Mestanolone

Mestanolone, also known by its chemical names methylandrostanolone and 17α-methyl-4,5α-dihydrotestosterone (17α-methyl-DHT), is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) that is taken orally. It is a synthetic derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and has a 17α-methyl group, which makes it an oral steroid that is more resistant to being broken down in the liver. While it was once used medically, it has largely been discontinued, though it is still available in some countries like Japan.

Benefits and Side Effects

Benefits:

• Androgenic effects: Mestanolone is known for its strong androgenic effects, particularly on the central nervous system and neuromuscular interactions.

• Improved performance: It has been reported to enhance qualities like speed, strength, aggression, focus, endurance, and stress resilience.

• Limited muscle-building: Its value as a muscle-builder is considered to be less significant compared to its androgenic effects.

Side Effects: As an anabolic androgenic steroid, Mestanolone can cause a range of side effects, including:

• Hepatotoxicity: Like other 17α-alkylated oral steroids, Mestanolone can be toxic to the liver.

• Androgenic side effects: These are common and can include:

  • Acne

  • Hair loss (male pattern baldness)

  • Increased body and facial hair

  • Suppression of natural testosterone production in men, which can lead to testicular shrinkage and decreased sperm count.

  • Masculinization (virilization) in women, which can cause a deepening of the voice, clitoral enlargement, and changes to the menstrual cycle.

• Other side effects:

  • Headaches

  • Depression

  • Fluid retention (edema)

  • Enlarged breasts in men (gynecomastia)

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Known for significant improvements in strength and neurological performance.

• Available in an oral form, which is convenient for some users.

Cons:

• High risk of liver damage (hepatotoxicity).

• High androgenic activity, leading to a high potential for side effects like hair loss and acne.

• Significant potential for virilization in women.

• Limited use as a muscle-building agent.

• Largely discontinued in medicine, making it difficult to obtain legally and safely in most places.

Dosage and Frequency

There is not enough reliable medical information to determine a safe and appropriate dosage for Mestanolone for performance-enhancing purposes. Medical dosages for similar drugs like methyltestosterone (which is structurally related to Mestanolone) have been reported in ranges of 10 to 50 mg per day for men, but this is for medical conditions, not performance enhancement. Any use of such substances should be done under the strict guidance of a healthcare professional due to the significant health risks.

Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-life: The specific half-life of Mestanolone is not widely documented in easily accessible sources, but oral steroids generally have short half-lives.

• Detection time: The detection time of Mestanolone can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the dosage, duration of use, individual metabolism, and the type of drug test used. Oral steroids typically have a detection window of several weeks. A study on methyltestosterone, a similar compound, found it was detectable for up to 14 days in urine using certain testing methods, but this can be longer with more sensitive tests.

Sterogenic, Progestogenic, and Prolactin Effects

• Estrogenic: Mestanolone is a derivative of DHT, which cannot be converted to estrogen by the aromatase enzyme. Therefore, it does not have direct estrogenic activity. This means it is unlikely to cause estrogen-related side effects like gynecomastia (enlarged breasts in men) and water retention, which are common with other anabolic steroids like testosterone.

• Progestogenic: Mestanolone is not known to have significant progestogenic activity.

• Prolactin: While Mestanolone is not directly prolactin-increasing, it is a derivative of DHT. DHT has been shown in some studies to have an anti-estrogenic effect and can inhibit estrogen-induced prolactin release. This is a complex hormonal interaction and does not mean Mestanolone has an independent effect on prolactin, but rather that it may indirectly affect its regulation by reducing estrogen's influence.

Anabolic Androgenic Ratio

Based on a study from 1963, the anabolic to androgenic ratio for Mestanolone was estimated to be 0.8:1. This means it has a slightly lower anabolic (muscle-building) effect compared to its androgenic (masculinizing) effect.