AndroGel (testosterone)

AndroGel is a transdermal gel which contains 1% testosterone by weight which is designed to provide continuous delivery of testosterone to the body over a 24 hour period after being applied. It was approved by the FDA as a prescription medication in 2000 and is prescribed to males who suffer from deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone. It is available in 2.5 gram and 5 gram sachets. Roughly 10% of the applied amount is actually transmitted, meaning that for 2.5 grams of application, 2.5mg of hormone would actually be delivered, and for a 5 gram application, about 5 mg would be delivered.

As far as results, AndroGel will show similar effects as would an injectable testosterone product. Users can expect a considerable gain in muscle mass and strength, along with a heightened sense of well being and increased sexual arousal. Testosterone is aromatized in the body and converted to estrogen. Higher estrogen levels can cause side effects such as increased body fat, excess water retention and gynecomastia. To help prevent these side effects, users of testosterone products often opt to include an effective anti-estrogen such as arimidex or aromasin. Testosterone is the main androgen found in the male body, and exceeding the normal androgen levels can cause androgen related side effects such as acne, oily skin, and excess growth of body and facial hair. Men who have a genetic history of hair loss might also experience accelerated balding symptoms. Women should be warned that taking testosterone products can cause potential viriizing effects such as deepening of the voice, changes in skin texture, irregular menstrual cycles, the growth of facial hair, and the enlargement of the clitoris. It should also be noted that administration of a synthetic testosterone will cause the body to cease natural testosterone production, making a proper post cycle therapy protocol necessary upon discontinuing use. Most users often opt to use a combination of products such as clomid, HCG, and arimidex to help stimulate the body’s natural LH and testes function along with preventing a possible estrogen rebound. Testosterone is a very versatile steroid and is considered to be the “base” of most steroid cycles. It can be stacked with other steroids such as Deca Durabolin and Dianabol for mass oriented cycles, or can be stacked with hormones such as Trenbolone and Winstrol for those looking to lean up and add a more solid muscle mass to their physique.

AndroGel is generally administered once per day in the morning and should be applied to clean dry skin (preferably after showering) on the upper arms, shoulders, and abdominal area. Users should be careful to avoid contact with women with the applied areas shortly after applying due to risk of transferring the hormones to them. For those suffering from natural testosterone deficiency, a dose of 5-10 grams of AndroGel per day is sufficient. Those looking to use AndroGel for bodybuilding or performance enhancing purposes would require a higher dosage, usually in the range of 20-40 grams per day, which would equal around 20-40mg of testosterone per day. Users for these purposes usually limit the use of AndroGel to 8-12 weeks then taking time off to allow the body’s natural testosterone production to recover. AndroGel is not approved for use in women, and while testosterone is generally not recommended for women for performance enhancing methods, the hardcore female athletes who insist on using this hormone will often find a dosage of 5-7.5 grams a day to be sufficient for seeing the desired effects.