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What Do You Think Of Testosterone Replacements?

Copyright ¿ 2006 Will BrinkBrink

Zonehttp://www.brinkzone.com



Q: Dear Will, I am a 62 year old male who found the bodybuildinglife style about ten years ago, so I started out a little late.My testosterone has been clinical low (under 300ng/dl) for thepast 3 years. I want to start hormone replacement therapy and I doctor agrees it would be a good idea for me. He wants to use standard testosterone enanthate. However, from my reading on thetopic, wouldn't a less androgenic steroid like Primobolin be better? Charles Linquest, Monroe WI, 53566



A: Good question Charles, and I will do my best to answer it.Though you may have started out later than some, it's never toolate to derive benefit from the bodybuilding life style! For your use, that is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), I wouldagree with your doctor here. Low androgen is not by default a good thing and the androgenicaspects of testosterone have many important functions on the malebody. For example, a recent study compared testosterone enanthateand methenolone enanthate (Primobolin) in men for HRT.



The study was called "Hormone replacement therapy for older menusing testosterone enanthate or methenolone enanthate. (Int JAndrol 2000 Jan;23(1):300-6)." As most people know, as men age,testosterone levels decline and is commonly referred to as"andropause." This slow steady decline in testosterone levels has a negativeeffect on mood, sexual performance, libido, bone mass, musclemass and the immune system.










Not good! Predictably, themedical/scientific community has taken an interest in HRT formen. Some doctors worry about possible adverse effects of HRTwith testosterone on the prostate, cholesterol levels, etc.



However, it's clear from the studies we have that this pointthat too little testosterone is just as bad for you, if notworse, than too much testosterone. The real goal of HRT with menis of course to keep testosterone in the optimal range, say themid to high normal range found in a young healthy male. That's approximately 500-600ng/dl but it can vary depending on which labyou use.



Ok, back to the study. In this study 100mg per week of Primobolanwas given via injection to 10 men aged 52-78 years old who were diagnosed as being low in testosterone (i.e. hypogonadal). Testosterone enanthate was administered at the same dose andfrequency to another group of hypogonadal men (n=9, aged 54-77years old).



Both groups got these doses for 8 weeks. The researchers looked body composition (measured by DEXA scan), mood(sense of well-being), sexual activity, libido, and check bothgroups prostates pre and post treatment.. They also looked at both groups testosterone levels, estradiol (estrogen) levels, andblood cholesterol levels. Interestingly, they didn't find significant changes in body composition (muscle mass, bodyfat, etc) in either group.



More important perhaps, the group receiving the Primobolan reported asignificant decrease in sexual activity and libido, and an increase in prostate size at the end of the study period, with a73% decrease in serum estradiol relative to baseline. Four weeks after the last dose, everything went back to Normal however, showing at least the effect was reversible.



Things went much better for the testosterone group, as they had an increase in sexual activity and libido with no adverse effects found onany of the tested parameters. The researchers concluded thattestosterone was clearly a superior choice for HRT in men withlow testosterone levels, which really should come as no surprise to people. Of course this study does not answer all questions, was not alarge study (though there are others), was low dose, and only ran8 weeks, but it does show that testosterone is not the big bad boogie man steroid the media would like us to believe it is and clearly has therapeutic uses for men.



It's interesting that neither group had any statistically significant changes in body composition, but its what most bodybuilders already know; you need higher doses to get that effect, and you need to lift some weights! Low androgen steroids like "Primo" have their uses for sure, but for older menseeking to get the benafits of HRT, testosterone is still king inmy view.



Will Brink writes for numerous health, fitness, medical, and bodybuilding publications. His articles can be found in Life Extension Magazine, Muscle n Fitness, Inside Karate, Exercise For Men Only, Oxygen, Women's World, The Townsend Letter For Doctors and many more. His website is http://www.brinkzone.com


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