STEROIDS: A beginner's guide to testosterone enanthate & my experience so far

[modified]

18 month of recovery means no life basically for that period. very bad

i'm 825 ng/dl luckily

There's no reason for an 18 month recovery. That's what HCG and PCT are for. Staying on HCT during ongoing testosterone therapy is supposed to keep your testicles active so once you stop they pick right back up with no PCT even needed.

At least that's the theory, and that's what bodybuilders say.

Also, on the subject of monitoring, one other thing we should be monitoring is CHOLESTEROL.

High testosterone causes HDL to plummit which is shit for your heart/arteries/etc.

Not sure if we should be taking something to counteract that while on long term testosterone. Gonna have to look into that. Here's one article that says we should take niacin:
https://thinksteroids.com/articles/niacin-treatment-for-steroid-side-effect/

Also, again @"RealRob" what do you do with your used needles? Mine are just sitting in my bedroom in a pile capped off. If someone saw them they'd probably think I was a heroin junkie. :lol: I bet girls would find that a turnon.

 

[phonecel]

I came across this image:
http://www.life-enhancement.com/images/LEM1312_Fig4_1200.gif

the leftmost part is the interesting one. cyp19 is unfamous aromatase of course that we want to keep at limited levels (but not too low)
how about 3 beta-HSD and 17 beta-HSD enzymes? having their levels high would be desired for people taking DHEA supplements
i have found that forskolin (marketed as a testosteron booster afair?) induces 3-b-HSD production, on the other hand opinions are not too optimistic, but maybe it would work synergistically when taken with DHEA? could be nice thing to test: DHEA + forskolin (or other 3-b-HSD and 17-b-HSD booster I'll try to find but not today) + maybe some (very) mild aromatase inhibitor

brosience much

 

[Tall Dark and Handsome]

Legit thread, thank you OP.

Shrinking balls is a bitch of a side-effect though. Damn. Any other genital/sexual related sides that people need to know about?

 

[One True God]

Never knew you can pin steroids sub q...

IM injections were scary as shit. Needle going through half of my quads

According to most people you can't... As in, the absorption isn't ideal or something. I looked into it a while ago and mostly forgotten what I found, but I know I decided on IM.

 

[Tall Dark and Handsome]

If you just inject HCG, will it make your balls grow larger?

 

[modified]

Legit thread, thank you OP.

Shrinking balls is a bitch of a side-effect though. Damn. Any other genital/sexual related sides that people need to know about?

Shrinking balls is completely avoidable though. I have a vial of HCG sitting on my table. I only haven't started using it because I have to work out the right numbers to mix it up at the right concentration and decide on the dose I want. I'll post an addendum about it once I work it out.

The only other "side" is a pro in my opinion. Testosterone injections suppress sperm production so 90% of guys on test-e > 200 mg/week are shooting blanks. I wouldn't trust it completely, but less likelihood of accidental pregnancy.

This probably is reversed if you add HCG, but I don't know for sure. In all the studies I read, sperm production returns to normal after stopping test-e.

---

If you just inject HCG, will it make your balls grow larger?

@"RealRob" says some guys claim to get bigger balls once they get on HCG. I don't know. I wouldn't recommend just injecting HCG for no reason though. You're fucking with your body's hormone system which is pretty complex. Could be unknown consequences. High dose HCG injection can fuck you up by breaking down the hormone regulatory system between your testicles and your brain. You have to use a small/safe dose just to protect your testicles.

HCG is not like test-e. Test-e you can experiment pretty widely with and be safe. HCG you have to keep within narrow limits and usage. HCG is not a toy like test-e is. HCG is a specific tool to be used a specific way.

---

Never knew you can pin steroids sub q...

IM injections were scary as shit. Needle going through half of my quads

According to most people you can't... As in, the absorption isn't ideal or something. I looked into it a while ago and mostly forgotten what I found, but I know I decided on IM.

From what I've read, the reason most people don't do testosterone injections SC is because the meds were all tested and approved for IM use. The drug companies favored IM for their studies because IM theoretically allows a slightly slower release, which would make their studies look better (since they all want to their meds to look like they are as long lasting as possible).

Lots of more modern hormone replacement doctors do perform SC testosterone injection now though because it is safe and has many advantages.

