Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. It is the responsible for producing mainly male-specific sexual traits. When synthesized, it is usually attached to an ester to delay its release into the body. Testosterone Propionate is the shortest commonly ester attached to the Testosterone hormone. This means it takes your body the least amount of time to rid itself of the ester and release the parent hormone into the body. Due to its short active life, testosterone propionate typically needs to be injected every other day at a minimum. Anecdotally, testosterone propionate causes the least side effects and the least bloating; these side effects usually subside very quickly when use is ceased.

Background

Testosterone was the first anabolic steroid developed, in the 1930’s. It has been used as the most potent mass builder for decades. Brand names of testosterone propionate include “Testovis” and “Virormone.”

Steroid Action

Testosterone is responsible for promoting health and well-being through enhanced libido, energy, immunity, increased  fat loss, gaining and maintaining lean muscle mass, preventing Osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and possible protection against heart disease. Testosterone is also responsible for normal growth and development of male sex organs and maintenance of secondary sex characteristics. Secondary sex characteristics are specific traits that separate the two sexes, but are not directly part of the reproductive system, for example: chest and facial hair, a distinguished jaw line, broad shoulders and increased muscle mass. Testosterone binds to the Androgen Receptors (AR), which thus causes accelerated muscle gain, fat loss, and muscle repair and growth. These mechanisms are stimulated by activation of the Androgen Receptors (either directly or indirectly as DHT).

There are many possible side-effects associated with Testosterone Propionate use. This product has a high level of aromatization into estrogen and coverts to DHT ( dihydrotestosterone) as well. Testosterone can convert to estrogen, the female sex hormone, creating a high risk of gynecomastia (formation of breast tissue in males). Also, supplementing Testosterone to your body will result in the shutting down of the body’s natural production of the hormone. The severity of side effects depend mostly on the dose and duration of circulating free testosterone and it’s conversion to estrogen and DHT. Testosterone’s anabolic/androgenic effects are dependant upon also dosage; the higher the dose the higher the muscle building effect. Testosterone typically promotes aggressive and dominant behavior.

Testosterone is the best mass builder known to man and recommended as the base of any mass building cycle.

Technical Data

Testosterone’s anabolic/androgenic effects are dependant upon the dose administered; usually the higher the dose, the better the results. In a study done on Testosterone (Enanthate in this case), a dose as high as 600 mg (per week) produced better results in subjects compared to those who received all of the lower doses. At the highest dose, 600 mg/week, the greatest results were achieved in comparison to any of the lower doses studied. The highest fat loss, most muscle growth, and increased size and strength were achieved at the higher dose. In the same study, HDL cholesterol was lowered and the subjects experienced acne. There was roughly a 15% gain in Lean Body Mass from 20 weeks of 600 mgs/week of Testosterone therapy.

Overall, the most common effect reported by subjects using testosterone was immense gains in strength. Alterations in size, shape, and appearance of the muscle were reported.

Due to stimulation of the Androgen Receptors (either directly or as DHT), accelerated muscle gain, fat loss, increased muscle repair and growth was experienced. Testosterone binds to the AR on fat cells; therefore, adipose (fat) tissue can be broken down more readily while new fat formation is prevented. Since the body is building muscle at an accelerated rate, more ingested food is shuttled directly to the muscle tissue (this is known as nutrient portioning) and away from fat. This is another indirect effect of testosterone on fat loss. Testosterone also promotes glycogen synthesis, which is activated by  insulin in response to high glucose levels. Glycogen provides fuel to the muscle; therefore endurance and strength increases were reported during severe muscle breakdown in intense training and workouts.

Testosterone Propionate also converts to both Estrogen (through Aromatization) and Dihydrotestosterone (through 5a-reduction). Most of the side effects people experience with testosterone use is actually from it’s conversion to these two substrates. Thus,  hair loss, water retention, acne, and other side effects are possible with use of this drug. Conversion to these hormones is also responsible for some of testosterone’s ability to build muscle; therefore when many side effects are avoided with the use of ancillary compounds, some of the muscle building properties are also stunted.

Also noteworthy is that Testosterone Propionate administration typically causes the shutdown of natural testosterone production.

