What is Testosterone Cypionate and what does it do?

Testosterone Cypionate is simply testosterone that has undergone 17β-estrification to allow a sustained release for a week. Aside from this difference (ester), this form of testosterone will do just about anything others do. Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and is largely responsible for some of the physical and psychological development of men. Testosterone promotes sexual drive (as you might suspect) as well as muscle gain and fat loss.

Testosterone is a highly anabolic and androgenic hormone, with a total anabolic rating of 100 as well as anabolic (muscle building) respectively. Testosterone exerts most of its effects by promoting increased nitrogen retention in the muscle. Testosterone is known to increase IGF-1 growth factor levels in both muscle tissue and liver. Testosterone also increases the activity of satellite cells, which are cells that play an active role in repairing exercise-damaged blood. Testosterone exerts these effects mainly through genomic mechanisms, ie it binds to the androgen receptor (AR) and initiates gene transcription. This stimulation of AR promotes a variety of AR-dependent mechanisms that increase muscle gain and fat loss as well as reduction of catabolic glucocorticoid hormones and increased red blood cell production.

Testosterone may even help protect the heart against coronary disease. Testosterone binds to AR in fat cells and results in fat breakdown and also prevents new fat formation. All of the above effects are why we use testosterone as athletes or bodybuilders. Unfortunately, there are common side effects for testosterone. Testosterone is metabolized (via aromatization) into the female hormone estrogen in the body by the aromatizing enzyme. Testosterone Cypionate can cause unwanted and nasty side effects; It has water retention properties that can increase breast tissue enlargement (gynecomastia), some fat gains and even reduced fat breakdown, testicular shrinkage, and water pressure in men. Testosterone is also a substrate for the enzyme 5alpha-reductase. Interaction with this enzyme converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more androgenic form of the parent hormone, but less anabolic. DHT has a high binding affinity to the scalp and prostate tissues and causes hair loss and the prostate becomes swollen.

For one reason or another, it may seem that Testosterone Cypionate causes more water retention than the short-estered versions of testosterone. This is my experience and like many others… Therefore, testosterone is often used for a bulking cycle. Testosterone Cypionate Doses are typically used in the 400mg-600mg range. If you use the top end of it and you will discover that the side effects are intolerable.