This is probably the best thread I read on the subject:
https://thinksteroids.com/community/threads/injecting-testosterone-subcutaneously.134237662/

Make up your own mind, but I've read a lot about it, done both, and I much prefer SC. It's way less painful. There is no risk of chronic muscle scarring from recurrent injection. And I find it releases evenly enough doing it twice a week. I'd rather SC twice a week even than IM once a week. IM is a bitch.

Going SC, injection days are now my favorite days of the week. I look forward to it.

 

[cherubicCheeksofChrist]

@"modified"

can you send me a PM? thanks

 

[Satanas]

waste of time and money, ruining your health in the process, possibly speeding up balding, which is happening to everyone as we speak, just some faster than others, possibly gyno even if you do super perfect pct and low doses, if you are prone to it, you will get it no matter what any idiot recommends, only surgery can fix it

possibly ruining your penis health, runing your test for life

and for what, some muscle, to impress some stupid girls? lmao

should only be used if you legitimate have low level of test and are prescribed trt

 

[modified]

I have a few updates I want to share for anyone interested. This pertains to the use of HCG which I have just added for the past week and also with some further pointers on getting the best result from subcutaneous administration.


Addendum: HCG

Again, the purpose of HCG is to stimulate your testicles to continue to produce testosterone and sperm so if you discontinue your testosterone injections, they will recover function immediately or more quickly. This will also prevent testicular atrophy. So if you plan to be on test-e long term (ie. 6 months or more), HCG is a good idea.

What you will need
- Vial of HCG (5000 units) with 1 mL ampoule of sterile water (included).
- Vial of bacteriostatic water (eg. 30 mL).
- Empty sterile vial (eg. 10 mL).

Dissolving the HCG
To use HCG, you will need to order some HCG, typically 5000 units. This should come with a vial of dried HCG powder and a 1 mL ampoule of sterile water to reconstitute it. The ampule of water will look like this. It is a tiny vial.

You reconstitute the HCG by cleaning the top of the HCG vial and cleaning the ampoule with an alcohol wipe. Then you snap off the top of the ampoule manually just by grabbing it and flexing it. You snap it in the direction away from the dot on it if there is one. Next, draw up the 1 mL of water, and inject it into the dried HCG. Swirl the HCG until it has all dissolved.

You now have a solution of 5000 units/mL HCG. This is too potent for use though, so we must transfer it to the empty sterile vial and dilute it.

Diluting the HCG
Draw up the whole 1 mL of dissolved HCG into your syringe and transfer this to the empty sterile vial (after wiping the top with alcohol again, as always). Next draw up 4 mL of bacteriostatic water from the 30 mL vial. Transfer this to the sterile vial as well.

You will now have 5 mL in your sterile vial (1 mL from the original HCG solution, 4 mL from the bacteriostatic water). Dissolved in this 5 mL will be 5000 units of HCG.

This gives a final concentration of 1000 units/mL of HCG. We are now done preparing our HCG.

Using HCG
HCG is injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly at an ideal dose of roughly 250 units 3x/week. Personally, I am injecting testoterone twice a week, so I am doing 250 units (0.25 mL) twice a week.

HCG is really not that necessary overall, as even if you experience testicular atrophy it is generally reversible. In addition, overdosing on HCG is far more dangerous than underdosing it. If you overdose it it will overload the brain-testicular signalling system and potentially screw you up worse than not having any HCG at all.

So from my perspective, it is safer to underdose slightly with 250 units twice a week.

This also works out really nicely because it means I am injecting 0.75 mL test-e + 0.25 mL HCG twice weekly, and this fits beautifully into a 1 mL syringe.

Store your HCG in a fridge between use. Steroids can be left out of the fridge, but HCG must be kept cool to prevent degradation.

For more info on HCG, this is a good summary.


Addendum: Subcutaneous Tips

I am continuing to inject subcutaneous because as stated, I think it is better to risk chronic scarring to your fat tissue than your muscles from recurrent injections. I also find it less painful.

One tip I have found is that if you split your injection into 0.3-0.5 mL "chunks", rather than putting the whole thing (1 mL) into one place, it becomes even less painful. When you put it all in one place it causes a lot of strain and stress to the immediate tissue there simply by volume effect. When you spread it out over a few nearby injections, this stress is alleviated.

I am therefore now injecting subcutaneously by cleaning a large portion of an asscheek ass with alcohol, and then injecting ~0.3 mL in one spot, withdrawing the syringe, injecting ~0.3 mL in another spot an inch or two away, withdrawing the syringe, and then injecting the rest again 1-2 inches further away.

