taken anabolic steroids beforehand. Higher dosages may lead to androgen receptor damage, HPTA suppression, and liver damage.

Testosterone Cypionate for Muscle Building

Testosterone cypionate is a synthetic version of the naturally occurring steroid hormone testosterone. It can be taken by itself or with other drugs, along with a balanced diet and and exercise regimen, to help build muscle. However, there are a number of potentially dangerous side effects to consider before using it.

Testosterone cypionate is an injectable, synthetic, long-acting form of the steroid hormone testosterone. Testosterone cypionate differs from naturally produced testosterone in that it contains an eight-carbon ester group, which makes it more difficult for the liver to break down. Consequently, those who use it must inject testosterone cypionate into intramuscular tissue, where it is absorbed by the body, stored in fatty tissue and released slowly over time.


Testosterone binds to the androgen receptors in muscle cells, where it stimulates protein synthesis and thereby causes muscle growth. It also acts to prevent muscle tissue breakdown (catabolism) and promotes bone density. High levels of testosterone can also cause the body to retain excess water and store it as fluid in the muscle tissues, further inflating gains.

Individuals trying to add muscle mass can take testosterone cypionate by itself. Because the ester acts over a long period of time, effective doses can range from 500 to 1,000 milligrams per week for eight to 12 weeks.

Maximum muscle gains are achieved by “stacking” (taking more than one steroid hormone at a time) testosterone cypionate with other drugs. For instance, those looking for the biggest, quickest payoff can take weekly dosages of 200 to 400 milligrams of nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin) with 500 to 750 milligrams of testosterone cypionate. Individuals who want to limit water retention typically take weekly doses of 300 to 400 milligrams of Primobolan (a mild androgen) along with testosterone cypionate.

It is imperative to eat and train properly in order to gain muscle while taking testosterone cypionate. It recommends heavy resistance training, as this will cause micro-tears in muscle fibers, which the body will then repair and replace with new muscle tissue. In order to enjoy maximum muscle gain and quick recovery it’s important to eat two to three grams of protein per pound of lean body mass. For example, a 200-pound athlete with 10 % body fat has 180 pounds of lean body mass and consequently would need 360 to 540 grams of protein daily.

Testosterone cypionate can cause side effects, including high blood pressure, depletion of good cholesterol, jaundice, and heart and liver disease. As testosterone is an androgen, users may also experience deepening of the voice, greasy skin, acne and greater facial and body hair growth. Women are more prone to suffer these effects and may also experience a disruption of menstrual cycles, altered libido and an enlarged clitoris. Excess amounts of testosterone can undergo aromatization, a natural process that converts it to estrogen. In men, this can cause erectile dysfunction (including impotence) and lead to gynecomastia (the development of breasts). Additionally, taking excess amounts of exogenous (externally produced) testosterone can dampen the body’s natural production, and users may have to take injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in order to begin producing their own again.

Synthol demolishes muscle tissue

Synthol is no longer a novelty. Some bodybuilders have been injecting themselves for years with a mixture of 85 percent MCT oil, 7.5 percent lidocaine and 7.5 percent alcohol, targeting muscle groups they feel are not growing fast enough. Surgeons are now starting to notice the long-term effects of the Synthol rage: and they are not mild.

Synthol was concocted in the 1990s by the bodybuilding guru Chris Clarke. It's a 'site enhancement oil', consisting of fatty acids that accumulate in the muscle tissue where you inject the oil. As a result muscles grow at a fantastic rate. Bodybuilders like Greg Valentino developed an unnatural physique by using the substance and became world famous. Peter Hiesinger followed his example  and became ill.

Doctors have already written about the dangers of bodybuilders injecting themselves with oil, but more recently case studies have started to appear that describe the long-term effects on bodybuilders who injected themselves with Clarke's brainchild years ago. Injected fat, the study has shown, causes inflammations that decimate muscles over time.

This happened for example to the 29-year-old bodybuilder that the surgeon Suleiman Ghandourah of University Hospital Marburg. Four years ago he started injecting Synthol into his biceps, but recently these muscles started to play up. They hurt so much that the man had to stop training, and in the end he was constantly in extreme pain. The man's biceps [below left] not only looked strange, they felt strange too. It looked as though they had developed holes in them. When the doctors made an MRI scan of the man's right biceps which was in worse condition - they saw that the muscle was now made up of separate parts. There was oil between the muscle fibres [below left] and the remaining muscle tissue was inflamed.

The doctors decided to amputate the most seriously damaged part of the biceps, a piece measuring 11 x 5 x 5 cm. This helped. Six months later the bodybuilder asked the doctors to perform the same treatment on his other biceps.

The doctors operated on the man's arms. They discovered to their amazement that the man had almost no muscle tissue left in his arms. His arms were filled with pus and fat. The surgeons removed these, but when they did an MRI scan a year later they saw that hardly any muscle tissue had been restored. Three years after the operation the man was still suffering from pain and could no longer train at all.