T-Cypionate is a synthetic form of the naturally occurring testosterone hormone. Testosterone Cypionate can enhance libido, strength, immunity, promote fat loss, increase muscle mass, and prevent osteoporosis (decreased bone density). In addition, testosterone is responsible for the normal growth and development of male sexual organs and the maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics. Testosterone binds to the androgen receptor (AR), causing rapid muscle growth, accelerating fat metabolism, and helping muscle repair and growth. It works by activating the androgen receptor and by stimulating these mechanisms with other hormones.
Testosterone Cypionate is a highly anabolic male hormone, making it a great choice if you are looking for greater muscle size and strength. Testosterone Cypionate promotes nitrogen retention in the muscles, and the more nitrogen retained in the muscles, the more protein the muscles store. Testosterone Cypionate can also increase the levels of IGF-1, another anabolic hormone, in muscle tissue, providing more anabolic activity. In addition, testosterone Cypionate has an amazing ability to increase satellite cell activity. These cells play an active role in repairing damaged muscles.
Testosterone protects your muscles from the effects of catabolic (muscle-wasting) glucocorticoids. Additionally, testosterone cypionate has the ability to increase erythrocyte production, and a greater number of red blood cells will improve endurance by increasing oxygenation in the blood. More red blood cells can also speed up recovery after strenuous physical activity. Even so, the anabolic effects of testosterone are dose-dependent; the higher the dose, the more pronounced the muscle-building effects.
For a small percentage of patients, testosterone cypionate is less irritating at the injection site than the control (testosterone enanthate). This makes testosterone cypionate more advantageous for those patients who experience pain when injected with testosterone enanthate. Testosterone cypionate is a modified form of testosterone in which a carboxylic acid ester (cyclopentylpropionic acid) has been attached to the 17-beta hydroxyl group. Testosterone in esterified form is less polar than free testosterone and is absorbed more slowly from the injection area. Once in the bloodstream, the lipids are removed to produce free (active) testosterone. Testosterone is designed in an esterified form to extend the window of therapeutic effect after administration, allowing for a less frequent injection schedule compared to injecting free (unesterified) steroids. The half-life of testosterone cypionate is approximately 8 days after injection.
Testosterone is readily aromatized in the body to estradiol (estrogen). The enzyme aromatase (estrogen synthase) is responsible for testosterone metabolism. Elevated estrogen levels can cause side effects such as increased water weight, increased body fat, and gynecomastia. Testosterone is considered a moderately estrogenic steroid. An anti-estrogen such as clomiphene citrate or tamoxifen citrate is necessary to prevent estrogenic side effects. One can use an aromatase inhibitor such as anastrozole to more effectively control estrogen. Estrogenic side effects will occur in a dose-dependent manner, with higher doses (above normal therapeutic levels) of testosterone more likely to require the concomitant use of an anti-estrogen or aromatase inhibitor. Because water retention and muscle loss are common with the use of higher doses of testosterone cypionate, this drug is generally considered a poor choice for dieting or cutting phases. Its moderate estrogenicity makes it more suitable for bulking phases, where its stored water will provide raw strength and size to the muscles and help provide a stronger anabolic environment.
Side Effects (Androgenic): Testosterone is the primary male androgen responsible for the maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics. Elevated testosterone levels may produce androgenic side effects. Women are also warned of the potential for androgenic effects of anabolic/androgenic steroids, especially strong androgens such as testosterone, and these side effects may include deepening of the voice, menstrual irregularities, changes in skin texture, facial hair growth, and clitoral enlargement. The high relative androgenicity of testosterone is due to its reduction to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in androgen-responsive target tissues such as the skin, scalp, and prostate. 5-alpha reductase is primarily responsible for testosterone metabolism. Concomitant use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride or dutasteride interferes with the site-specificity of testosterone action, reducing the propensity of testosterone medications to produce androgenic side effects. It is important to remember that both anabolic and androgenic effects are mediated through the androgen receptor. It is not possible to completely separate the anabolic and androgenic effects of testosterone, even if all 5-alpha reductases are inhibited.
Side Effects (Hepatotoxicity): Testosterone does not have hepatotoxic effects, and one study examined the hepatotoxic potential of high-dose testosterone by administering 400 mg of the hormone daily (2,800 mg weekly) to a group of male subjects. Administration of the hormone for 20 days resulted in no significant changes in liver enzyme values, including serum albumin, bilirubin, alanine-aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase.
Side Effects (Cardiovascular): Anabolic/androgenic steroids can have deleterious effects on serum cholesterol. This includes a tendency to decrease HDL (good) cholesterol values and increase LDL (bad) cholesterol values, and may also convert HDL to LDL, which may lead to a greater risk of atherosclerosis. The relative effects of anabolic/androgenic steroids on serum lipids depend on the dose, route of administration (oral vs. parenteral), type of steroid (aromatizable or nonaromatizable), and the level of resistance to hepatic metabolism. Anabolic/androgenic steroids may also adversely affect blood pressure and triglycerides, reduce endothelial relaxation, and contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy. Testosterone has a much less pronounced effect on cardiovascular risk factors than anabolic steroids. This is partly because of its openness to hepatic metabolism, which makes it less likely to affect hepatic management of cholesterol.
Aromatization of testosterone with estradiol also helps mitigate the negative effects of androgens on serum lipids. In one study, 280 mg of testosterone ester (enanthate) per week had a slight but not statistically significant effect on HDL cholesterol after 12 weeks, but a strong (25%) reduction was observed when an aromatase inhibitor was taken. 300 mg of testosterone ester (enanthate) per week for 20 weeks without an aromatase inhibitor showed only a 13% reduction in HDL cholesterol, whereas at 600 mg, the reduction reached 21%. The negative effects of aromatase inhibition should be considered before testosterone therapy.
Tamoxifen citrate or clomiphene citrate are preferred over aromatase inhibitors due to the positive effects of estrogens on serum lipids and because they have a partial estrogenic effect in the liver. This allows them to potentially improve lipid profiles and counteract some of the negative effects of androgens. At doses of 600 mg per week or less, the effects on lipid profiles tend to be noticeable but not dramatic, which also makes antiestrogens (for cardioprotective purposes) perhaps unnecessary. Doses of 600 mg per week or less also fail to produce statistically significant changes in LDL/VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B/C-III, C-reactive protein, and insulin sensitivity, suggesting that their effects on cardiovascular risk factors are relatively weak. When used in moderate doses, injectable testosterone esters are generally considered the safest of all anabolic/androgenic steroids.
To help reduce cardiovascular strain, supplementation with fish oil (4 grams per day) and a natural cholesterol/antioxidant formula such as Lipid Stabil or a product with similar ingredients is recommended. Side Effects (Testosterone Suppression): Endogenous testosterone production is suppressed, so PCT is needed. Although 500-600 is generally recommended, some bodybuilders have used higher doses of this drug (1000mg per week or more).