Boldenone Undecylenate (Equipoise, EQ) is a testosterone-derived steroid, with the Chinese name Boldenone. EQ was originally used as a veterinary anabolic steroid, but in the 1950s, Ciba introduced it to the human pharmaceutical market under the trade name Parenabol
Many people think that EQ is very similar to Deca, but this is not the case. EQ may be similar to other steroids in that it is also a testosterone, but with a different structure from Deca. The biggest difference between EQ and Deca is that Deca has strong progestin properties, while EQ does not have this at all.
The functions and characteristics of EQ
The structure of EQ is a derivative of testosterone, with a double bond added between the first and second carbon atoms of testosterone. This double bond greatly reduces the characteristics of this hormone in terms of androgen and estrogen. Then this structure is connected to a very long or large undecylenate ester, and this ester chain controls the time when EQ enters the human body and is released. The EQ content in the human body reaches its peak 3-4 days after injection and is continuously released for the next 21 days.
Due to structural changes, EQ’s ability to convert into estrogen is only 50% of testosterone, and estrogen side effects may still occur, but compared with testosterone, the probability of occurrence varies from person to person. Although the anabolic ability is very different from testosterone, because EQ has less estrogen effects, it can allow users to achieve cleaner muscle growth.
However, from the perspective of anabolic ability, EQ and testosterone have many similarities, including improving protein synthesis efficiency, increasing the nitrogen storage rate of muscle cells, inhibiting the secretion of glucocorticoids, promoting the secretion of IGF-1, and increasing the number of red blood cells in the blood.
Effects of EQ
EQ is safe for most users and can improve the body’s anabolic ability. It has also been used to treat muscle loss and osteoporosis in the past.
As a non-competition muscle-building cycle drug, EQ can bring about an increase in lean body mass, but the effect is relatively slow compared to other steroids. Drugs like Deca, A50 or Dbol have a much better muscle-building effect than EQ, but the disadvantage is that they can cause serious edema.
Another well-known feature of EQ is that it can increase appetite, improve strength, and improve recovery ability. Off-season muscle-building cycles can increase strength and muscle mass. However, the disadvantage of EQ is that it can be detected for a long time after injection, sometimes even up to five months.
EQ can also be used during the fat-cutting period. It has an excellent effect on muscle retention. Whether you use steroids or not, you must make the calories you consume greater than the calories you consume during the fat-cutting period. In this state of calorie deficit, muscle loss is likely to occur; a reasonable diet can protect your muscles, but without steroids, there is still a great chance that muscles will be broken down. On the other hand, EQ can preserve muscles to the maximum extent and can also adjust the body state very well. EQ is generally used as a drug for the early start of the fat-cutting cycle. When running halfway through the cycle, EQ will be stopped to avoid the side effects of estrogen (although the side effects of estrogen of EQ are not strong).
Side effects of EQ
EQ is well tolerated by male users, and many female users can tolerate it well when using it in lower doses. The side effects of EQ are easily accepted by most adults, as follows:
[1] Estrogen
EQ molecules do not produce severe aromatization, but this effect still exists due to the intrinsic interaction with aromatase. Excessive estrogen can lead to gynecomastia, edema and hypertension. However, the degree of aromatization of EQ is small, so the side effects are easy to control for most male users (of course, the side effects will increase with increasing doses). In order to control the side effects of EQ, anti-estrogen drugs are necessary, just in case.
[2] Masculinization
The side effects of masculinization caused by EQ include acne, hair loss, baldness and body hair growth. However, the double bond between the first and second carbon atoms in the structure greatly reduces the side effects of masculinization of EQ, and it is quite safe for most people.
This side effect is mainly due to the steroid being metabolized by 5-alpha reductase to produce DHT (dihydrotestosterone), but EQ is not affected by 5-alpha reductase, especially when using Perroxine to control DHT.
Due to the masculinization characteristics of EQ, female use may cause female virilization symptoms, including body hair growth, thickening of the voice and enlargement of the clitoris. Since the androgenic characteristics of EQ are not strong, most women are unlikely to have these symptoms. Everyone’s sensitivity is different. Once female users begin to show female virilization characteristics, they should stop using it immediately until the symptoms disappear, otherwise the damage may be irreversible.
[3] Cardiovascular
Compared with other types of steroids (especially oral ones), EQ has much fewer cardiovascular side effects. However, EQ does have a negative effect on the synthesis rate of cholesterol, especially in inhibiting the production of HDL cholesterol. However, this is not an extreme characteristic, and most healthy adult users should be able to control it properly. Of course, using selective estrogen modulators (SERMs) in the cycle will cause an increase in blood lipid levels, which will increase the bad cholesterol in the body.
When using EQ or any other anabolic steroids, users should pay attention to their cholesterol levels and make sure that all indicators are clear before starting to use it. EQ users can avoid or slow down cholesterol problems by taking in enough fiber, a moderate amount of cholesterol, and enough omega fatty acids.
[4] Endogenous testosterone
Like all anabolic steroids, EQ will also inhibit the body’s own testosterone secretion, so male users should also use exogenous testosterone when using EQ. It doesn’t matter what testosterone drug you use. What matters is that you need them to ensure the overall testosterone concentration in the body. Too low testosterone can cause a series of problems and have a great impact on the user’s health.
After the use of EQ ends and the other exogenous steroid hormones leave your body, a post-cycle repair process (PCT) is still necessary. The PCT process will make your testosterone levels recover more quickly. A good PCT can ensure that your testosterone levels are gradually returning to normal. If you continue to let your body function normally, this will also accelerate testosterone secretion. It is important to note that your natural recovery process is based on the premise that testosterone levels in the body are not too low and the body’s gonadal axis is not damaged. Some people choose to use EQ at the beginning of the cycle and use other ester-chain steroids before the end of the cycle, which will accelerate the PCT process.
[5] Hepatotoxicity
EQ is not hepatotoxic.
Use of EQ
The standard range of EQ use is about 400-1000mg per week. Most men can tolerate the side effects of 1000mg per week.
It is common in fat loss cycles that many users will use EQ for 8 weeks first, then stop using it and use other drugs that do not aromatize. In off-season muscle gain cycles, eight weeks is still the minimum usage period, but twelve weeks has been proven to be more effective. Regardless of how it is used, EQ is very versatile and can be used with other steroids.
EQ Overview
Overall, EQ is a commonly used steroid and is suitable as a cycle starter. EQ can help muscles grow steadily in the early stages of a muscle-building cycle. Although the amount of growth will not be particularly significant, it will be pure muscle growth because it will not be severely aromatized. Male users will also find that EQ is very effective for strength growth, which is very useful in off-season training. EQ will increase appetite, but the effect varies from person to person. In a fat-loss cycle, EQ is very suitable for maintaining muscle and strength. However, the biggest benefit of EQ is that it can make blood vessels more visible and muscles more full. Regardless of the purpose, EQ is a very good anabolic steroid.