Muscle Sport Magazine

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED..

Leigh Penman, MSM’s Resident Steroid Expert, Shares Her Knowledge

By Leigh Penman

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED..

I recently received some questions in connection with my steroid profile section so I thought I would take the time to address a few of them here. The first one was in relation to Finasteride:

Q: I have heard that Finasteride causes impotence and erectile dysfunction, is this true?

A: Well I have heard this being said about drugs such as Finasteride (Propecia) but it would seem that this is a rare side effect rather than a standard expectation from its use. The fact is that Finasteride is a very valuable DHT blocker, which can provide men with significant benefits as long as it is used correctly.

High levels of DHT can trigger hair loss and promote prostate growth in some men with a genetic susceptibility. It would therefore seem wise to utilize drugs such as Finasteride if this in an area of concern. And what about those side effects? Well, according to research conducted by the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, DHT blocking drugs do not cause erectile dysfunction even when used by men for as long as two years. On the other hand, the use of these substances did prove effective in reducing DHT levels by up to 93%. So you may want to give it a second chance.

The next area of concern was Equipoise:

Q: Is it likely that an Equipoise product claiming to have 300mg per ml is counterfeit?

A: Although I have never seen a product with this dosage I am not saying that a legit product doesn’t exist. However, EQ is usually found in 200mg/ml and 250mg/ml vials. It also depends on the source and the manufacturer. I am asking around on this so I will let you know of any updates. Personally I would stick to the 200 and 250 versions from a reputable source and lab just to be on the safe side.

Finally we have one about Testosterone:

Q: I just read the Testosterone Depot (Nebido) profile. Is this a better product than say Cypionate or Sustanon?

A: The sheer length of its active life (10-14 weeks) makes it a very attractive product. Of course bodybuilders who use it choose to take it more frequently and in different amounts than those used in medical situations (see full profile for details). As to whether it is better than Sustanon or Cypionate, I have heard it causes less injection site irritation, is faster acting and, of course creates more stable levels of hormone in the long term. Of course everyone has their favorite and indeed responses can vary from individual to individual. However, if you have never tried it you may want to check it out. In the long term it means less frequent injections(even on ‘bodybuilder doses’) and is more cost effective. Another very important point is that it is subject to far less aromatization than any other injectable testosterone.

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.

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