Proviron is the Schering brand name for the oral androgen mesterolone. It is a strong androgen, which is not capable of aromatizing into estrogen. It is also not progestenic.
In fact, Proviron is the closest thing we have to orally active Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Physicians normally prescribe this compound to treat various types of sexual dysfunction since it can usually reverse impotency and sexual disinterest. It can also increase sperm count although it does not actually stimulate testosterone production.

In bodybuilding circles, Proviron is used primarily as an anti-estrogen since it is believed to block the action of the aromatase enzyme (which is responsible for converting testosterone to estrogen). For this reason it is a popular pre-contest drug since it assists in hardening up the physique.

Whilst Proviron is considered too weak for muscle building purposes it may actually boost the anabolic effect of other substances when it is added to a standard cycle. This is due to the fact that it binds to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), which is the transport hormone responsible for reducing the amount of free testosterone in your body. In addition to this, Proviron also binds to the Anabolic Receptor more effectively than any other oral steroid. So, not only does Proviron reduce levels of circulating estrogen, it can possibly make other steroids more effective through its ability to inhibit the actions of SHBG. It is also worth pointing out that even at levels of 100-150mg/day it has no depressing effect on low to normal FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) levels. In fact it has been suggested that it may even raise LH, which can in turn lead to a rise in testosterone levels.

DOSAGE

The typical dosage for men is one to four 25mg tablets per day. This is considered to be a sufficient amount to avoid the occurrence of gynecomastia. It may also be combined with Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) or Clomid (clomiphene citrate) when substances with high estrogenic conversion rates are being taken (e.g. Dianabol, Testosterone). In this instance, taking 50mg of Proviron along with 20mg Nolvadex per day has been proven effective.

In the case of women considering using Proviron it has to be noted that it does have an extremely high androgen content. With this in mind care should be taken when it comes to assessing dosages. Women usually find 25mg per day is enough to effectively shift the androgen/estrogen level, which can have a significant impact on the physique. Also, in order to avoid virilization symptoms (e.g. voice deepening, menstrual irregularities, skin texture changes, clitoral enlargement) use should be limited to a period of four or five weeks.

Once again, a combination of 25mg Proviron and 10-20mg Nolvadex can be very efficient when it comes to muscle hardening and ridding the body of extra body fat on hips and thighs.

SAFETY ISSUES

The risk of liver toxicity with this compound is generally not an issue since Proviron is not a c17 alpha alkylated compound (the alteration responsible for liver toxicity in commonly used anabolics). It is therefore considered to be a ‘safe’ oral.

However, that does not mean that is comes without side effects. In the case of male athletes using this drug in amounts above 100mg a day side effects connected with an excessively high androgen level can present themselves. These include oily skin, acne, body/facial hair growth, and male pattern baldness. Extreme heightening of the male libido is also likely.

As previously mentioned, women should be careful when using this substance and stick to 25mg a day for short periods of time to avoid virilization symptoms.

In addition, since Proviron is a very effective ‘drying agent’ it can also have a significant impact on the condition of your hair and skin. It is therefore recommended that an essential fatty acid supplement be used with this product, which supplies the omega 3 fats necessary to maintain healthy skin and hair. Also, as a DHT derivative thinning hair may be a problem in susceptible individuals. In this instance some have found the use of Nizoral shampoo to be of assistance.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.

The following article will appear in the October 2008 issue of New York Sportscene magazine. (www.nysportscene.com)

At Arm’s Length

Gregg Valentino Flexes his Opinion About Steroids

The old saying “Don’t throw stones in a glass house,” doesn’t apply to Gregg Valentino. When he talks about anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, people listen. It’s sort of like that old Payne Webber television commercial. You see, Valentino has no problem admitting to steroid use that would probably eclipse every baseball clubhouse in the late 1990s.

“I was up to 4,000 milligrams of testosterone a week, and that’s not even counting the equipoise,” he said, not bragging but just being truthful. When you inject such high quantities of juice in your body, it should come as no surprise that Valentino laid claim to having the largest biceps in the world. At one point during the height of his usage, his arms were an astronomical 28 inches.

