Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Effects of Testosterone-Isocaproate

Testosterone Isocaproate is an active component of potent steroids like Omnadren and Sustanon-250. It has a moderately long half-life which means that it remains active in the body and you do not need to inject it on a daily basis. With Testosterone-Isocaproate the user can gain muscle mass, strength and weight besides an increased stamina and a drive to train harder. This steroid enhances performance and gives lean muscle mass as it burns off fat.

A serious side-effect of Testosterone Isocaproate in males is that causes the body to stop the natural production of testosterones in the body. Testosterones are male sex hormones produced naturally in the body. When the body gets testosterone's from other sources, it slows down its own production. If the user continues with the external intake, the body may stop producing testosterone's naturally altogether.

Aromatization is another side-effect of Testosterone Isocaproate. Aromatization occurs when testosterone convert into estrogens. These estrogens being the female sex hormone attach with the breast tissues and get deposited there causing breast enlargement in men. Water retention is another problem which occurs with steroids. When fluids collect under the skin, the muscles do not look ripped anymore. For these reasons, the use of an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) is often advised; an AI will inhibit the aromatase process which causes the conversion of testosterone into estrogen and will even lower the body’s estrogen levels. With the use of an AI, there is no reason for gynecomastia and water retention to be an issue.

Excess of Testosterone Isocaproate can be harmful to the skin and the hair. Testosterone Isocaproate can cause acne in extremely sensitive individuals if there is a large Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) buildup due to conversion, but it normally takes a significant buildup and sensitive skin. If acne occurs, it will most commonly be found on the shoulders, back and chest. Hair loss is another possible side-effect of Testosterone Isocaproate but it is extremely rare. The only steroids that can truly promote hair-loss are once again DHT compounds, but a conversion can take place here that can cause some men to lose some of their hair. Fortunately, this only applies to men who are predisposed to male-pattern baldness, if you are not predisposed there is no risk. If you are predisposed and experiencing a large DHT buildup, the use of Finasteride can offer you protection.

Testosterone Isocaproate is an excellent steroid which works wonders both on an individual level as well as in combination with other esters in steroids like Sustanon-250 and Omnadren. It has some adverse side-effects like gynecomastia, water retention and inhibition of the natural production of testosterone's. Testosterone Isocaproate can also have a possible negative effect on the skin and it can damage the hair too, but as discussed above this is highly unlikely in most men. Side-effects of steroids usually remain in check if the correct dosage is followed, but athletes and bodybuilders in order to obtain rapid results often use steroids excessively. This excessive use of steroids surfaces when side-effects become serious in nature. Testosterone Isocaproate remains active in the body for a week to ten days. Keeping this in mind the recommended dose for Testosterone Isocaproate is 250 mg/week for starters and up to 1000 mgs/week for serious bodybuilders and athletes.

Beyond the above, it must be stated, Testosterone Isocaproate should not be used by women as it carries an extremely high virilization rating. Further, like all anabolic steroids, this compound should not be used by children. Adolescents will severely damage their fragile androgen system when supplementing with anabolic steroids, and often this damage will be irreversible. When it comes to Testosterone Isocaproate, supplementation should only be considered by healthy adult men, and this means you have no blood pressure, cholesterol or prostate issues.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Men with high testosterone level have a problems

When we have high testosterone levels, we can take the list above and completely flip it around. When we have high testosterone levels, not only will the above symptoms never occur, but regarding each one that area of our life will be improved upon. No, this does not automatically mean those with high testosterone will be behemoths of muscle and strength, training and diet will still dictate this end. However, men with high testosterone will be in better shape, enjoy a higher quality of life and simply possess a better sense of well-being.

