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Chemical Name: Mesterolone
Chem.Abstr.Name: 1 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one
Molecular Structure: C20H32O2
Molecular Weight: 304.4716
Proviron
is an ly active, 1-methylated DHT. Like Masteron, but then actually
delivered in an fashion. DHT is the conversion product of testosterone
at the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, the result being a hormone that is 3 to
4 times as androgenic and is structurally incapable of forming
estrogen. One would imagine then that mesterolone would be a perfect
drug to enhance strength and add small but completely lean gains to the
frame. Unfortunately there is a control mechanism for DHT in the human
body. When levels get too high, the 3alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
enzyme converts it to a mostly inactive compound known as 3-alpha
(5-alpha-androstan-3alpha, 17beta-diol), a prohormone if you will. It
can equally convert back to DHT by way of the same enzyme when low
levels of DHT are detected. But it means that unless one uses
ridiculously high amounts, most of what is administered is quite useless
at the height of the androgen receptor in muscle tissue and thus
mesterolone is not particularly suited, if at all, to promote muscle
hypertrophy.
Proviron
has four distinct uses in the world of bodybuilding. The first being
the result of its structure. It is 5-alpha reduced and not capable of
forming estrogen, yet it nonetheless has a much higher affinity for the
aromatase enzyme (which converts testosterone to estrogen) than
testosterone does. That means in administering it with testosterone or
another aromatizable compound, it prevents estrogen build-up because it
binds to the aromatase enzyme very strongly, thereby preventing these
steroids from interacting with it and forming estrogen. So Mesterolone
use has the extreme benefit of reducing estrogenic side-effects and
water retention noted with other steroids, and as such still help to
provide mostly lean gains. Its also been suggested that it may actually
downgrade the actual estrogen receptor making it doubly effective at
reducing circulating estrogen levels.
The
second use is in enhancing the potency of testosterone. Testosterone in
the body at normal physiological levels is mostly inactive. As much as
97 or 98 percent of testosterone in that amount is bound to sex hormone
binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin, two proteins. In such a form
testosterone is mostly inactive. But as with the aromatase enzyme, DHT
has a higher affinity for these proteins than testosterone does, so when
administered simultaneously the mesterolone will attach to the SHBG and
albumin, leaving larger amounts of free testosterone to mediate
anabolic activities such as protein synthesis. Another way in which it
helps to increase gains. Its also another part of the equation that
makes it ineffective on its own, as binding to these proteins too, would
render it a non-issue at the androgen receptor.
Thirdly,
mesterolone is added in pre-contest phases to increase a distinct
hardness and muscle density. Probably due to its reduction in
circulating estrogen, perhaps due to the downregulating of the estrogen
receptor in muscle tissue, it decreases the total water build-up of the
body giving its user a much leaner look, and a visual effect of
possessing "harder" muscles with more cuts and striations. Proviron is
often used as a last-minute secret by a lot of bodybuilders and both
actors and models have used it time and again to deliver top shape day
in day out, when needed. Like the other methylated DHT compound,
drostanolone, mesterolone is particularly potent in achieving this feat.
Lastly
Proviron is used during a cycle of certain hormones such as nandrolone,
with a distinct lack of androgenic nature, or perhaps 5-alpha reduced
hormones that don't have the same affinities as DHT does. Such
compounds, thinking of trenbolone, nandrolone and such in particular,
have been known to decrease libido. Limiting the athlete to perform
sexually being the logical result. DHT plays a key role in this process
and is therefore administered in conjunction with such steroids to ease
or relieve this annoying side-effect. Proviron is also commonly
prescribed by doctors to people with low levels of testosterone, or
patients with chronic impotence. Its not perceived as a powerful
anabolic, but it gets the job done equally well if not better than other
anabolic steroids making it a favorite in medical practices due to its
lower chance of abuse.
Mesterolone
is generally well liked nonetheless as it delivers very few
side-effects in men. In high doses it can cause some virilization
symptoms in women. But because of the high level of deactivation and
pre-destination in the system (albumin, SHBG, 3bHSD, aromatase) quite a
lot of it, if not all simply never reaches the androgen receptor where
it would cause anabolic effects, but also side-effects. So its
relatively safe. Doses between 25 and 250 mg per day are used with no
adverse effects. 50 mg per day is usually sufficient to be effective in
each of the four cases we mentioned up above, so going higher really
isn't necessary. Unlike what some suggest or believe, its not advised
that Proviron be used when not used in conjunction with another steroid,
as it too is quite suppressive of natural testosterone, leading to all
sorts of future complications upon discontinuation. Ranging from loss of
libido or erectile dysfunction all the way up to infertility. One would
not be aware of such dangers because Proviron fulfills most of the
functions of normal levels of testosterone.