Testosterone Enanthate is an anabolic androgenic steroid derived from testosterone. The steroid is developed with an enanthate ester to slow down its absorption. As a result, a single injection allows the steroid to remain functional in your system for a relatively long duration. This reduces the frequency of injections and allows your body to take full advantage of the steroid for longer before testosterone levels fall back to the baseline.
Testosterone Enanthate has been around for decades under different brand names like Delatestryl, Xyosted, Testanon, Androfil, Testrin, Testoviron, Testro, Sustrone, Everone, Depando, and Cernos. Its use in the medical field started way back in the 1950s. Back then, testosterone enanthate was used to treat conditions such as testosterone deficiency or hypogonadism. The steroid was also used in boys experiencing delayed puberty.
TESTO-MAX (SUSTANON)
In recent years, testosterone enanthate has been used in hormone therapy among transgender masculine people.
Besides the therapeutic uses, Testosterone enanthate is also used illegally in the bodybuilding industry. The steroid is used in boosting testosterone levels to increase lean muscle mass and boost athletic performance. While Test Enanthate has consistently produced impressive results among athletes, it has also been on the spot for inducing serious medical complications.
For one, this powerful steroid causes a spike in testosterone levels, which stimulates your body to shut down the production of natural testosterone. This is also referred to as testosterone suppression. If left untreated, testosterone suppression can end up affecting your sex drive, muscle gains, stamina, and overall physical performance. Continued use of the steroid can also result in life-threatening adverse reactions, and that's why a lot of people have moved on from using anabolic steroids to safer legal alternatives.
Testosterone Enanthate Dosage
Testosterone Enanthate is currently available as a prescription drug only. Most of the dosage guidelines available are based on its use in testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
- Delayed Puberty – 10 to 200mg administered every 2 to 4 weeks. Its use should be limited to 4-6 week cycles.
- Transgender Hormone Therapy – 50 to 200mg per week for first-timers or 100 to 200mg every two weeks if you have some experience using the drug.
- Metastatic Male Hypogonadism – 50 to 400mg administered every 2 to 4 weeks.
- Breast Cancer – This steroid can also be used for treating breast cancer at dosages of between 200 and 400mg. The drug should be administered every 2 to 4 weeks under the supervision of a licensed physician.
For bodybuilding purposes, the dosages are mostly based on anecdotal reports. In general, the muscle-building dosages of Testosterone Enanthate, Testosterone Cypionate, Sustanon, or any other similar steroids are relatively higher. This is a big problem because the high doses also increase the risk of adverse reactions.
You should also know that there is no one-fits-all dosage. Different bodybuilders react differently to these drugs, so you may have to adjust your dosage based on your tolerance and other factors. Whatever the case, the one thing you must do is start with lower dosages and work your way up if it’s your first time using steroids.
This steroid should be used in short cycles followed by post cycle therapy. Drugs such as Nolvadex, Clomid, and HCG are very common during PCT. You may also want to use some on-cycle support drugs, especially if you are stacking multiple steroids.
Testosterone Enanthate Side Effects
Test Enanthate is known to produce a myriad of side effects. Some of them are minor and may even disappear on their own as your body gets used to the drug, while others can get very severe. Some of the adverse reactions are dose-dependent, so you should be able to avoid them by minimizing your dosages.
Here is a list of some of the known side effects of the steroid:
- Swelling and pain at the site of injection
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Depression and anxiety
- Mood swings
- Increased aggression
- Trouble sleeping
- Acne breakout and abnormally oily skin
- Male pattern baldness
- Gynecomastia
- Difficulty or frequent urination
- Reduced sperm count
- Severe liver damage
The use of steroids among women is not uncommon. The drugs help female athletes burn fat and increase their lean muscle mass in record times. However, testosterone injections also pose unique challenges in women. For instance, they can increase the expression of male characteristics such as voice deepening in what is known as virilization. The steroids can also mess up with menstrual cycles and cause clitoral enlargement and irregular hair growth on the face and other parts of the body. Note that voice deepening and clitoral enlargement can be permanent side effects.
Other serious adverse effects associated with testosterone injections are stroke, congestive heart failure, heart attack, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). All these are life-threatening conditions, so you want to consult a medical practitioner right away if you notice symptoms like rapid breathing, shortness of breath, severe headaches, trouble speaking, and severe shooting pain in the chest, jaw, or left arm.
Is Testosterone Enanthate Legal?
Testosterone Enanthate is legal for medical uses like the treatment of hypogonadism or testosterone deficiency. You will require a doctor’s prescription and supervision when using the drug for these conditions.
Outside the medical arena, the use of this steroid is prohibited in most countries, including the US. Athletes and bodybuilders using this drug to gain muscles and increase endurance are doing so against the laws, which is very dangerous.
The steroid is also banned in competitive sports since it gives users an unfair advantage over their competitors. Therefore, avoid using it if you are competing at the highest levels in professional sports lest you end up getting banned and fined.
Final Thoughts
Testosterone Enanthate is a decent option in testosterone replacement therapy for men with hypogonadism. It can also produce good results in transgender masculine people.
However, when it comes to bodybuilding, Test Enanthate is far from the perfect option. While the steroid may help you gain several pounds of muscle mass and increase your athletic performance, it does come with lots of risks and side effects that can escalate to serious medical complications. Some of the adverse effects like DVT and stroke are even life-threatening. Ask yourself this; are the few pounds of mass worth my health and life? Is the increase in raw power and strength worth risking my liver over?
References
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Testosterone-enanthate
https://www.lipomed.com/index.php?eid=312§ion=mediadir&cmd=detail