Drostanolone Enanthate (Masteron)

Drostanolone enanthate, also known as Masteron, is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It's a long-acting version of drostanolone, with the enanthate ester attached to extend its half-life and allow for less frequent injections. It was originally developed and used in the medical field, particularly for the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, but it has since been discontinued for this purpose.

Different Names

• Drostanolone Enanthate is the chemical name.

• Masteron is the most common brand name, though it specifically refers to the propionate version. The enanthate version is often called Masteron Enanthate.

• Dromostanolone is another chemical name.

Side Effects and Benefits

Benefits:

• Muscle Hardness and Density: Drostanolone is highly valued by bodybuilders for its ability to produce a "hard," defined look, as it is a non-aromatizing steroid. This means it does not convert to estrogen, which helps reduce water retention and gives the muscles a more chiseled appearance.

• Fat Loss: It is often used in cutting cycles to help preserve muscle mass while on a calorie-deficit diet, and it can contribute to a leaner physique.

• Increased Strength: Users report significant increases in strength without a substantial increase in body weight, which is beneficial for athletes who need to stay within a specific weight class.

• Anti-Estrogenic Properties: As a DHT derivative, it has no estrogenic activity, and some sources suggest it may even have a weak anti-estrogen effect. This can help prevent side effects like gynecomastia that are common with other aromatizing steroids.

Side Effects:

• Androgenic Side Effects: As an androgenic steroid, it can cause a range of side effects related to male characteristics. These include acne, accelerated male pattern baldness, and increased body and facial hair growth.

• Cardiovascular Issues: AAS use, including drostanolone enanthate, can negatively affect cholesterol levels, increasing LDL ("bad") cholesterol and decreasing HDL ("good") cholesterol, which raises the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Virilization in Women: Due to its strong androgenic nature, drostanolone enanthate can cause virilization in women, leading to irreversible changes such as deepening of the voice, clitoral enlargement, and changes in menstrual cycles.

• Suppression of Natural Testosterone Production: Like all anabolic steroids, it will suppress the body's natural production of testosterone. This can lead to testicular atrophy and low libido. Post-cycle therapy (PCT) is often used to help restore natural hormone function after a cycle.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Excellent for achieving a lean, hard, and defined physique.

• Does not aromatize into estrogen, eliminating the risk of water retention and gynecomastia.

• Good for preserving muscle mass during a cutting phase.

• Provides a noticeable increase in strength.

Cons:

• Significant risk of androgenic side effects, including hair loss and acne.

• Can cause serious cardiovascular strain by negatively impacting cholesterol levels.

• Strongly suppresses natural testosterone production.

• Not suitable for bulking cycles as it does not promote significant weight or muscle mass gain.

Dosage and Frequency

Dosage and frequency vary widely and are highly dependent on individual goals and experience. However, a common dosage for performance enhancement is typically in the range of 400-600 mg per week. Due to its long half-life, a weekly injection is sufficient to maintain stable blood levels. Some users may split the weekly dosage into two smaller injections (e.g., 200 mg twice a week) to further stabilize levels and minimize injection volume.

Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-life: The half-life of Drostanolone Enanthate is approximately 5-6 days. This means it takes this long for half of the substance to be eliminated from the body.

• Detection time: The detection time is the period for which the substance can be detected in drug tests. For drostanolone enanthate, the detection time is typically around 3 weeks to 3 months, although this can vary based on individual metabolism, dosage, and the sensitivity of the testing method.

Sterogenic, Progestronic, and Prolactin Effects

• Estrogenic: Drostanolone is a derivative of DHT, and as such, it does not aromatize into estrogen. This is one of its most desirable characteristics, as it eliminates estrogen-related side effects.

• Progestronic: Drostanolone is not known to have significant progestogenic activity. Unlike some other anabolic steroids that can activate the progesterone receptor, drostanolone does not. This also helps to prevent related side effects.

• Prolactin: Drostanolone has no direct effect on prolactin levels. High prolactin is more commonly a concern with steroids that have progestogenic activity.

Anabolic and Androgenic Ratio

The anabolic-androgenic ratio of drostanolone is generally cited as 130:40. This means it is considered to have a moderately strong anabolic effect (muscle-building) and a mild to moderate androgenic effect (related to male characteristics) when compared to a standard like testosterone, which has a ratio of 100:100.