User Notes

Testosterone Propionate is actually my favorite form of injectable testosterone. Anecdotally, this is because in myself as well as other users, this short acting ester would seem to produce far less water retention and a quicker onset of gains. The only down side to this particular form of testosterone is that it must be injected frequently, with many users (myself included) preferring to inject it every day or every other day at a dose of around 100 mg.

One of the most interesting things I found with my personal research on Testosterone Propionate is that when I was using it at a 100 mgs Every-Other-Day, my testosterone levels were still at the high end of normal. This would seem to indicate that drug tested athletes could probably use this same dose and still pass a doping test.

Testosterone Propionate

Testosterone is a very effective muscle builder and androgenic agent with many users reporting gains of up to 10lbs in a 30 day span using testosterone at 500mg per week. Not only does it build muscle mass, but it also helps keep recovery in-between training sessions to a minimum.  Testosterone is very effective and predictable with most of its possible side-effects being mitigated with the use of aromatase inhibitors (AI), selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS) and 5-reductase inhibitors. The side effects will vary from person to person dependent upon dosage and the physiological makeup of each user.

Profile

Testosterone is part of the androgen family of  steroid hormones naturally produced in your body.  It is primarily made by your testicles and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands. In males, testosterone is our principle sex hormone and anabolic steroid. Females produce small amounts of testosterone in their ovaries, but not much compared to what males produce.

In the male biological makeup, testosterone is needed for the development of reproductive organs and tissues such as the prostate and testicles.  Not only does testosterone help build our reproductive system, but it is also responsible for promoting our secondary sexual traits, like increased muscle mass, body hair growth, bone mass, deepening of the voice, broadness of shoulders and narrowing of the pelvis and the production of semen for sexual reproduction.

While we produce some testosterone naturally (around 200mg per week) the effects of our natural testosterone are quite mild compare to what a bodybuilder will accomplish when injecting synthetic testosterone.  Rapid muscle growth, strength increases and faster recovery, is why testosterone is still one of the most popular anabolic steroids used by athletes.

The addition of supraphysiological amounts of testosterone, via injection or transdermal delivery, creates an increased concentration of this steroid in muscle cells and other tissues.   By flooding the androgen receptors in the muscle cells with testosterone, the bodybuilder is trying to magnify the muscle-building benefits of testosterone far beyond what his/her body could ever produce on its own.

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS)

Most anabolic androgenic steroids being manufactured today are synthetically derived from testosterone.  Many new steroid hormones like dianabol and nandrolone are made in a lab by modifying the base structure of testosterone to make new versions of steroids that carry desirable traits. Like testosterone, synthetically derived steroids are used for improving performance and inducing significant muscle and strength gains.

When scientists started rating the effectiveness of other newly developed steroids, it was decided testosterone would be used as the baseline number by which all would compared.  When measuring the anabolic and androgenic effects of other steroids, scientist rate the steroid in question against testosterone’s 100/100 rating. For example the 19-nor derivative of testosterone known as Trenbolone was given a rating of 500/500 by experts because it displayed five times stronger reactions than testosterone in both its anabolic and androgenic effectiveness.

Injecting Testosterone

Testosterone is available in the human-grade pharmaceutical realm, veterinarian presentations, as well as the black-market UG brands. It comes in base form without an ester making a water-based testosterone suspension which needs to be injected every 6 hours.  This is extremely ideal for athletes subjected to steroid testing.  In addition, there are multiple ester preparations that range in length from the short propionate ester to an undecanoate version made for human use called Nebido.  Not only does testosterone come in different esters, but some preparations like sustanon 250 actually utilize four different esters in a single solution.  It is safe to say that testosterone is the most widely used steroid in the world, claiming at least half a dozen different ester preparations listed further below in this article.

Picking a good injection site for your testosterone shot is very important to avoid pain and infection. Base testosterone suspension or the shorter esters like propionate, provide for a more painful injection, so one should to not inject into sensitive muscles like the biceps or thighs.  The steroid user should inject testosterone propionate where the muscle is large and doesn’t have a comparatively high concentration of nerve endings and tendons. Propionate can cause a very painful injection that can spasm the muscle in the biceps and thighs, while the water-based testosterone suspension can pocket itself near tendons fibers where it can quickly become infected.  Short ester preparations and non-esterified steroids like suspension, should only be injected into the gluteus maximus(your butt) where the muscle is lean and has plenty of blood flow.

