In 1935, testosterone became the first anabolic steroid ever synthesized, extracted from bull testicles. Testosterone later entered the market in the 1950s through the pharmaceutical company Upjohn. It is commonly believed that as time passes, technology and knowledge advance; consequently, the potency of “supplements” evolves accordingly. However, this is not the case—testosterone remains one of the most effective steroids available on the market today.
Based on our experience, testosterone offers the highest risk-to-reward ratio among all anabolic steroids. This is precisely why physicians readily prescribe TRT to hundreds of thousands of men worldwide.
Testosterone is the primary steroid used in beginner cycles and also serves as the foundation for more advanced cycles. Due to its enduring popularity, testosterone remains in production nearly a century after its introduction. It was a staple steroid during bodybuilding’s golden age, helping to create physiques that are not only remembered today but idolized and regarded as among the greatest in history.
Different types of testosterone
The four most popular testosterone esters are:
Testosterone suspension
Testosterone propionate
Testosterone enanthate
Testosterone Cypionate
Essentially, no single ester is superior to another, as they are all effective forms of testosterone. However, they differ in their onset speed and the time required for each ester to be cleared from the body.
Testosterone Suspension
Testosterone suspension is not recommended for beginners due to its fast-acting nature (it is pure testosterone in water). Therefore, it requires very frequent injections (twice daily) to maintain peak serum testosterone levels in the blood.
Some individuals find suspension injections painful due to the larger needle size required (because of its larger, non-micronized crystals).
Testosterone Propionate
Testosterone propionate is another fast-acting ester, though slower than suspension. We find this ester less popular due to its high cost.
Additionally, since testosterone propionate injections are notoriously painful, many bodybuilders opt for different esters.
Testosterone Enanthate and Testosterone Cypionate
Testosterone enanthate and cypionate are two of the most popular testosterone forms, composed of longer esters that take effect more slowly. This means users only need to inject every 3-5 days, yet they can experience the same gains by the end of the cycle as with faster-acting esters.
Since the introduction of Cypionate, its limited global availability has led to it becoming more popular than Enanthate. Additionally, for some users, Cypionate injections may cause less irritation than Enanthate.
Side effects of isolated testosterone cycle
Based on our testing, we believe testosterone offers the best safety profile compared to any other steroid.
As testosterone is an injectable steroid that enters the bloodstream immediately, it places minimal stress on the liver. One study found that daily administration of 400mg oral testosterone for 20 days had no adverse effects on liver enzymes, a finding corroborated by our patients’ liver function tests (LFTs).
In contrast, potent bulking steroids like Dianabol or Anadrol—which are taken orally—are highly toxic in this regard. We’ve found that low to moderate testosterone doses only cause a slight spike in LDL cholesterol levels, leading to a modest increase in blood pressure.
Other steroids have far worse effects on blood pressure, significantly raising the risk of heart disease.
Testosterone may cause androgen-related side effects, as discovered by the Soviet Olympic team: catheterization became necessary for urination. Testosterone was the earliest form of steroid doping, granting them a unique advantage (at the cost of prostate enlargement).
Oily skin, acne, and thinning hair on the scalp are other possible testosterone side effects our patients sometimes experience. Increased body or facial hair is also common.
Gynecomastia is a possibility for genetically susceptible users, as testosterone aromatizes, making it an estrogenic compound. Water retention is also to be expected.
When treating gynecomastia, we often successfully employ SERMs like Nolvadex to prevent any potential enlargement of breast tissue. Nolvadex blocks estrogen specifically in the mammary glands while preserving systemic estrogen levels. This significantly reduces gynecomastia risk without substantially lowering overall estrogen levels (thus maintaining optimal HDL cholesterol and serotonin levels). .
Testosterone suppresses endogenous testosterone production post-cycle, leading to hormonal crashes. We observe natural testosterone levels taking 1-4 months to recover, depending on dosage, cycle duration, and the frequency of steroid use. However, our patients frequently utilize PCT to shorten this period, which also provides psychological benefits (restoring a sense of normal well-being).
Before and after the testosterone cycle
This transformation is a typical outcome for bodybuilders after their first low-dose testosterone cycle. Users will shed fat and gain significant muscle mass (approximately 20 pounds).
