Description

American athletes have a long relationship with Testosterone Cypionate. While Testosterone Enanthate is widely manufactured throughout the world, Cypionate appears to be almost exclusively an American item. Therefore, it is not surprising that American athletes in particular favor this testosterone ester. However, many claim that this is not just a matter of simple pride, often swearing cypionate to be a superior product, providing a bit more of a 'punch' than enanthate. At the same time it is said to produce a slightly higher level of water retention, but not enough to be easily discerned. Of course, when we look at the situation objectively, we see that these two steroids are really interchangeable, and Cypionate is not at all superior. Both are long-acting oil-based injectables, which will keep testosterone levels high enough for about two weeks. Enanthate may be slightly better in terms of testosterone release as this ester is one carbon atom lighter than cypionate (remember ester is calculated in total steroid weight in milligrams). The difference is so insignificant though that no one can rightly say it's noticeable (we're talking maybe a few milligrams per shot). Regardless, Cypionate became the most popular testosterone ester on the US black market for a very long time. As with all testosterone injectables, considerable gains in muscle mass and strength can be expected during a cycle.Since testosterone has a remarkably high affinity for estrogen conversion, the mass gained from this drug is likely to be accompanied by a discernible level of water retention. The resulting loss of course definition makes cypionate a very poor choice for the dieting or cutting phases. The excessive level of estrogen brought about by this drug can also cause one to develop gynecomastia rather quickly. If the user notices uncomfortable pain, swelling, or lump below the nipple, an ancillary drug such as Proviron® and/or Nolvadex® will likely be added. This will minimize the effect of estrogen to a great extent, making the steroid much more tolerable to use. The powerful anti-aromatase Arimidex® is still a better option, but the high price tag prevents it from being more popularly used. Those with a known sensitivity to estrogen may find it more beneficial to use ancillary drugs such as Proviron® and Nolvadex® early in the cycle, in order to prevent estrogen-related side effects before they become apparent. Since testosterone is the main male androgen, we should also expect to see pronounced androgenic side effects with this drug. Much intensity is related to the rate at which the body converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This, as you know, is the diverted metabolite responsible for the high prominence of androgenic side effects associated with testosterone use. This includes the development of oily skin, acne, body/facial hair growth, and male pattern baldness. Those concerned that they may have a genetic predisposition toward male pattern baldness may want to avoid testosterone altogether.Others choose to add the ancillary drug Propecia®, a relatively new compound that prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (see: Proscar®). This can greatly reduce the chance of running into a hair loss problem, and will likely lessen the intensity of other androgenic side effects. Although active in the body for much longer, cypionate is injected on a weekly basis. This should keep blood levels relatively constant, although picky individuals may even prefer to inject this drug twice a week. At a dose of 200mg to 800mg per week, we should certainly see dramatic results. It is interesting to note that while a large number of other steroidal compounds have become available since testosterone injectables, they are still considered to be the dominant bulking agents among bodybuilders. There is little argument that these are some of the most powerful mass drugs. While large doses are generally unnecessary, some bodybuilders have professed to use excessively high doses of this drug. This was much more common before the 1990s, when vials of cypionate were generally very cheap and easy to find in the states. A 'more is better' attitude is easy to justify when paying only $20 for a 10cc vial (today the typical price of a single injection). When taking dosages above 800-1000mg per week, there is no doubt that water retention will become the main gain, far outweighing new mass gain. The practice of 'megadosing' is therefore inefficient, especially when we take into account the typically high cost of steroids today. It is also important to remember that the use of an injectable testosterone will rapidly suppress endogenous testosterone production.Therefore, it may be good advice to use a testosterone-stimulating drug such as HCG and/or Clomid® / Nolvadex® at the end of a cycle. This should help the user avoid a strong 'crash' due to hormone