1) What are prohormones?
These are products that raise the levels of the male hormones testosterone
(Androdiol®) and 19-nortestosterone (Norandrodiol®). They contain metabolic
precursors that your body transforms into the active hormones.
2)
What benefits will these products have for me?
These male hormones are very capable of raising your energy and mood levels,
your libido, and can aid in the development of lean body mass and strength
3) What
are the differences between Nor and Andro products?
Andro prohormones products convert to testosterone; the male hormone responsible
for male secondary side effects including muscle growth. Nor prohormones
convert to 19-nortestosterone which is a hormone that shares the muscle
building (anabolic) activity of testosterone, while having only a fraction
of the androgenic (male virilizing) activity. Male virilizing effects
include effects on the prostate and body and scalp hair. Norandrodiol®
will not stimulate the central nervous system like Androdiol. Furthermore,
it will not have the positive effects on libido and aggressiveness like
its Androdiol® counterpart. This does not mean that Androdiol is inferior,
only different. Many athletes have reported positive results from the
combined use of Norandrodiol and Androdiol
4) How
should I take the "Cyclo" products?
The tablets should be taken orally up to four times per day, dissolved
under the tongue. No food or beverage should be consumed for at least
20 minutes after the lozenge fully dissolves. The doses should be spread
apart as much as possible (i.e. every 4 hours). It may also be advantageous
to take a dose before exercising.
5) What are the risks,
if any, from these products?
There are surprisingly few risks from these products, provided you are
a male in relatively good health. A recent peer reviewed university study
has shown that after four weeks of consuming these substances, there were
no negative effects on any biochemical parameters, including no effects
on the bodies own testosterone production. People who should not consume
these products are males under the age of 18, or men with prostate cancer
or any other androgen related disorders.
6) What
kind of prohormone product should I take, how long should I take them
for, and how long should I wait in between cycles?
That depends on a lot of factors. If you are concerned about maintaining
your own testosterone production fully then you should stick to shorter
cycles of two to three weeks, with two to three weeks off time in between
cycles. Also, you should stick to fast acting compounds such as the cyclodextrin
formulas and intra-orals.
If you wish to maximize results, then
cycles of 4 to 8 weeks are recommended, followed by 4 to 6 weeks off.
This time is to allow endogenous testosterone production to fully re-establish.
Longer acting preparations such as the topical sprays and sustained release
cyclo (SR) products are also best for maximum response.
7) How long
do the prohormones stay in my system?
That varies widely from formula to formula, and also depends on the dose
taken. It can range from a couple of hours for the shortest acting preparations,
to 24 hours or more for the longest. Since we are unable to give out exact
numbers, we will simply list them from shortest acting to longest acting.
Short (less than 3 hours)---------------------- Long (greater
than 24 hours) Intraoral, Cyclo Formulas, Oral capsules, Cyclo SR Formulas,
Topical spray
8) What is
the best product if I am only interested in a pre-workout boost?
The best products for this purpose would be the intraoral spray or the
cyclo lozenges. These products get into your system fast, and keep hormones
elevated for a length of time that will last throughout a normal workout.
9) Should
a woman take these products? If so, how would they do so?
Women can take the nor prohormones if they keep their cycles shorter than
4 weeks. The recommended female cycle is one to three cyclo-nordiol a
day for two to four weeks, followed by four to six weeks off. Women should
be aware of any abnormal facial hair growth, clitoral enlargement, and
voice lowering. If these appear to be happening the product should be
discontinued to avoid any lasting androgenic physical changes. Masculinization
is very rare with proper usage of this product, however, it is best to
be cautious and aware just in case. Women usually receive excellent results
with nor prohormones and are often tempted to try more than is recommended.
We strongly urge women to avoid this temptation.
10) Will these
products give me breasts, zits, or a cue ball head?
The issue of side effects has to be addressed in a straightforward manner.
The issue of gynecomastia, or bitch tits, is one that is related to increases
in serum estrogen. Luckily, the diol prohormones do NOT elevate estrogens
significantly (unlike androstenedione), and therefore the risk of “gyno”
is quite low.
Pimples are not a common side effect,
although some people report a slight increase of acne on the back or shoulders
that is usually light and transient. A rare individual who is hypersensitive
to androgens and pimples conceivably might have a more serious reaction.
Male pattern baldness can be accelerated
slightly only in those individuals taking Androdiol® that are genetically
predisposed to it. These individuals can take moderate dosages of Norandrodiol®
though and suffer little if any problems.
11)
Are there any problems with liver, prostate or mental effects?
There have not been any public reports of liver problems from blood tests
using prohormones, even at higher dosages. However, it may be wise for
one to get blood tests done if they plan on taking higher dosages for
prolonged periods. Also, if one has a pre-existing liver problem they
are advised to avoid prohormones completely. People with pre-existing
prostate conditions are definitely contraindicated with prohormones. On
the other hand though, there is no convincing medical evidence that suggests
testosterone or prohormones will lead to the development of benign prostatic
hypertrophy or prostate cancer in normal individuals.
Users often report an increased mental
energy and focus on prohormones. This is usually considered a positive
benefit, however in a small amount of individuals it is associated with
some insomnia as well. This is something the consumer should be aware
of.
12)
Does using this product affect normal testosterone production?
Proper use of prohormones will not adversely affect one’s own hormone
producing system. The body's testosterone negative feedback loop (HPTA)
will naturally respond to elevations of testosterone, however it rebounds
right back so long as one does not stay on prohormone products for inordinately
long periods of time (> 8 weeks). As far as which products are safest
in regards to endogenous production; they generally follow along the lines
of duration of action. That is, the cyclo products produce the least down
regulation response, while the topical sprays produce the most. The topical
sprays, of course, are generally the most effective.
13) What are the best Pro-hormones?