Side effects of using testosterone and Dianabol together
This combination can cause a wide range of side effects. Dianabol, as an oral steroid, induces hepatotoxicity; therefore, it should not be taken for extended periods. Our patients often take liver support supplements to prevent excessive elevation of ALT and AST enzymes. While testosterone is relatively heart-friendly, Dianabol is not. This is partly because Dianabol is a potent oral steroid notorious for worsening cholesterol levels by stimulating hepatic lipase in the liver.
Both testosterone and Dianabol possess estrogenic compounds; therefore, gynecomastia should be classified as “high risk.” To prevent this, an effective SERM (Nolvadex) should be taken throughout the cycle. However, SERMs do not prevent fluid retention. This combination almost certainly causes the body to retain water, making users feel bloated and muscles appear smooth.
Testosterone levels may shut down post-cycle, necessitating an aggressive post-cycle therapy (PCT) regimen. HCG and Clomid should suffice to restore endogenous testosterone production (typically within 1-2 months). Failure to perform PCT may result in users experiencing low testosterone symptoms for several months.
Although Dianabol is not particularly androgenic, acne and prostate enlargement are possible side effects due to the presence of testosterone.
Side effects of combining testosterone and Deca
However, Deca Durabolin is not without side effects, being notorious for causing “Deca dick.” This occurs when users experience erectile dysfunction alongside diminished libido. We attribute this to Deca’s low androgenicity and its reduction in endogenous testosterone production. DHT stimulates nitric oxide production, so weak androgens negatively impact blood flow to the penis.
This makes testosterone an ideal complementary partner, as it is an androgenic steroid that maintains high DHT levels throughout a cycle. Deca also pairs well with testosterone because both require extended cycles and are slow-acting steroids.
Thus, for instance, stacking Deca with Anadrol is not an ideal combination, as Deca cannot be run long-term due to its high toxicity. Testosterone, however, can be used for extended periods. There is an additional risk of gynecomastia when using Deca due to its moderate progestogenic activity.
Deca does not cause gynecomastia in most users. However, anecdotally, we’ve observed SERMs like Nolvadex exacerbating progesterone levels on Deca. Thus, AIs (such as anastrozole) can be used to lower levels. However, AIs worsen blood pressure levels, so our patients only take them when swelling begins.
Testosterone suppression can be dramatic post-cycle. Therefore, a PCT involving hCG, Nolvadex, and Clomid can be taken together to restore natural testosterone production.
Side effects of combining testosterone and trenbolone
This is a powerful muscle-building combination that consistently delivers significant gains in lean muscle and strength. Clenbuterol is a highly unique bulking steroid because it does not aromatize, producing a ripped and pumped appearance.
The testosterone and Clenbuterol combination will yield size gains similar to a testosterone and Dianabol cycle, but without the additional water retention.
D-bol actually possesses diuretic properties, making it equally effective in cutting cycles. It’s one of the most coveted steroids on the market when individuals aim to appear as massive as possible while simultaneously looking dry and vascular.
The uniqueness of this combination lies in its potent androgenic nature, resulting in significant fat reduction alongside extraordinary strength and muscle growth. This fat-burning effect stems from increased androgen receptor expression of CPTI (carnitine palmitoyltransferase I), which reduces fat mass.
Like testosterone, Clenbuterol is injectable; thus, this cycle imposes no detrimental effects on the liver.
The primary concern with adding Clenbuterol is elevated blood pressure. This occurs because it does not convert to estrogen, potentially affecting cholesterol health. Taking 4 grams of fish oil daily may help slightly stabilize blood pressure and lipid levels.
Similar to Deca Durabolin, Clenbuterol possesses moderate progestin activity, carrying a risk of gynecomastia. Therefore, users may wish to avoid SERMs to prevent exacerbating progesterone levels. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) can be used to prevent aromatization, offering protection against both estrogen and progesterone. However, as previously mentioned, AIs worsen blood pressure. Thus, they should only be used once users begin observing early signs of edema.
Currently popular AI anti-estrogens include:
Anastrozole
Exemestane
Letrozole
Scalp hair loss, enlarged prostate, and common acne are common side effects observed in Test/Tren stacks. This is because it is a highly androgenic cycle. The severity of these adverse reactions depends on an individual’s genetics. Generally, if you experienced acne during puberty or currently have a receding hairline, this cycle may exacerbate one or both conditions.
Those wishing to protect hair follicles may consider taking DHT-blocking supplements. However, this is not advisable, as we’ve found such supplements reduce gains, and DHT is a highly anabolic hormone.