Men with high levels can expect the following:

Increased Muscle Mass
Increased Strength
Decreased Body-Fat
Increased Clarity of Thought
Increased Energy
Enhanced Mood
Increased Libido

Getting your testosterone and other hormone levels tested is very important - no matter whether you're on a steroid cycle or just doing it for good health. And saliva tests are the most-convenient and least-invasive way to measure testosterone. But part of the medical community claims that saliva testing isn't accurate enough and blood tests are the way to go. That said, should you even bother with saliva?  In a perfect world, all bodybuilders would visit their doctor and get a blood test for their testosterone levels twice a year and if they are not natural, then also before, during and after a steroid cycle. This is of course highly important because you want to make sure that your testosterone levels have returned to normal following post-cycle therapy with a product like Test Stack 17.

Going beyond steroid cycles, it's a good idea for any man or woman to get their blood tested at different stages of their life. For women, it's nice to see what their hormonal balance is following menopause. Aging men can certainly benefit from these blood tests too since testosterone declines as we get older. But do people visit their doctor and get regular tests done?
The second point is especially common among bodybuilders who are juicing. After all, what chance do you have of explaining wildly fluctuating testosterone levels when you're a rock-solid 230 pounds? And who wants to deal with a steroid lecture when your doctor doesn't buy the story that your testosterone levels declined considerably because you stopped taking Vitamin D supplements?

Of course, visiting the doctor and getting a blood test isn't the only way to measure testosterone and other hormonal levels. There are also home-based tests that you can do involving saliva. The advantages of testosterone testing with saliva is that it's easier and less invasive. But many people claim that saliva tests aren't nearly as accurate as those involving blood. That said, are these tests complete junk or worth a try? Let's explore this question by looking at how saliva testing works and what the medical community thinks.
There are various products that you can use to measure your testosterone and overall hormonal balance from home. And the exact steps that you take to complete these tests and how many samples are needed will vary based on the product.

But the basic jest is that you start by collecting your saliva samples, as per the instructions. A saliva test measures for circulating levels of hormones available to body tissues in men and women. It's generally believed that saliva is better than blood at measuring biologically active hormone levels because it more accurately reflects the body's functional hormone status.

Once you've taken the samples, the next step is to send them to a laboratory for testing. Depending upon the lab and their location, you can expect the results back within a few days to a few weeks.

The endocrine (hormonal) test results should come back with an explanation of how well your testosterone levels relate to your age group. If the levels are better than average, then you have little reason to worry. But if they're low or just "normal", then you should use a testosterone booster like Test Stack No.17 to help get your test level into the highest end of normal. Assuming you're really worried about your low testosterone, the safest thing to do is schedule a visit with your doctor.

Divided Opinion on Saliva Testing Accuracy:
Measuring your testosterone levels at home sounds like a dream, especially when you want to avoid judgmental doctors. However, there's a catch and it revolves around whether or not saliva testing is as reliable as doctor-administered blood tests.  Opinions vary in the medical community over the reliability of saliva tests. For example, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommends that blood testing be used to measure testosterone and other sex-related hormones. In their Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice, the AACE claims that saliva testing offers high variance in the results while blood tests are much more consistent.
 
Should you use Saliva Tests:
Although some organizations may question the reliability of this testing, there seems to be enough backing behind saliva tests to make them worth using. This is especially the case if you have no means of measuring testosterone levels and can't visit a doctor. A simple internet search will reveal a number of different products that you can use to administer a saliva test. And I highly recommend that you get one if you've never done an endocrine (testosterone) test before.

- Measuring the effectiveness of products with hormones (i.e. oral steroids, inject able steroids, testosterone accelerators and other supplements) or their precursors.
- Monitoring the results of hormone replacement therapy.
- Monitoring potential age-related reductions in hormone levels, which greatly contribute to decreased energy, infertility, low libido, loss in muscle, and an increase in menopause symptoms.
- Measuring the effect of phytoestrogens consumed in foods and herbs.

Once again, if you don't visit the doctor for blood testing, then you should strongly consider getting a saliva test. They are quick and will save you time, money and some invasive questions by the doctor.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Viagra And Testosterone May Not Help Your Erectile Dysfunction

Patients with erectile dysfunction and low testosterone levels are usually treated with Viagra. However, more and more physicians are found prescribing both Viagra and testosterone to such patients. Study shows that this may not provide any added benefit.

