Overview & History
Testosterone Cypionate History & Overview
When it comes to the esterified Testosterone variants available on the market, Testosterone Cypionate is regarded as the second most popular. The most popular variant of esterified Testosterone is Testosterone Enanthate. Testosterone Cypionate has a longer half-life and a slower rate of release than many other esterified Testosterone variants. It is administered via injection.
When comparing Testosterone Cypionate and Testosterone Enanthate, the two possessed almost identical compositions and are considered as being easy to Interchange between the two. As an example, someone running a cycle of Testosterone for 10 weeks can switch between Testosterone Cypionate and Testosterone Enanthate easily.
Looking at the half-life the Cypionate variant, it is roughly 12 days. Looking at Testosterone Enanthate, the half-life is roughly 10 days. Testosterone Cypionate is extremely popular among athletes and bodybuilders in the United States. The availability of both variants is pretty similar. However, Testosterone Enanthate is considered to be just that little bit more popular. There are no significant advantages offered by one over the other.
Created during the 1950s by UpJohn, Testosterone Cypionate was originally prescribed with the brand name of Depo Testosterone. Testosterone Enanthate is considered to be a compound of an international level, while Testosterone Cypionate is more often found in the United States. Its track record is impressive to say the least and is still manufactured by UpJohn to this day.
From the 1960s to the 1980s, the majority of American athletes and bodybuilders opted to use Testosterone Cypionate. This is believed to be out of loyalty to supporting American brands and neither variance offer superior results over the other. A tiny percent of Testosterone Cypionate users report irritation at the site of injection. Looking at the two variants, they are both used as a primary treatment for male patients suffering from andropause and hypogonadism.
It is also prescribed as a treatment for menorrhagia, muscular atrophy and bone and strength deficiencies. It has also been investigated for potential use as a male birth control medication. For male birth control, it is being studied at a weekly dose of 200 mg. During the 1970s, the approved medical use of Testosterone Cypionate was narrowed down for use for andropause and hypogonadism.
Testosterone Cypionate Chemical Characteristics
Testosterone Cypionate is basically Testosterone that has a Cypionate ester bound to the 17 beta hydroxyl groups on the Testosterone structure. As Testosterone Cypionate is an esterified anabolic steroid, the increased level of fat solubility results in a slower release from the site of injection when compared to Testosterone that is not esterified.
However, it is important to note that this is not why the half-life and release rate is extended by esters. When Testosterone Cypionate makes its way into the bloodstream, Cypionate molecules are broken between the hormone and the ester by enzymes. This augments the release rate and half life of Testosterone Cypionate. Ultimately, it is all down to the size of the ester.
The larger the ester is, the longer the half-life is. Once the enzymes separate the hormone and the ester, pure Testosterone is left over and can get to work on the body. Ultimately, the slower release rate occurs due to the ester being cleaved off of the Testosterone molecule by enzymes. Looking at ester free Testosterone, it has a half life of roughly between 2 to 4 hours. With the Cypionate ester, this extends to roughly 12 days, which produce more activity and a slower release of the hormone.
Testosterone Cypionate Properties & Effects
The attributes of Testosterone Cypionate are the same as with any Testosterone preparation. The only difference is the difference of the half-life and release rate. Testosterone is produced naturally in both men and women and across many different species of animals. It is classified as the original anabolic steroid and is what other anabolic steroids are compared against.
Seeing that it is a naturally occurring hormone found in the human body, it is also seeing as the safest. This is because we as humans are already accustomed to its effects. Basically, using Testosterone as a means of improving the physique and performance is simply supplementing Testosterone with more Testosterone. The individual either ingests or injects more of a hormone already found in the body, and resulting in an increase in the levels of Testosterone and its effects on the body.
Side Effects
Side Effects of Testosterone Cypionate
When looking at the side effects of Testosterone Cypionate, they are considered to be on the moderate end of the scale. Typically, it is compared to Testosterone Enanthate which possesses almost identical properties. As Testosterone Cypionate has a fatty acid ester chain that is longer, it also comes with a longer half-life. Ultimately, as it is a variant of Testosterone it will come with all of Testosterones known side effects.
Testosterone is known as the king of hormones. Of course, this does not mean that side effects are not a possibility. As with all anabolic steroids, side effects are a real possibility and it is important to understand them. The type of side effects that people will experience will largely depend on their genetics, sensitivity, age and body reaction. So, what are the side effects of Testosterone Cypionate?
Estrogenic Side Effects – These are the number one concern among those using anabolic steroids. As Testosterone aromatizes into estrogen once administered into the body, there is a risk of experiencing after Jam related side effects. Testosterone Cypionate possesses a moderate estrogenic side effect risk. As with all medications and anabolic steroids, a higher dose increases the risk of experiencing side effects. The long and short of it are that more Testosterone equals more estrogen. Some of the more common estrogenic side effects include high blood pressure due to retention of water, gynecomastia also known as male breast tissue development, bloating, fat gain and water retention.
As Testosterone Cypionate is also an androgen, androgenic side effects may also be experienced. Testosterone reduces down into dihydro-Testosterone which is found in tissues throughout the body including the skin, prostate and the scalp. DHT is where the majority of androgenic side effects come from. Some of the more common androgenic side effects include male pattern baldness to those predisposed to it, growth of body and facial hair, oily or skin and an increased risk of experiencing acne.