Many bodybuilders inject veterinarian grade testosterone because this hormone is not just present in humans, many vertebrates like horses, dogs, cats, cattle and even pigs produce identical testosterone hormones.  For decades, bodybuilders have been using anabolic steroids manufactured by veterinarian brands and marketed for animal use.  Although the label might say it is “for animal use only,” many bodybuilders sill shoot veterinarian steroids.  It is common knowledge among steroid users that these hormones work just fine in humans. Some of the most popular testosterone brands used by bodybuilders today are meant for animal use.

Dosages and Uses

Testosterone can be dosed from little as 100mg per week for therapeutic use, to as much as 1,000mg per week for hardcore bodybuilders looking for the ultimate stack.  Some professional bodybuilders have been reported as using as much as 2,000mg of testosterone per week.

Most bodybuilders whom are just beginning to dabble with testosterone will opt for doing a testosterone-only cycle as their very first run. Dosages of 500mg per week are enough to put on considerable mass and size on any bodybuilder who is training hard and eating properly during their cycle.

Cycles

Bulking Testosterone Cycle

Cutting Testosterone Cycle

Esters and Half-life

Methyl-testosterone (active half-life 6-9 hours)
Methyl-testosterone does not have an ester, but rather it is methylated for oral use and it is the oldest known oral steroid made.  Methyl-testosterone was originally used as a prescription drug to treat men with low testosterone levels, although it fell out of favor and has been replaced with injectables since methyltestosterone is quite liver toxic.  Gym folklore touts methyl-testosterone as a very strong androgen capable of increasing aggression with one dose when taken right before a workout.

Testosterone base (active half-life 4-6 hours)
Testosterone base (suspension) is an injectable testosterone hormone in a water base that was developed and used for decades, and is actually the first anabolic androgenic steroid made.  This is the purest form of testosterone and yields 100 mg of actual testosterone.  It is a pure form with no ester attached.  A few things to keep in mind with suspension: The injections can be extremely painful.  They can be a lot of PIP (post injection pain) when using suspension.  There is also a much higher likelihood of estrogen conversion and it needs to be taken very seriously.  It is used much differently than other forms of testosterone. The water-based carrier is more prone to breed infection at the injection site than oil-based preparations.

Testosterone Propionate (active half-life: 2-3 days)
Testosterone propionate is one of the most popular single-ester preparations next to testosterone enanthate.  Even women who decide to take testosterone will often use testosterone propionate because of its short acting effects. Due to its short half-life the propionate ester should be injected every day or every other day to maintain steady levels. Aside from testosterone suspension, propionate has the shortest ester of any other form of testosterone, providing 83 mg of actual testosterone.

Omnadren
Omnadren is quite similar to the popular testosterone blend known as Sustanon.  Omnadren is comprised of 4 different types of testosterone.  One 250 milligram ml of Omnadren looks like this:

• 30mg testosterone propionate
• 60mg testosterone phenylpropionate
• 60mg testosterone isocaproate
• 100mg testosterone caproate (for Omnadren)
• 100mg testosterone decanoate (for Sustanon 250)

As the longest ester in Omnadren (caproate) is slightly faster acting than the longest ester in Sustanon (decanoate), users will notice an increase in their testosterone levels sooner with Omnadren than with Sustanon.

Testosterone Cypionate (active half-life: 6-7 days)
Testosterone cypionate is probably the most popular and widely used form of testosterone.  Cypionate is the esters doctors generally recommend for  TRT and HRT treatment from doctors.  It is desirable because it can be injected once a week as opposed to twice and is a very smooth injection.  Each 100mg shot of Cypionate yields approximately 70 mg of actual testosterone once the ester is cleaved off.

Testosterone Enanthate (active half-life: 5-7 days)
Testosterone Enanthate is also one of the more prevalently used forms of testosterone esters.  It is quite similar to cypionate, with a small difference being the ester weight is slightly different.  Enanthate has a slightly shorter half life and should be injected twice a week.  It is very effective and commonly used.  Enanthate yields approximately 73 mg of actual testosterone.

