When it comes to the human body there are many facets and aspects that are imperative to good health and function and testosterone is without a doubt high on the list; especially regarding men. Althoughtestosterone is important for proper bodily function in both men and women, in men it is a large part of what makes us who we are. Testosterone belongs to the androgenic group of hormones yet is extremely anabolic and is responsible for a host of various things but it is in its muscle building qualities that are of particular interest to most.
Many men the world over desire a bigger stronger body and there are many key factors that must come into play in order to reach this goal; and all though some factors may indeed be of equal importance, nothing ranks higher than adequate levels of testosterone. Most are aware of protein being essential to muscle growth and maintenance but testosterone is of equal importance. In order for this protein to be synthesized in the body we must have adequate amounts of testosterone to achieve this purpose; the more testosterone we have the higher the achievement. Due to this fact many individuals choose to supplement their natural order with various forms of exogenous testosterones. Keep in mind, we use the term “supplement” very loosely because exogenous use of testosterones will shut down your natural testosterone production; more aptly we might say we replace our natural testosterone with many of the synthetic testosterones available.
There are many individuals who desire a better physique in terms of mass and or strength who supplement with other forms of anabolic steroids other than testosterones; yes, results can be achieved but by in large this isn’t the best approach. Testosterone is the alpha and omega when it comes to anabolic steroids; all anabolic steroids are derived from testosterone; other anabolic steroids are simply altered forms of the testosterone hormone. Quite simply, there isn’t an anabolic steroid around that carries the all-around attributes such as that of testosterone; for building a lean physique ripped with muscle nothing beats testosterone.
What can Supplementing with Testosterones do for Me?
The effects testosterone can have on your body are not only remarkable but more than we have time to list. Here is a good sample of the many effects but not limited to:
- Increase Red Blood Cell Count: the higher your red blood cell count the more oxygen in the blood, thereby raising your levels of endurance enabling you to do more work, i.e. work harder and build more muscle.
- Catabolic Protection: testosterone can protect the body from catabolic hormones; hormones that destroy muscle tissue and promote fat storage.
- Increased Protein Stores: with increased levels of testosterone and it makes no difference which of the varioustestosteronesyou’re supplementing with, our muscles are able to hold and store more protein due to a higher level of nitrogen produced in the muscles via increased testosterone levels.
- Faster-Recovery: when we train we place heavy strain on our muscles; think of it like small fibrous tears that must be repaired. Testosterone plays an active part in this repair that must take place and it is in the repair process that causes our muscles to grow. With added testosterone we increase our repair capabilities, as well as speed up the process dramatically. In short, we become more efficient, we are able to do more work in a shorter period of time.
One of the most common questions among those looking to take testosterone is how much should they take? To be frank, there is no cut and dry answer here; it is largely individually based and this basis lies within the subject’s desires, goals and the level of risk they are willing to undertake. Make no mistake,testosteroneis a remarkable hormone and there are numerous types of testosterones we can use and they all work and work well. However, as with so many things in life, more is better in terms of results; the more you take the higher the yielding results will be; however, the more you take, the more at risk you become to adverse side-effects. It is a trade-off and you and only you can decide how far you’re willing to push it.
Side-Effects of Testosterone Use (All Testosterones)
Possible Side-Effects may Include:
- High Blood Pressure
- Low HDL Cholesterol
- High LDL Cholesterol
- Acne
- Gynecomastia
- Infertility
- Testicular Atrophy
With all of these side-effects there are two key words we should keep in mind and these words are true no matter which testosterones we use; “Possible” and “Reversible.” Of the seven listed side-effects only one is for the most part guaranteed with testosterone use and that is testicular atrophy; when you supplement with exogenous testosterone our natural testosterone stops thereby causing our testicles to temporarily shrink. Our testicles shrink because we are no longer producing sperm at the rate we were before we began exogenous testosterone use. Once we discontinue exogenous testosterone use our natural testosterone production begins once again and our testicles fill out to their normal size.
As for the other side-effects listed, everyone is avoidable, reversible and or non-existent depending on the individual. Keep in mind, when we supplement with various testosterones the higher the dose the greater the risk; also keep in mind risk is just that, it’s risk, it does not mean it is guaranteed by any means. When using exogenous testosterone, with a sound healthy diet the first three side-effects can always be eliminated; you may need to supplement with fatty acids and things like this to keep things in check and if you can’t afford a $6 bottle of fish-oil you shouldn’t be buying testosterone.
As it pertains to acne, this risk is highly overrated. If you are sensitive it is possible but the biggest cause of horrible acne while on testosterone is using dirty gear; buy human grade gear and you’ll save yourself a lot of pain.
Now we come to Gynecomastia (Gyno or “Bitch Tits”) this can occur with almost any of the various forms of testosterones and many other anabolic steroids; there is absolutely no way to predict if you’ll be one to fall prey but there are measures to take. A good aromatase inhibitor such as Femara may indeed keep you protected; in most cases it will. If you do find yourself in a place where even this won’t cut it, I’m afraid surgery is the only option. Once again, as always, keep in mind, the higher dose of the testosterone you run the greater the risk.
Standard Doses
As mentioned before there is no cut and dry answer in terms of specific dose but there is an area of common ground. For example, first time testosterone users, no matter which of the various testosterones they choose will use approximately 400mg-500mg per week when on cycle; keep in mind, we’re talking about performance enhancing purposes, not testosterone replacement therapy. 400mg-500mg per week is a very good starting point and in many, many cases no matter how advanced of an athlete you may be, 400mg-500mg of testosterone per week while on cycle may indeed be all you ever need; this a good standard dose.
Beyond the standard dose, many athletes who require an extreme amount of muscle tissue will inevitably raise the dose quite a bit higher; 750-mg-1,000mg per week is not uncommon at all. To answer your next question; yes, absolutely, some indeed raise the dose quite higher than even 1,000mg per week but the risk is also multiplied a great deal. Are these higher doses necessary and worth the risk? For most people it’s not and in the end it’s usually a waste but for those needing an extreme look it’s the only way they’re going to be able to maintain it; it is however not recommended by any means when speaking of your general health.
The Bottom Line:
Testosterone is a powerful hormone, very powerful and deserves your respect. If you decide testosterone supplementation is right for you always consult your doctor and make sure you are in proper health for testosterone use. Further, it is very important that you understand the laws regarding testosterone and anabolic steroids in the country in-which you live. Once you have established a good understanding of how testosterone works, established your level of overall health and understand the risk; once you understand the law in your country and reach a point where you too would like to use testosterone, you will not find a better tool to reach your goals.