Viagra is a well-established name in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. There have been many studies conducted in the past which have found that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, benefits the patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. But it has also been noted that around one-quarter to one-third of patients who have erectile dysfunction, also have a low level of testosterone.

Based on this finding, more and more physicians have started prescribing testosterone in addition to Viagra, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, until now, no study was conducted to see whether giving testosterone in conjunction with Sildenafil, provided any added benefit to the patients of erectile dysfunction.
The present study was led by Dr. Matthew Spitzer from the Boston University School of Medicine. He, along with his colleagues, recruited 140 men suffering from erectile dysfunction and low testosterone levels, for their study. All the men were between the ages of 40 and 70. They were prescribed Viagra in the dose of 50 to 100 milligrams for three to seven weeks and they were asked to rate their erectile response on the erectile function domain (EFD) of the International Index of Erectile Function.

A normal man, with no erectile dysfunction scores 30 on the EFD. An EFD score of 17 to 21denotes mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, whereas a score of 11 to 16 is considered moderate dysfunction. Administration of Viagra alone was accompanied with a significant improvement in the EFD score. On an average the score improved from 12.1 to 19.8.

After giving Viagra alone for a few weeks, the participants were randomly divided into two groups. While the first group was given 10-gof testosterone daily through a trans dermal gel for a period of 14 weeks, the second group received a placebo. After the study period, the EFD scores of the two groups were compared. It was seen that the EFD score did not show any significant change in either of the groups. The findings remained the same irrespective of whether the participants were obese, men with lower levels of testosterone at the start of the study, or they showed an inadequate response to Viagra.However, physicians who favor the use of testosterone argue that testosterone alone can boost sexual functioning. Especially in cases where the patient has low testosterone and is not very responsive to Viagra, testosterone can play an important role. Moreover, it has other benefits like improving the body strength and composition. Testosterone plays an important role in the treatment of androgen insufficiency and hypogonadism. 

Experts have opined that there is no therapy which will benefit all the patients of androgen deficiency or erectile dysfunction. Each case is different from the other and the key lies in personalized therapy for every individual.

Viagra is the first oral medication that can be used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction of various etiologies- organic, psychogenic or mixed. Ever since its launch in the US in April 1998, Viagra has won regulatory approval in more than 110 countries. More than 15 million patients worldwide have benefited from it through about 45 million prescriptions.

The main advantages of taking Viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction include its efficacy, its ease of use and a good tolerability with very few side effects. Moreover, it has a positive impact on the patient’s quality of life. Upon administration, it is rapidly absorbed by the body and reaches its peak plasma concentration within 30 to 120 minutes.  It is recommended in a dose of 25, 50 or 100 milligrams to be taken approximately 1 hour before sexual activity.
Side effects of Sildenafil

The side effects of Sildenafil are usually transient and minor in nature. Some of the common side effects seen with Viagra therapy include headache in 19% cases, flushing in 14% cases, dyspepsia in 6% cases and nasal congestion in 4% cases. 5.5% of the subjects complain of visual symptoms after taking Viagra.

Critics of Viagra say that though the drug is effective in treating erectile dysfunction, many people are using it to combat low libido. Though drugs like Viagra increase the blood flow to the penis, the true cause of decreased libido remains untreated. Many a times, the real issue behind decreased libido and erectile dysfunction is low level of testosterone. The levels of testosterone start declining by the time men hit their thirties. Giving testosterone in such cases not only improves libido and erectile response, it also helps in improving the energy levels, mood, sleep and overall health of men. Thus, we see that there are proponents and critics of both Viagra and testosterone. It is very difficult to predict which medicine will work for a particular individual. The key lies in discussing your problems threadbare with your physician and leave it to him to decide what treatment would be ideal in your condition.