Description
Methyltestosterone is one of the oldest anabolic steroids in existence and one of the most important anabolic steroids ever created. The testosterone hormone is the first anabolic steroid ever synthesized, and it was simply raw testosterone. The first testosterone compound was an injectable form with no ester attached; think Testosterone Suspension. In 1937 Testosterone Propionate would hit the market, and it would be the first ester base testosterone compound. It would also be the first testosterone compound made regularly available for commercial use. However, a year before in 1936 Methyltestosterone would appear, and while it’s not as common as it once was it still has a place in medicinal testosterone treatment plans.
Methyltestosterone is an oral testosterone hormone, the first oral testosterone preparation and the first C17-alpha alkylated (C17-aa) steroid ever made. The compound has appeared over the years under numerous trade names, but perhaps the most well known Methyltestosterone compound of all time was Ciba’s Metandren. Ciba’s Methyltestosterone, while oral, was actually a sublingual form, which enhanced the bioavailability of the testosterone hormone. In fact, this form doubles the bioavailability compared to a tablet version and enables the individual to reach peaked testosterone levels in an hour. If Methyltestosterone is used in tablet form, it can take approximately two hours for peak levels to be reached, not to mention carrying a much lower potency.
While Ciba’s Metandren was a successful product, this particular and most well known brand is no longer available. Currently, generic brands are primary as well as several underground lab preparations. The only name brand pharmaceutical based pure Methyltestosterone for several years has come out of Greece in Teston.
While Methyltestosterone is not as common as it once was on the pharmaceutical market, it is still used in some areas around the world. Oddly enough, while it has been pulled from many markets, while many U.S. physicians rarely prescribe it Methyltestosterone is in high supply on the U.S. pharmaceutical market. The compound has been used to treat low testosterone and andropause in men, as well as cryptorchidism. It has also been somewhat successful in some breast cancer treatment plans, treating excess lactation post pregnancy and osteoporosis. Most interestingly, Methyltestosterone has had a fair amount of success in treating menopause by enhancing often lost libido and energy levels that often diminish during this stage of life for many women. While Methyltestosterone has enjoyed success in menopause treatment in the modern era, most women are now prescribed other testosterone forms. Creams and gels are perhaps the most common. Testosterone and progesterone mixed creams have been highly successful as well as subcutaneous implant pellets like Testopel.
While it has held a fair amount of success, Methyltestosterone is considered one of the more controversial testosterone medications in traditional medicine. This controversy largely surrounds its hepatotoxic nature, which does not exist with other testosterone compounds. Further, unlike most testosterone compounds you will rarely find Methyltestosterone being used in performance enhancing circles. Methyltestosterone like all testosterone compounds carries an estrogenic nature, but this form generally carries it at a far pronounced level and is simply a poor choice for most athletes.
Methyltestosterone Functions & Traits:
Methyltestosterone is a pure testosterone hormone that has an added methyl group attached in order for the hormone to survive oral ingestion. The methyl group is attached at the 17th carbon position officially classifying Methyltestosterone as a C17-aa anabolic androgenic steroid. Like all testosterone hormones, Methyltestosterone carries an anabolic rating of 100 as well as an androgenic rating of 100. However, due to the C17-aa alteration, its translating anabolic activity will be significantly less than most testosterone compounds.
On a functional basis, Methyltestosterone provides testosterone to the body that it may be lacking. Due to its low bioavailability and potent estrogenic nature that we’ll cover in the side effects section, this makes it a poor choice for performance. However, we will be able to make one performance exception when we look at the effects of Methyltestosterone.
As a pure testosterone hormone, Methyltestosterone is a perfect synthetic model of the primary male androgen testosterone. While synthetic in nature, once in the body the body will make no distinguishing difference in it and the testosterone it naturally produces. While the primary male androgen, women also produce and need testosterone, which often diminishes during menopause. However, while they need the hormone men need approximately ten times that of women.
Due to Methyltestosterone being testosterone, it will perform all the traits of the naturally produced hormone. The testosterone hormone greatly affects our physical and sexual wellbeing, and to a degree, even our mental function. When levels become low each and every one of these areas can be negatively affected. Conversely, when low levels are combated with compounds like Methyltestosterone functions return to where they’re supposed to be. For more information on the functions and traits of testosterone, see any of the primary testosterone profiles – Testosterone Cypionate, Testosterone Enanthate, Testosterone Propionate or Testosterone Suspension.
Effects of Methyltestosterone:
The effects of Methyltestosterone are brought on by simply increasing the amount of circulating androgens through exogenous use of this hormone. This could be done to combat a condition brought on by low levels, or it could be to enhance androgen levels above baseline levels to help combat another condition. However, while both are possible the former is the most common in a medical setting. By supplementing with this androgen, the effects of Methyltestosterone should enhance the individual’s sex drive and boost energy levels that are often in decline with low levels of the hormone in the body. This is where the effects of Methyltestosterone will benefit the menopause or andropause patient greatly. Such conditions will also be the most common point of use for this particular version of the testosterone hormone.
For the purpose of performance enhancement, the effects of Methyltestosterone will normally be found lacking. For a true performance boost it would require long term high dose use and due to this steroid’s hepatotoxicity it simply isn’t a viable option. We will, however, find the steroid is nowhere near as toxic as many have inaccurately believed, but it still won’t be viable for long term performance use.
Where the effects of Methyltestosterone could primarily benefit the athlete will be in a pure androgenic sense, not anabolic. By supplementing for short periods of time with a significant dose, the high level of androgenic activity could increase aggression significantly. This could be beneficial to power lifters and other strength athletes prior to competition. However, when looking at the effects of Methyltestosterone in this regard there is something we need to clear up. There is no anabolic steroid that can alter an individual’s personality or take away his ability to distinguish from right or wrong. A non-violent person cannot turn into a violent animal due to any anabolic steroid use. With most anabolic steroids, the aggression factor will not be a factor at all, but with this particular androgen, as is with the steroid Halotestin an enhanced aggressive nature is possible. It’s also important to note that aggression in of itself is not a bad thing. What we do with aggression is what makes it right or wrong. Enhanced aggression can be extremely beneficial when it’s used for the right purpose, such as competitions that surround strength. Some bodybuilders may also find the effects of Methyltestosterone beneficial in this regard right before competition to help them through the final stages when energy levels are often low. However, due to the potent estrogenic activity of Methyltestosterone there are normally better options.
An important note on the effects of Methyltestosterone as it pertains to aggression – if you are already a violent individual this is a steroid you should avoid. If you are a violent individual the enhanced aggression will only make you more aggressively violent. If you are a sane individual, the effects of Methyltestosterone will not change this in any way and you should still display your same level of self control.