Testosterone Phenylpropionate (active half-life 3-4 days)
Phenylpropionate has the shortest duration of all testosterone esters with the exception of Testosterone Propionate.  You will need to administer Testosterone-Phenylpropionate three times per week; the first dose will give you lots of energy which will reduce after two days. The second, on the other hand will increase the effects of the hormone in the body, and the third will ensure your blood levels remain stable and peaked. You might be able to get away with two injections per week, and some will find every other day to be extremely useful, but three injections per week is a good protocol to follow.  Phenylpropionate yields approximately 66 mg of actual testosterone per 100mg shot.

Testosterone Isocaproate (active half-life 7-9 days)
Testosterone Isocaproate is well known for being part of the popular testosterone blends Omnadren and Sustanon.  It is also ideal for TRT or HRT due to the longer half life and once a week injection schedule to keep stable blood levels.  Isocaproate yields approximately 72 mg of actual testosterone per 100mg shot.

Testosterone Decanoate (active half-life 12-14 days)
Testosterone Decanoate is well-known as part of the very popular form of testosterone known as sustanon.  It is ideal for TRT or HRT users as well as to be stacked with a much longer ester steroid like deca durabolin for less frequent injection schedules.  Decanoate can be injected once a week and maintain stable test levels.  A 100mg Decanoate shot yields approximately 62 mg of actual testosterone.

Testosterone Undecanoate (active half-life 19-21 days)
Testosterone Undecanoate, also known as undecylenate, is used in androgen replacement therapy primarily for the treatment of male hypogonadism, and is currently under research for use as a male contraceptive. Undecanoate is the longest esteemed form of testosterone you can find and is ideal for users on TRT or HRT.  Undecanoate yields approximately 61 mg of actual testosterone per every 100mg shot.

Side Effects

One of the reasons testosterone has become a favorite among most athletes is because it is predictable and easily tolerated by the body.  When the side-effects of testosterone use do manifest, there is a wide array of drugs available on the market that can be used to help stop these side effects, if not reverse them in some cases. The same can’t really be said for any other steroid.  Yes, granted, some steroids were designed to not have the same side effects as testosterone; however, they carry their own set of problems for which there aren’t many drugs available to mitigate them.

The side effects that manifests the quickest while using testosterone come from its conversion to estrogen, these include problems like: water retention, growth of breast tissue on men (gynecomastia, gyno, puffy nipples), blood pressure, and overall moodiness.  These can be easily mitigates with the use of anti-estrogen drugs like aromatase inhibitors (AI) and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS).

There are many side effects that come about due to the conversion of testosterone to dehydrotestosterone (DHT).  Side-effects from high levels of DHT are usually: male pattern baldness, oily skin, acne, swelling of the prostate and growth of hair in places other than the face. The side effects from DHT can be avoided by using a drug like finasteride.

Testosterone Propionate Dosage

Testosterone Propionate is regarded as a fairly popular and common anabolic steroid, as but to a far lesser extent than most other esterified variants of Testosterone. This is because of the previously mentioned aspect of inconvenience concerning Testosterone Propionate doses and dosing schedules, which will be further explained in more detail. Testosterone in any of its forms serves as an absolutely essential anabolic  steroid that should be utilized in literally every single cycle, and there are no exceptions to this rule. Testosterone  Propionate in particular is less commonly used as a first-time anabolic steroid by brand new beginners to the world of anabolic steroids. This is because of its short-acting nature with its short half-life necessitating frequent Testosterone Propionate doses (every other day  injections at the very least), which presents a far greater degree of inconvenience for beginners, as the majority of newcomers might not enjoy such an inconvenient administration schedule. Therefore,  Testosterone Enanthate and Testosterone  Cypionate are far more popular and common choices among beginners, which only require two injections, administered every week.

It has been mentioned in the introduction that Testosterone itself possesses a moderate level of Estrogenic activity due to its moderate level of interaction with the aromatase enzyme. This should always be considered when Testosterone Propionate dosages are taken into account, as the level of aromatization and therefore Estrogenic activity will always be dose-dependent whereby Testosterone Propionate doses that are high enough for the purpose of physique and performance enhancement will always be high enough to promote notable amounts of aromatization. The higher the dose of an aromatizable androgen (such as Testosterone) that is used, increasing rates of aromatization will result. At the very least, moderate amounts of an aromatase inhibitor is always advised on a cycle involving bodybuilding doses of Testosterone, but this will be covered in greater detail in the  side effects section of this profile.

