Description

Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in humans, it plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate and woman both, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle and bone mass and body hair for man. In addition, testosterone is involved in health and well-being and in the prevention of osteoporosis in both sexes. Insufficient levels of testosterone in men may lead to abnormalities including frailty and bone loss. Testosterone - has pronounced anabolic properties: increases muscle mass, accelerates protein synthesis, increasing recovery rate and the supply of glycogen in muscles etc. Testosterone controls an infinite number of processes in the body, which is the most common hormone in our body that is always necessary, because testosterone drugs are used both by elderly people with age hypogonadity and athletes on steroid cycle as a basis.

Mechanism of action

Testosterone binds to androgen receptors and is a precursor to another biologically active androgen, dihydrotestosterone, which is formed by exposure to testosterone of the enzyme 5α-reduction. Dihydrotestosterone has a 5 times greater ability to bind to androgen receptors. Under the influence of these hormones, the receptor changes its structure and transmits a signal to the cell nucleus, where androgenic effects are realized by changing the activity of certain DNA genes. Testosterone can be converted to estrogen under the influence of aromatase (this feature is called aromatization). Predominantly estrogens, rather than testosterone, activate feedback through the hypothalamus-pituitary-testes axis and suppress the secretion of endogenous testosterone when exogenous drugs are administered.

Medical Use

Testosterone is included in the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines, which are the most important medications needed in a basic health system, so opinion that its only anabolic steroid for making muscles bigger and stronger is wrong, it’s a vital hormonal drug. Testosterone is used as a medication for the treatment gender dysphoria, male hypogonadism and certain types of breast cancer.

Since testosterone levels decrease as men age, to maintain health and quality of life, it is necessary to add hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). HRT maintains serum testosterone levels in the normal range. Decline of testosterone production with age has led to interest in androgen replacement therapy.

Mood, spatial ability, attention, memory, and other key cognitive functions affected by testosterone in humans. Preliminary evidence suggests that low testosterone levels is a risk factor for cognitive decline and possibly for dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

In both sexes testosterone is involved in health and well-being and in the prevention of osteoporosis. Insufficient levels of testosterone in men may lead to abnormalities including frailty and bone loss. Also testosterone treatment is beneficial in adult men with age-related low levels of testosterone who have sexual dysfunction.

Testosterone for seniors

Men over 35 who complain of well-being are very often recommended to test blood testosterone, and if it is below 12 nmol/l, then they are offered to start hormone replacement therapy. This decision has a number of positive aspects. The composition of the body changes for the better: more meat, less fat, sexual function is experiencing a second youth, there is a certain rejuvenating effect, in general, the body wins back all the negativity that it received during the time it was in a state of androgen deficiency.

The attention of the doctor is necessary: It is necessary to constantly monitor the lipid profile, general clinical blood parameters, the levels of estradiol and prolactin.

It is equally important that the production of natural gonadotropins on HRT is steadily approaching zero. Therefore, if it is necessary to acquire offspring, special therapy with the use of gonadodotropins is necessary.

For the selection of the dosage of testosterone therapy, a doctor's consultation is required. The dosage depends on your normal testosterone levels, current levels, body weight, body fat percentage, SHBG, and the aromatization process.

Approximate dosages for replacement therapy are much lower than those for athletes 50-200 mg a week.

Testosterone in sports

The main advantage of testosterone is a increase in muscle mass and strength. Along with the anabolic effect, the drug has a strong androgenic effect. Androgens work by entering a cell and coming into contact with the AR protein. This contact stimulates the AR protein to change its shape and become activated. Though it's a small change, the effect is large because it allows AR to enter the nucleus and grab onto the DNA (also known as binding the DNA).

Rapid weight gain is associated with significant water retention through sodium retention and estrogenic effects. That’s why testosterone often helps to treat joint problems, pain and crunching in the shoulders and knee, but nandrolone and growth hormone would be more preferable in this regard. Testosterone stimulates regeneration processes in the body. Increases overall tone and desire to exercise, prevents overtraining. Increases the oxygen capacity of the blood and nitric oxide production, which leads to good pump during the training.

The recommended dose in sports is 250-500 mg per week, while with an increase in the athlete's body weight, the dosage is most often revised upward. Usually testosterone cycle lasts 8-10 weeks, and after 2-3 weeks post-cycle therapy is carried out. Very often testosterone is used for longer periods of time. The maximum dosage of testosterone is 2000 per week in high level professional athletes, further increase in dosage is pointless, only thing will raise is a side effects.

In order to avoid the development of estrogenic side effects due to the aromatization process, it is highly desirable to do tests, etc., and the need to use aromatase inhibitors. It is optimal to test the level of estradiol before and during use of aromatase inhibitors to monitor the effectiveness and determine the required dosage. We strongly recommend that you trust the dosage selection to professionals only, however the information below is provided for reference.

Dosages

Beginner: 50 mg EOD
The average dosage: 100-150 mg EOD
High dosage: 100 mg + ED

Effects

Increased muscle mass
Testosterone is involved in the development of male genital organs, secondary sexual characteristics: low voice, male facial features, male-pattern hair growth, and so on
Provides spermatogenesis and male behavior(sexual, aggressiveness, resoluteness)
Increased muscle mass
Burning fat
Increase in strength indicators
Increase libido
Reducing blood cholesterol levels
Reducing the risk of heart ischemia and coronary heart disease
Stimulation of erythropoiesis and male-like distribution of subcutaneous fatty tissue;
Influences nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism