Testosterone Enanthate

Active Substance: Testosterone Enanthate

steroidinjectableenanthate

Description

Testosterone Enanthate is an esterified variant of the naturally occurring androgen and anabolic steroid, testosterone. It is a long-acting prodrug of testosterone, meaning it is broken down by the body over time to release active testosterone. It is primarily administered via intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) injection.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the requested information:

Testosterone Enanthate (TE) Explained

  • Detailed Explanation: Testosterone Enanthate is testosterone with an enanthate (heptanoate) ester group attached at the C17$\beta$ position. This esterification makes the compound more lipid-soluble and less polar, allowing it to be dissolved in oil and injected into muscle tissue or under the skin. Once injected, the oil acts as a depot, slowly releasing the testosterone ester into the bloodstream. Esterase enzymes then cleave the ester bond, releasing free, bioavailable testosterone. This mechanism provides a sustained release profile, resulting in more stable blood levels compared to un-esterified testosterone, but still with fluctuations (peaks and troughs).

  • Other Names:

    • Generic Name: Testosterone heptanoate

    • Brand Names (Examples): Delatestryl, Xyosted, Andro LA, Everone, Testate, Androtardyl, Testinon, Testo-Enant.

Anabolic and Androgenic Ratio

Testosterone Enanthate is a prodrug of testosterone. Therefore, its intrinsic anabolic and androgenic properties are those of testosterone.

  • Anabolic:Androgenic Ratio (AAR): 1:1

Benefits and Side Effects (Pros and Cons)

Testosterone Enanthate is used primarily for Androgen Replacement Therapy (ART) in males with conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone (hypogonadism).

Category Benefits (Pros) Side Effects (Cons)
Therapeutic Restores or maintains male secondary sexual characteristics. Increases libido, bone density, muscle mass, and strength. Improves mood and energy levels in hypogonadal men. Cardiovascular Risk: Increased risk of blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Fertility: Can suppress sperm production (low sperm count) and cause testicular atrophy. Prostate: Risk of stimulating noncancerous prostate growth (BPH) or accelerating the growth of existing prostate cancer. Sleep: Can worsen or cause sleep apnea.
Pharmacological Provides a sustained release of testosterone, requiring less frequent injections than shorter-acting esters. Considered a natural and bioidentical form of testosterone once the ester is cleaved. Estrogenic Effects: Converts to estradiol (E2) via the aromatase enzyme, which can lead to side effects like gynecomastia (breast enlargement) and water/salt retention. Androgenic Effects (Excess): Acne, oily skin, male pattern baldness (in those predisposed), deepening of the voice, and excess body hair (virilization) in women and children. Fluctuations: Despite the long ester, levels still fluctuate, causing potential mood or symptom swings between injections.
Logistics Can often be self-administered at home (IM or SC, depending on formulation/brand). Injection Site Reactions: Pain, redness, swelling, or bruising at the injection site.

Dosage and Frequency (Therapeutic Use)

Dosage is highly individualized and must be determined by a healthcare professional based on blood tests, response, and the specific condition being treated (e.g., primary hypogonadism, delayed puberty, or gender-affirming therapy).

  • Typical Therapeutic Dosage and Frequency (IM injection): Generally ranges from 50 mg to 400 mg administered every 1 to 4 weeks. A common maintenance regimen for complete androgen replacement is 50 mg to 100 mg intramuscularly every 7 to 10 days to maintain relatively stable levels.

Pharmacokinetics

  • Elimination Half-Life: Approximately 4.5 to 9 days (when administered as a depot IM injection).

  • Detection Time (How many days/weeks): Detection time for performance-enhancing use can vary widely based on the dose, individual metabolism, injection frequency, and the specific drug test method used. WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) studies indicate that testosterone esters can be detected for several days to weeks. For Testosterone Enanthate, the detection time is generally longer than the Propionate ester but shorter than the Undecanoate ester. As a general estimate, metabolites can be detectable for several weeks (often cited as up to 3-5 weeks) or more, but this is highly variable.

Sterogenic, Progestronic, and Prolactin Effects

  • Sterogenic Affects (Estrogenic): High. Testosterone is a substrate for the aromatase enzyme, which converts it into the potent estrogen, estradiol (E2). This leads to a high degree of estrogenic activity and is responsible for side effects like water retention and gynecomastia.

  • Progestronic Affects: None. Testosterone and its esters do not bind significantly to the Progesterone Receptor (PR) and are not considered progestins.

  • Prolactin Affects: Indirect/Possible. While Testosterone Enanthate itself is not a prolactin agonist, high estrogen levels (which result from testosterone aromatization) can indirectly stimulate prolactin release. Some studies have shown that prolonged administration of high doses of testosterone enanthate can significantly increase prolactin levels in some animal models, though the clinical significance is debated and usually associated with very high, non-therapeutic doses.

Pharmacological Properties

Half Life

4.5 days

Active Dose

70%

Detection

3.21 weeks

Concentration

250 mg/ml

Anabolic/Androgenic Profile

Anabolic Rating100
Androgenic Rating100

Usage Effectiveness

Bulking
Cutting
Strength
Recomposition

Activity Profile

Estrogenic

High

Progestanic

None

Water Retention

High

Aromatization

Yes

Benefits

✓ Increased Muscle Mass ✓ Improved Strength Gains ✓ Improved Bone Density ✓ Improved Libido ✓ Improved Mood

Dosage Recommendations

Beginner

200-400 mg/week

Intermediate

400-600 mg/week

Advanced

600-800 mg/week

Side Effects

Common

⚠ Acne ⚠ Oily Skin ⚠ Hair Loss (Male Pattern Baldness) ⚠ Gynecomastia (Male Breast Enlargement) ⚠ Water Retention ⚠ Injection Site Pain ⚠ Injection Site Swelling ⚠ Increased Estrogen Levels

Rare

⚠ Deepening of Voice (in females) ⚠ Increased Body Hair Growth ⚠ Virilization (in females) ⚠ Mood Swings ⚠ Testicular Atrophy ⚠ Reduced Sperm Count

Severe

⚠ Increased Blood Pressure ⚠ Increased Risk of Blood Clots ⚠ Testosterone Suppression ⚠ Increased Prolactin

Safety Information

Liver Toxicity

None

Kidney Toxicity

Low

Cardiovascular Risk

Moderate

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before using any compounds.