An extremely important point must be made clear to the reader before the example cycles are listed is the fact that Testosterone should at all times be considered the base compound of any and all anabolic steroid cycles. It should also be the very first and only compound utilized in a first-time beginner cycle, and the various reasons are as follows:

1. Testosterone’s secured spot in every single anabolic steroid cycle is absolutely necessary every single time. For the duration of anabolic steroid cycles, endogenous natural production of Testosterone will always become suppressed and/or completely shut down due to the use of exogenous androgens. The use of some form of exogenous Testosterone is always a necessity in order to maintain normal physiological functions that are governed by Testosterone in the absence of proper endogenous  Testosterone levels.

2. Testosterone is the only anabolic steroid that without a doubt can be used on its own, and it frequently is used solitarily by many athletes and bodybuilders. The reason for the ability of solitary use is related to the first point made above.

3. Testosterone is one of the most versatile anabolic steroids in terms of its dosing schemes and its manner of use in cycles. It acts as an excellent bulking and strength agent, an excellent mass building compound, and can also be utilized effectively for cutting cycles and fat loss phases.

Medical Testosterone Propionate Dosages

Within medicine, Testosterone Propionate is primarily utilized for the treatment of androgen deficiency in adult males (hypogonadism or andropause).The original prescription guidelines stated that Testosterone Propionate doses for such a condition are that of 25mg 2 — 3 times weekly. Modern prescription guidelines and the range at 25 — 50mg administered every other day or every two days for a total of 2 — 3 times weekly.

Testosterone Propionate is also utilized, though rarely, as an adjunct therapy for female breast cancer patients, and because this is such a rare application, the prescription guidelines for such a use have never been set in stone. However, one study conducted over the course of 16 months from October 1946 — January 1948 had 12 breast cancer patients utilize Testosterone Propionate at a dose of 150mg weekly (50mg administered every other day) [1]. This particular dose would be considered far too high for females, but under the conditions it was deemed necessary.

Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Testosterone Propionate Dosages

For the purpose of physique and performance enhancement, Testosterone Propionate doses are very similar to the total cumulative weekly doses of every single Testosterone preparation. The difference with Testosterone Propionate doses is that it must be administered more frequently. Beginner Testosterone Propionate doses are normally in the range of 300 — 500mg weekly, especially for a very first anabolic steroid cycle (this would usually equate to 75 — 125mg every other day). Even the lowest end of the range, 300mg, will provide some dramatic improvements in physique and strength provided that the beginner’s nutrition and training is properly adjusted and strict. Intermediate T estosterone Propionate doses will generally land within the range of 500 — 700mg weekly (translating to 125 — 175mg every other day), with no requirements of venturing any higher than 500mg most of the time. Some intermediate users have been known to venture slightly higher, but this should never usually be necessary if, once again, the individual’s nutrition and training components are properly structured. Advanced Testosterone Propionate doses do not usually rise higher than the intermediate doses, but are known to venture as high as 700 — 1,000mg weekly or more (these doses translate to 175 — 250mg weekly). However, it is very important to remember the emphasis on nutrition and training as the key drivers as to which direction the individual carries their goals to. The other very important emphasis is also the point that higher doses and excessively high doses are not the definition of an advanced anabolic steroid user of any type. Remember that increased Testosterone Propionate doses will always correlate with an increase in aromatization and increases in the severity of side effects.

It is not always necessary for Testosterone to be utilized in high bodybuilding doses as a primary anabolic in a cycle. Testosterone Propionate will frequently be stacked alongside other anabolic steroids in a given cycle. Because the individual would be utilizing other anabolic steroids simultaneously, it is not always necessary to run Testosterone at doses of 300mg, 500mg, 700mg, or more. In such a cycle, Testosterone can be relegated to a supportive role of providing TRT ( Testosterone Replacement Therapy) while other compounds are utilized as the primary muscle-building anabolics. This is the concept behind running Testosterone at TRT doses. The idea behind this concept is the utilization of Testosterone at what would be as close as possible to reflecting the body’s endogenously manufactured physiological dose. The purpose behind such a practice is for the maintenance of proper normal physiological functions that Testosterone governs and regulates in the body, and this is done during a period during which the user’s natural endogenous Testosterone production is shut down or suppressed as a result of the anabolic steroids utilized in a cycle. Proper Testosterone Propionate doses for the purpose of TRT are approximately 100mg weekly and no higher (this translates to 25mg every other day), seeing as though the human body manufactures approximately 50 — 70mg endogenously (depending on factors such as genetics, age, lifestyle habits, etc.). This also serves a dual function where by it will also eliminate or lower the rate of aromatization of Testosterone into  Estrogen, negating the requirement for aromatase inhibitors in all but the most sensitive individuals.