Testosterone Cypionate possesses no detrimental effects on the liver, also known as hepatotoxicity. This is true even for orally administer Testosterone Cypionate at extremely large doses. However, as with all androgenic and anabolic steroids the body stops manufacturing its own natural Testosterone. Therefore, the use of an exogenous Testosterone is important. Other effects that Testosterone Cypionate has include an increase of LDL cholesterol while HDL cholesterol is reduced.
Cycling & Uses
Uses of Testosterone Cypionate
For the majority of time, Testosterone Cypionate cycles are almost always used as a way of increasing both mass and strength while training. While this is where it is most notable, it can also be used for cutting when taken at a lower dose. When it comes to developing strength and muscle mass, the majority of people administer a dose of around 500 mg each week for a period of 12 weeks to 14 weeks.
Regardless of the goal of the cycle, be it bulking or cutting, Testosterone Cypionate is often used as part of a stack with other anabolic steroids. It is often used with compounds such as nandrolone decanoate, which is run in a cycle for the same amount of time. Dianabol can be used to kick-start the cycle and is typically eliminated between weeks 4 and 6.
When looking at Testosterone Cypionate as a cutting agent, it is used as a supportive compound designed to help in maintaining the normal and natural Testosterone levels. Combined with this, a compound that possesses better fat loss properties is included. Typically, 100 milligrams each week of Testosterone Cypionate are used for cutting purposes.
Administration
Administration of Testosterone Cypionate
When looking at the medical application of Testosterone Cypionate, it is typically prescribed as a single dose once a fortnight or a month at 250 mg. When using Testosterone Cypionate for performance enhancement and bodybuilding, many people choose to use a dose of between 300 to 500 mg each week when first starting out. This can then be increased to between 500 to 750 mg a week for intermediate users and up to 1,000 mg a week for advanced users.
Due to the fact that the half life of Testosterone Cypionate is roughly 12 days, it is recommended to be administered at a minimum of one time a week. However, for maximum results, it is typically administered twice a week with the dose being split between the two injections. As an example, if you administer Testosterone Cypionate at a dose of 500 mg each week, you would split this into two 250 mg doses taken on a Tuesday and a Friday. This prevents blood plasma levels from experiencing peaks and valleys while reducing various detrimental side effects.
Buying & Legality
Legality of Testosterone Cypionate
Testosterone Cypionate is closed as a schedule three drug in the United States. This makes it illegal to possess without a genuine and valid doctor’s prescription. It goes without saying that important or trafficking anabolic steroids in the United States is a criminal act that comes with extremely severe penalties.
In the United Kingdom and Canada come on Testosterone Cypionate is legal to possess and administer without a prescription from a doctor or physician. In the United Kingdom, it is not a felony to import Testosterone Cypionate. However, in Canada it is considered as a felony to traffic anabolic steroids.
It is absolutely vital that you understand the laws of the country that you are resident in. Importing certain compounds and drugs into your country could result in you receiving heavy fines, jail time or both. When it comes to the law, ignorance is no excuse and you should always understand the risks before purchasing any anabolic steroids or compounds online.
How to Buy Testosterone Cypionate
When looking at the world of anabolic steroids, Testosterone Cypionate is considered to be reasonably popular. It is quite an easy compound to find and is heavily manufactured. Because it is so readily available, it tends to be one of the cheapest anabolic steroid products available on the market. It is easy to find both underground lab and pharmaceutical grade Testosterone Cypionate products. Of course, there are differences between the two where is quality being of the biggest concern.
Purchasing Testosterone Cypionate from an underground lab can place your health at risk. As the manufacturer of Testosterone Cypionate in an underground lab is completely unregulated, there is no way to know exactly what you are receiving. When it comes to price, you can purchase Testosterone Cypionate online from many different sources. Many of these are dubious to say the least so it is best to purchase it from a pharmaceutical grade retailer.
As a general guideline, you can expect to pay approximately $13 to $15 for a 1 ml vial of pharmaceutical grade Testosterone Cypionate. Looking at the underground lab manufactured Testosterone Cypionate, you can expect to pay approximately 60 to $90 for a 10 mL vial. Both of these consist of 250 mg of compound per milliliter. As you can see, the difference in price is significant, especially for those on a budget.
However, when injecting substances into your body without a prescription, you need to be really careful. As these compounds are manufactured in non-sterile and non-regulated locations, you run the risk of injecting pathogens, bacteria, viruses and unknown substances directly into your bloodstream. It is not uncommon to see news stories about fatalities from using anabolic steroids. More often than not, these are a direct result of purchasing anabolic steroids online from a UGL.
Testosterone Cypionate shows no signs of slowing down in popularity and the benefits that it offers in terms of muscle gain and increases of strength only serve to further fuel the fire. It is considered to be one of the best anabolic steroids along with Testosterone Enanthate and provide benefits both medically and athletically for those who use it.
Testosterone Cypionate References:
[1] Enzyme induction by oral testosterone. Johnsen SG, Kampmann JP, Bennet EP, Jorgensen F. 1976 Clin Pharmacol Ther 20:233-237.