This Test/Tren cycle also requires an aggressive PCT involving hCG,
Nolvadex, and Clomid to prevent the near-certain post-cycle crash (and help solidify gains).
Side effects of combining testosterone and Anavar (oxyandrone)
Anavar (Oxandrolone) is an oral anabolic steroid considered one of the safest anabolic steroids on the market (alongside testosterone). Anavar is typically regarded as a cutting steroid due to its potent fat-burning effects. This stems from Anavar’s ability to increase the ratio of T3 to T4 in the body, stimulating metabolism and fat reduction.
Anavar can produce significant muscle and strength gains. However, based on our experience, these benefits are relatively mild compared to potent bulking steroids like testosterone. Anavar is technically 6 times stronger than testosterone; however, in real-world applications, this does not translate to greater muscle growth.
Therefore, this cycle can serve as a fat-burning cycle while adding some lean mass (when dieting restricts calories). Testosterone’s androgenic effects can complement Anavar’s fat-burning properties, despite some temporary water retention. We’ve observed Anavar/testosterone cycles significantly increase lean mass while minimizing fat gain during muscle-building phases. This is one of the safest steroid combinations for bodybuilders.
Anavar will exacerbate testosterone suppression post-cycle, requiring a more advanced PCT compared to a test-only cycle. However, our tests indicate Anavar’s antagonistic effect on testosterone is mild relative to other anabolic steroids.
Anavar does not aromatize or elevate progesterone levels. Consequently, users experience no additional water retention or gynecomastia compared to pure testosterone cycles.
We commonly observe Anavar altering cholesterol levels by lowering HDL and increasing LDL; consequently, blood pressure may moderately rise.
Despite being an oral steroid, Anavar poses minimal risk to the liver due to its unique metabolic pathway (where the kidneys handle the bulk of processing).
Androgenic side effects may occur with Anavar; however, these are often pre-existing due to the presence of testosterone.
Side effects of combining testosterone and Anadrol.
This is an extremely potent bulking cycle, often used during the off-season; it resembles the combination of testosterone and Dianabol.
For individuals who have previously used testosterone but not Anadrol, this cycle will elevate gains to an entirely new level, resulting in explosive muscle growth and strength gains that break through the ceiling.
However, Anadrol is a highly toxic oral steroid that places significant stress on the liver and heart, arguably the most toxic of all anabolic steroids. Consequently, while delivering extraordinary gains in muscle size and strength, the side effects are also intense.
Note: We have witnessed devastating effects from this cycle (and other Anadrol cycles) on beginners. Therefore, only experienced steroid users should stack Anadrol with other AAS.
Anadrol causes rapid spikes in AST and ALT enzymes, both markers of liver stress. Thus, liver support is essential if you run this cycle. In our experience, milk thistle is the most effective supplement for reducing hepatotoxicity.
Blood pressure is our primary concern with Anadrol, as it stimulates hepatic lipase and causes significant fluid retention. To minimize hypertension, users are advised to take 4 grams of fish oil daily, combined with a clean diet and regular aerobic exercise. While cardio may be the last thing bodybuilders want during bulking, it protects your heart—something you’ll thank yourself for years later.
Anadrol exhibits potent estrogenic effects, causing significant water retention and potential gynecomastia in users. However, it does not aromatize, so taking an aromatase inhibitor (AI) cannot prevent Anadrol’s estrogenic conversion or water retention.
Instead, a SERM like Nolvadex can be used to directly block estrogen activity in breast tissue. We find this a more preferable approach, as SERMs do not exacerbate hypertension (unlike AIs).
Anadrol also possesses androgenic effects, increasing the risk of prostate issues, hair loss (on the scalp), and acne.
Adding Anadrol will further suppress testosterone levels, so users may continue running Nolvadex post-cycle. Combining it with Clomid and hCG can aid in rapid recovery.
Most dangerous combination: Testosterone/Anadrol/Trenbolone cycle
These three steroids should be considered somewhat dangerous, even for experienced bodybuilders, and should be used with caution. They will produce more severe side effects than a simple testosterone and Dianabol combination, despite yielding greater muscle gains. This potent cycle is typically reserved for IFBB Pros, where every pound of muscle mass is critical. For such bodybuilders, their placement in competitions profoundly impacts their careers and sponsorship deals; consequently, some are willing to trade their health for success.