Female Testosterone Propionate Dosage

Testosterone Propionate use among female anabolic steroid users is very rare, considering its strong androgenic rating in comparison to other anabolic steroids that may be weaker in this regard. Testosterone Propionate is used medically for the treatment of female breast cancer patients, and also for the treatment of female-to-male transgender transformations. It is not recommended for females for the purpose of performance and physique enhancement due to the strong tendency for the manifestation of virilization effects that can be very quick to manifest during use of strong androgens such as Testosterone,  Trenbolone, etc. With this having been stated, there exists a small amount of female users that favor Testosterone Propionate due to the fact that blood plasma levels of  Testosterone Propionate (due to the short ester) are much easier to maintain control over. This is usually the case when virilization symptoms become prominent, cessation of the compound will result in a fast clearance from the body in a matter of days due to the short half-life (rather than weeks as with the longer estered forms of Testosterone). Female Testosterone Propionate doses in this case would be found in the range of 25mg every 5 — 7 days for an average of 6 — 8 weeks (and often shorter).

Proper Administration and Timing of Testosterone Propionate Dosages

Testosterone Propionate possesses a half-life of 4.5 days due to the shorter Propionate ester in comparison to the longer estered variants of Testosterone. Testosterone Propionate doses require  injections administered every other day at the very least, regardless of week days, so as to ensure stable blood levels. For example, if an individual’s intention is to administer 400mg weekly of Testosterone Propionate, it is advised to inject 100mg on Monday, 100mg on Wednesday, 100mg on Friday, 100mg on Sunday, 100mg on Tuesday, and so on and so forth.

It should be made aware that Testosterone Propionate is not highly favored among individuals not only because of the issue of frequent injections, but also because the majority of Testosterone Propionate is considered by many to be a very painful injection. This due in part because of the short-length chain of the Propionate ester, known to irritate the injection site, and also due in part because of the higher amounts of co-solvents (such as benzyl alcohol and benzyl benzoate) which are known for  injection site irritation as well but are necessary in higher amounts in high-concentration anabolic steroid preparations. Some users can be very sensitive to these effects, and will avoid Testosterone Propionate at all costs, as reactions in those very sensitive can result in intense soreness at the injection site accompanied by a slight body fever that usually lasts for 2 — 4 days following the first few injections. The potential  injection site irritation and soreness combined with the fact that Testosterone Propionate must be administered often, is the reason as to why it is not a highly favored Testosterone variant except among a small niche of users.

Expectations and Results From Testosterone Enanthate Dosages

As Testosterone Propionate is, of course, Testosterone, it suffers from moderate aromatization which results in the Estrogenic side effects of bloating, water retention, elevated blood pressure (as a result of the bloating), and risks of gynecomastia. This soft and puffy look that bloating brings to the physique is generally undesirable for most users that wish to engage in cutting cycles or lean mass cycles. Therefore, Testosterone Propionate must be utilized with an  aromatase inhibitor in order to disable the aromatase enzyme and eliminate the water retention effect of the Estrogen conversion, which should result in a harder looking physique without the soft puffiness. In doing so, Testosterone can successfully be utilized as a ‘hardening’ and cutting compound, as well as for lean mass gains. Some individuals prefer the water retention, convinced that it aids in protecting tissues and connective tissue from the stressors of heavy strength gains and heavy lifting, and therefore Testosterone is preferred as a bulking and strength gaining compound in this case. In any case,  Testosterone is also an excellent compound for all-out bulking and strength gaining cycles, which is what its main use seems to be among bodybuilders and athletes. It is a very versatile compound that can provide the anabolic strength necessary for bulking phases.