The only downside to spreading it out is you will get a tiny bit leaking from each site after, so you lose a bit, but it is negligible.

Another tip if you are doing subcutaneous is to buy 25 gauge needles that are 5/8" long (usual needle tips for intramuscular are 1" long). The shorter needles go just deep enough without going too deep and minimize the trauma.

The last tip I would share is just in general with needle tips, if you are a pussy about the pain of the needle piercing your skin, change needle tips after drawing up your roids before injecting. Piercing the rubber vial caps with the needle will dull them slightly. If you want the sharpest needle tip and easiest injection, use a fresh tip when it comes time to inject. I don't bother with this because I don't care, but if you want it to be as pain free as possible, get a fresh tip.

That's all I can think of saying about test-e. I'm gonna ride this for 6 months or so and then decide based on results if I want to add something harder at that point.

 

[modified]

Update:
I have been continuing on with injecting 0.75 mL test-e twice a week (= 375 mg/week). It's been about a month since I started. Already seeing benefits.

I have gained around 8 pounds in the past month on this with no change in body fat. I wouldn't normally be able to gain so much so quickly. In another month if I gain another 8 pounds I'll do a brief diet for a month and cut some fat. Will probably start looking decent then. I'm ~15% body fat, need to get to 10% and maintain it. Should be quite attainable now that I'm on test-e.

I found my heart was still going too fast most of the time on this test-e dose (>100) which probably would kill me eventually. From what I've read, a lot of guys on juice seem to run into this problem and take beta blockers. Beta blockers are made for high blood pressure or irregular heart rates. They block the adrenaline system to reduce heart rate. I ordered some bisoprolol 5 mg online and I'm taking that now. They sell it on some roid sites and most online pharmacies. Calms me down a bit and brings the heart rate down to a perfect ~82 at rest.

The other thing I have added is niacin. Long term testosterone supplementation can be bad for the heart because it reduces your good cholesterol (HDL). A lot of body builders therefore take niacin which can be bought over the counter to boost good cholesterol and counter this effect. Now taking 500 mg a day.

I feel like I am turning my body into an experimental looksmaxing pharmacy. Underground RU58841 for the hair. Underground test-e for the muscles. Low dose accutane for anti-aging. Niacin to fix the cholesterol. Blood pressure med to control the heart rate. etc.

Looksmaxing is a lot of work. And this is just the nonsurgical aspect. Lucky for people who are just born with good genetics. :lol:

I've grown to enjoy it a bit though. It's kind of fun to experiment and see what will happen.

 

[lltvyr]

has you ramus grown?

 

[rugby1233]

Update:
I have been continuing on with injecting 0.75 mL test-e twice a week (= 375 mg/week). It's been about a month since I started. Already seeing benefits.

I have gained around 8 pounds in the past month on this with no change in body fat. I wouldn't normally be able to gain so much so quickly. In another month if I gain another 8 pounds I'll do a brief diet for a month and cut some fat. Will probably start looking decent then. I'm ~15% body fat, need to get to 10% and maintain it. Should be quite attainable now that I'm on test-e.

I found my heart was still going too fast most of the time on this test-e dose (>100) which probably would kill me eventually. From what I've read, a lot of guys on juice seem to run into this problem and take beta blockers. Beta blockers are made for high blood pressure or irregular heart rates. They block the adrenaline system to reduce heart rate. I ordered some bisoprolol 5 mg online and I'm taking that now. They sell it on some roid sites and most online pharmacies. Calms me down a bit and brings the heart rate down to a perfect ~82 at rest.

The other thing I have added is niacin. Long term testosterone supplementation can be bad for the heart because it reduces your good cholesterol (HDL). A lot of body builders therefore take niacin which can be bought over the counter to boost good cholesterol and counter this effect. Now taking 500 mg a day.

I feel like I am turning my body into an experimental looksmaxing pharmacy. Underground RU58841 for the hair. Underground test-e for the muscles. Low dose accutane for anti-aging. Niacin to fix the cholesterol. Blood pressure med to control the heart rate. etc.

Looksmaxing is a lot of work. And this is just the nonsurgical aspect. Lucky for people who are just born with good genetics. :lol:

I've grown to enjoy it a bit though. It's kind of fun to experiment and see what will happen.

Niacin does nothing for heart. Well informed doctors don't give niacin anymore. Search for the relevant studies - it shifts values in blood tests, but supplementation does not result in better outcomes.