Standing 5’6”, Valentino bulked up to over 250 pounds and not only was using steroids, but selling them, as well. His life changed in 2001 when he was arrested and sent to prison, and his name, face and arms were splattered all over the evening news programs.

Having been involved in bodybuilding his entire life, Valentino, 48, is the closest you can call an “authority” on the subject that there is. He trained and competed naturally for over 25 years before dabbling into steroids, and had 21-inch arms before using. So he can speak from both sides – the natural and enhanced athlete.

“People think that because you do steroids, you’ll be able to hit the ball out of the park,” Valentino said. “If that was the case, they could take bodybuilders and they would all be hitting monster home runs. But that’s not going to happen.

“I believe that steroids are the closest thing to the fountain of youth that you’re going to find. (Mark) McGwire, (Sammy) Sosa and (Barry) Bonds – all the poster boys for steroids in baseball. They all started (allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs) when they were older,” continued Valentino. “If you noticed, none of these guys started when they were 21. They started out because of an injury. Their bodies are beginning to break down and they’re looking for something to stop that.”

Making references to baseball players that have used the so-called ‘recreational’ drugs and been forgiven and embraced by not only the fans, but the game itself, Valentino takes exception to that, and has a valid point in doing so.

“They applaud Darryl Strawberry and Josh Hamilton,” he said. “These guys did crack, went to rehab. This guy (Hamilton) robbed his own family. Then they boo a guy like Jason Giambi because he did steroids. He admitted it and apologized. To me, he’s more of a hero than the guy robbing his own grandmother.

“You’re going to applaud that and say it’s okay? But it’s not okay to do steroids? They’re a performance-enhancer. Those other drugs are a performance destroyer.”

Regarding baseball’s approach to making the issue of steroids as publicized as it did, Valentino feels that a different approach would have been better. “They should have dealt with it in-house instead of going to the newspapers and getting congress involved,” he said. “They should have done what football does. Clean your own laundry.”

On the subject of ‘America’s Game,’ Valentino feels that pro football players are bigger users of PEDs than baseball players. “You have guys weighing 250 pounds running the 40-yard dash at 4.4, yet football doesn’t have the reputation of being an abused sport,” he said.

Asking himself a series of questions with obvious answers, Valentino said, “Has the human being evolved so much since 1980? No. Is it because guys are lifting a lot of weight and taking supplements? No. Here’s the thing – they do in-house work. They give them advance notice for their (drug screening) tests. They don’t want to hurt the game.

“They (National Football League) knows what the players are doing,” Valentino added. “They tell them, ‘you’re going to get drug tested, just get tested clean.’ Very few guys fail. You know who fails? Idiots. Even when you fail, they look at you and are like, ‘I told you that you were going to get tested. What’s the matter with you?’”

Following his release from prison, Valentino had to participate in an after-care drug program, which included mandatory drug testing. “You knew when you were going to get tested. If you failed, you deserved what you got.” Valentino has not used steroids since his arrest, and is proud of the fact that he has never used any other drugs, alcohol or tobacco his entire life.

Touching on the Mitchell Report, Valentino speaks from personal experience when he says, “You never buy steroids with a check.” The ‘star’ witnesses in the investigation, Brian McNamee and Kirk Radomski, played the part of small-time steroid dealers to Valentino, who was considered a high-end wholesale dealer. “They would go to guys like me and get stuff and then hit the players over the head with it,” he said. “They would get a bottle from us for $40 or $50 and sell it (to the players) for hundreds.”

Like him or not, Valentino definitely pulls no punches. He’s been called the ‘Most Hated Man in Bodybuilding,” and has persevered as a columnist in ‘Muscular Development’ magazine, becoming the most-read in the industry.

So, if you disagree with what he has to say, that’s fine. But there are not many people that can compare ‘been there, done that’ with Valentino. Especially when it comes to steroids.