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.

This is part of a continuing series provided exclusively by MuscleSport Mag giving information on a variety of performance-enhancing drugs for educational purposes. While it is apparent that people are going to use these substances regardless of the health and legal risks involved, quality information is necessary and learning as much about them as possible can only assist an adult making a decision either way.

Winstrol is the ‘user friendly’ name given to the anabolic steroid Stanozolol. A derivative of dihydrotestosterone, Winstrol is a commonly used steroid for cutting cycles. Since it is not capable of converting into estrogen, gynecomastia is not a concern – even amongst the most sensitive individuals. It produces a lean, quality look with little or no water retention.
Winstrol is often seen as a less expensive alternative to Anavar since it produces similar gains in strength without significant weight gain.

As with most oral compounds, Winstrol carries the structural c17-AA alteration, which enables it to survive the first pass through the liver. This means that it does place a higher level of stress on the liver than the injectable form (Winstrol Depot) which avoids the first pass altogether. With this in mind, during longer or higher dose cycles, liver values should be monitored by regular blood work. It should also go without saying that if you are stacking Winstrol with other oral steroids then you should make every effort to protect your liver by limiting the cycle length to 6 to 8 weeks. Cholesterol levels should also be monitored and every effort should be made to stick to a diet that does not include cholesterol-elevating foods (e.g. fatty meats, egg yolks, full fat dairy products).

The usual dose for men is 35 – 75mg per day for the tablets and 25 – 50mg/day for the injectable version. Women usually take around 5 to 10mg/day, sometimes going up to 20mg for competitive athletes. The injectable version is not recommended for use by women.

STACKING TIPS:

For bulking purposes you may wish to add a stronger androgen like testosterone, Dianabol or Anadrol.

For cutting phases Winstrol can be combined with trenbolone or Halotestin.
Sensitive individuals would be advised to stick to Primobolan, Deca-Durabolin or Equipoise if they want to enter the stacking arena since they exhibit fewer side effects than standard androgens.

LIVER PROTECTION:

When using oral steroids it is worth considering using some form of over the counter liver protectant e.g. Silymarin (Milk Thistle) or N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC).

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).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

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.

Species Nutrition aim to create products that contain only the highest quality ingredients and present them in specific formulas that have real science and research behind them. You are not going to find complex diagrams, graphs and futuristic explosions of plasma illustrating their effectiveness. Facts not fantasy are what the rapidly growing (no pun intended) range of Species products depend on to illustrate their effectiveness. Founded by two of bodybuilding’s greatest minds (and bodies) Dave Palumbo and Colette Nelson you can bet that Species Nutrition is one company you are going to be hearing a lot more of in the future. One of their best selling products is currently the aromataze inhibiter/testosterone booster, ‘Testolyze’. So what better way to begin this look at the Species product range than by grabbing a bottle and putting it under the supplement microscope?

TESTOLYZE

Testolyze separates itself from the proliferation of anti-estrogen/testosterone boosting supplements on the market by virtue of the attention to detail given to its formula. It contains the ever-popular 6-OXO which is known to effectively increase testosterone levels by blocking the action of the aromataze enzyme. The aromataze enzyme is the primary enzyme involved in the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. As all bodybuilders know, too much estrogen leads not only to water retention and fat deposition but can also trigger gynecomastia and the possible shutdown of natural testosterone production. The traditional cure for this situation has been to use estrogen receptor antagonists such as Nolvadex or Clomid which act like pigeons in the nest of estrogen receptor sites (i.e. they step in and take over the site leaving estrogen homeless). In recent years aromataze inhibiting drugs such as Arimadex and Proviron have also become popular. These drugs simply act to eliminate estrogen altogether which, in theory, sounds great but in practice can spell disaster for the hard training athlete.

This is due to the fact that the body needs a certain amount of estrogen to be present in order to facilitate muscle gains, maintain healthy cholesterol levels and prevent libido going down the lane of lost souls. Add to this the fact that Proviron is the closest thing to orally active DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) – the main culprit in male pattern baldness – and you do not have a pretty picture.

So where does a product like TESTOLYZE fit into the picture? Well, Testolyze is spearheading a new generation of aromataze blockers. The unique formula combines 6OXO (a clinically tested and proven aromataze blocker) with the herb Saw Palmetto.
Saw Palmetto has been used for many years as a natural inhibitor of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone to DHT and an excess of DHT in hair tissue leads to hair thinning in men and women. It has also been linked to prostate enlargement in men.

Put simply, what this means is that Testolyze facilitates the growth of muscle tissue via the creation of the perfect hormonal climate within the body. It eliminates excess estrogen without annihilating it completely and prevents the build-up of DHT and all the nasty side effects it presents. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how valuable this scenario is to the athlete!

TEST DRIVE ‘TESTOLYZE’

Testolyze certainly leads the pack of over-the-counter testosterone enhancing anti-aromataze products currently on the market. You can try it out for yourself by checking out the Species range of products elsewhere on this site. You can also pay a visit to www.speciesnutrition.com where you can see not only this product but also a whole range of supplements, clothing, news and information from the team at Species Nutrition. Meanwhile, watch this space for more product reviews from the home of evolutionary nutrition.

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.