 

[rugby1233]

Update:
I have been continuing on with injecting 0.75 mL test-e twice a week (= 375 mg/week). It's been about a month since I started. Already seeing benefits.

I have gained around 8 pounds in the past month on this with no change in body fat. I wouldn't normally be able to gain so much so quickly. In another month if I gain another 8 pounds I'll do a brief diet for a month and cut some fat. Will probably start looking decent then. I'm ~15% body fat, need to get to 10% and maintain it. Should be quite attainable now that I'm on test-e.

I found my heart was still going too fast most of the time on this test-e dose (>100) which probably would kill me eventually. From what I've read, a lot of guys on juice seem to run into this problem and take beta blockers. Beta blockers are made for high blood pressure or irregular heart rates. They block the adrenaline system to reduce heart rate. I ordered some bisoprolol 5 mg online and I'm taking that now. They sell it on some roid sites and most online pharmacies. Calms me down a bit and brings the heart rate down to a perfect ~82 at rest.

The other thing I have added is niacin. Long term testosterone supplementation can be bad for the heart because it reduces your good cholesterol (HDL). A lot of body builders therefore take niacin which can be bought over the counter to boost good cholesterol and counter this effect. Now taking 500 mg a day.

I feel like I am turning my body into an experimental looksmaxing pharmacy. Underground RU58841 for the hair. Underground test-e for the muscles. Low dose accutane for anti-aging. Niacin to fix the cholesterol. Blood pressure med to control the heart rate. etc.

Looksmaxing is a lot of work. And this is just the nonsurgical aspect. Lucky for people who are just born with good genetics. :lol:

I've grown to enjoy it a bit though. It's kind of fun to experiment and see what will happen.

Niacin does nothing for heart. Well informed doctors don't give niacin anymore. Search for the relevant studies - it shifts values in blood tests, but supplementation does not result in better outcomes.

 

[DirtyOldMan]

I don't care about putting on more muscle or anything like this. I just want to be horny and psyched up all the time. Will I still experience the libido explosion as a finasteride user??

 

[incelhero]

Do not take testosterone without having an AI under your hand. Ever. I thought it'll do nothing to me, but I literally got gyno within the first day of injecting just 250mg test E. Hard lumps next to nipples, and I don't have an AI because the shipping is fucking up. Fucking hell.

 

[asiancel]

why can you not inject lower dose like 100mg?

 

[incelhero]

Another tip if you are doing subcutaneous is to buy 25 gauge needles that are 5/8" long (usual needle tips for intramuscular are 1" long). The shorter needles go just deep enough without going too deep and minimize the trauma.

It's better to get insulin syringes. I've got a cheap pack of 100 single use ones with markings for $10. I use them for HGH, but it seems like the injection and preparation process is nearly the same. You don't even feel it piercing your skin, it feels like a mosquito sting.

 

[mms from mm]

This is such a good thread. Thank you to @"modified". Also to @"RealRob" who obviously helped him out.

I apologize to realrob for doubting him about roiding. The doses you guys are recommending seems very reasonable (250mg ew). Going to check my natty t levels first htough to see if it is worth it.

 

[DirtyOldMan]

I don't care about putting on more muscle or anything like this. I just want to be horny and psyched up all the time. Will I still experience the libido explosion as a finasteride user??

Anyone with some sort of opinion on this? How will I feel with low DHT and high T?

 

[modified]

I don't care about putting on more muscle or anything like this. I just want to be horny and psyched up all the time. Will I still experience the libido explosion as a finasteride user??

Anyone with some sort of opinion on this? How will I feel with low DHT and high T?

There should be no issue with this whatsoever. Having low DHT and high T is generally favorable if you are prone to hair loss. Most guys will take dut with their test-e to help protect this. However, as stated in the hair thread, even raw testosterone can kill your hair in high enough doses, so a topical antiandrogen is ideal as well while on test-e.

DHT going too high during roiding cycles causes greasy/irritated skin/hair and acne. It is not ideal. If fin/dut worked on me, I'd be taking them now as well. You will still feel the effects of test-e.

Don't expect to feel "psyched up all the time" though. I found the psychological benefit was only right at the start then once my body leveled off on it, my mindset is just generally stable and normal. You will have a 20-50% higher sex drive though which will persist. It will be highest right at the start as well though and then level off a bit to a stable level over time.