(Transdermal Testosterone)
Androgel History and Overview
With the rise in popularity of life enhancement treatments, Androgel has emerged as one of the best functional testosterone boosters on the market. That’s right, rather than just a marketed “t booster” as many supplement companies have, this is an actual way to supplement testosterone. Because of the convenience of how it’s applied and the ease of perscription acquisition, Androgel is a really great way to get the test you need without having to worry about needles or unsightly alternatives. It also makes it feel more or less like a homeopathic supplement rather than something seedy or unsightly, and that’s precisely why Androgel has emerged as a really viable solution to getting testosterone supplementation.
Despite the popularity of its use in HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) programs, the truth is, it’s not the best way to take testosterone. While it is not as fun injecting a needle into yourself, the truth is, the needle is the more effective way to get the testosterone into your system. The good news is, however, that most men will be able to benefit and get the full effectiveness of simply supplementing with Androgel, but for the few that will not benefit, they will have to go with alternative methods.
Androgel first became available as a method of testosterone supplementation in the year 2000 from the company Unimed Pharmaceuticals, and very quickly, it dominated the transdermal testosterone market within a few years. A few years later, a company named Watson also managed get in on the market and take a bit of business away from Unimed and their Androgel product line.
In the present day, however, Androgel is still the dominant transdermal method of using testosterone.
Androgel Functions and Effects:
When it comes to the way that it performs, Androgel is undoubtedly the best in its class as far as a transdermal method of using testosterone is concerned. Androgel, unlike some testosterone variations, is entirely synthetic. But it is successfully a perfect synthetic replica, making it highly desirable for long-term use if one wanted to get more testosterone supplementation. It is officially considered a hydroalcoholic transdermal testosterone gel, making it a considering an anabolic androgenic steroid, which is unlike any other form of testosterone aside from the fact it’s a gel and happens to be synthetically created.
With its creation, it was available in a 1 percent concentration, and it could be used in 2.5 and 5-gram sachets. This makes it perfectly usable for someone that is looking for just enough to make a difference in terms of their hormonal balance, but it’s also phenomenal at and giving a subject anywhere between 25 and 50 mg of testosterone per the application. Compared to most injectable doses, this is much lower, but it also means the risk of testosterone shutdown is far less than comparable methods. Regardless of what percentage sachet you get or similar methodology of application, it should be explicitly understood that Androgel only has a 10-percent rate of absorption. Because its rate of absorption is so low, it means that you have to take greater doses of the hormone in order to get the effective results you’re looking for.
Because it’s so low in terms of absorption and dosage, most athletes that are seeking to get tremendous athletic benefits from their testosterone are going to go with the traditional method of injecting it directly. Because of this, it’s unlikely to see transdermal testosterone used by anyone other than the average man looking to get onto an HRT or TRT plan.
Because it’s popular with men in these demographics, it should be understood that over 20 million men suffer from some sort of androgen deficiency. Low testosterone happens to be the most common deficiency that is experienced, and because of the ease of application and convenience that Androgel offers, there is no doubt that it happens to be among the most popular in terms of supplements chosen.
In order to figure out if you’re susceptible to some sort of androgen deficiency, you should keep an eye on how you feel. Low testosterone can be tested for, but more than likely, you’ll know if you have it based one a few common symptoms. For men, the most obvious sign is age. Around the age of 25, testosterone levels start to dip up until the 30s and 40s. This means that hose individuals will encounter most of the symptoms that are very common with men at this age range. The symptoms can be very simple to very complicated. For example, most of the common ones involves those related to sex and aggression. Testosterone levels, especially high or healthy levels, are correlated with aggression, focus, and motivation. These tie into one’s desire to have sex with their partner or just with the desired sex they enjoy in general. Should you notice a sharp consistent decline in this motivaiton, especially with your partner, then it might be a sign you’re androgenically deficient. While testosterone levels might have something to do with it, the best way to verify this for sure is to have your serum levels tested at an endricinologist or your primary care physician.
Other related symptoms include insomnia, lethargy, lack of energy, muscle loss, erectile dysfunction, and a whole host of other problems. It’s important to keep an eye on any of these symptoms should they occur, because all of them could potentially mean you’re deficient in an androgen. Although most people associate low test with lack of sexual function, the truth is, testosterone levels play a major role in so many other areas of our life, that to say lacking sex drive is the sole indicator of low testosterone would be a misnomer and misdiagnosis. No one can know for sure unless you get your serum levels tested by a physician.
For the most part, the symptoms listed above will typically occur in pairs. Usually one sexually specific and one related to lifestyle. However, as time goes on, it is possible that those two symptoms grow into three or more. The longer you suffer from low test, the quicker it will take for more of those issues to emerge. So definitely keep an eye on the symptoms you experience to know whether or not you’re really suffering from those issues.
While many men are hesitant to do something about their symptoms, the truth is there is a lot that can be done. Men mistakenly think that these are simply the result of getting old and there is nothing to do be done about. Well, in reality, there is no way you should go through life feeling like this because it’s such an easy fix. You simply need to supplement with testosterone, and one of the best ways to accomplish this is by supplementing with Androgel, which is a proven way to safely administer testosterone in individuals that are deficient in androgens.
For one, Androgel does have some performance enhancing effects. For one, if you’re suffering from sexual inability, this iso ne of the areas it can really help. By adding Androgel to your routine, you’ll be able to quickly make the most of your situation and immediately feel an increase in libido within a few weeks. Remember, with testosterone, it is not an overnight fix, but it will work once the dosage and saturation of your hormone levels returns to normal. This can take a little bit of time, and most doctors estimate that when you’re deficient in testosterone, it can take approximately 3-4 weeks to suddenly notice the effects of having healthy levels again.
For one, you’ll immediately notice an increase in an aggression and mental focus, these can be further assisted by improvements in sleep and other areas that otherwise would suffer from a lack of androgens. These will all return to normal, but it will take a little bit of time to notice these positive effects. Remember, when you do feel positive effects, it’s not because there is something magically unique inside of Androgel. Androgel is just synthetic testosterone. It simply means that you’ve successfully returned your testosterone levels back to normal. Your body has a decoder inside of it, if you’re to use a comparative way of explainging how it works.
Your androgen receptors could be considered these decoders. Whenever there is testosterone inside of your body, your body “decodes” it by using these androgenic receptors. When you’re low in testosterone, it doesn’t mean that the receptors don’t work, it just means that you need more testosterone for your body to decode. When you reintroduce testosterone via Androgel or any other means, the receptors instantly activate and intake the testosterone, thus resulting in an ability to finally return your androgen levels back to normal.
Side Effects of Androgel:
Most of the typical side effects associated with testosterone are present in Androgel. This means that you could have some of the aromatization effects you’d see in traditional androgen supplementation, but you have to understand that sans those risks, there is one more additional side effect that uniquely present in Androgel. Because it’s transdermal, this means that on the spot of application, it is possible for there to be inflammation as a result of direct usage. The irritant is rarely present in lots of men, but it can happen.
Estrogenic Side Effects
Because of some of the estrogenic effects, such as gyno and excess water retention, it is possible to be perscribed a SERM (selective estrogenic receptor modulator) to prevent binding to the estrogen receptors, or you can prescribe AIs (aromatase inhibitors) to reduce serum estrogen levels altogether. AIs can have a great effect on your system, so it is preferred to give a SERM a shot in the beginning since they do the least in terms of actually change to your system.
Cardiovascular Side Effects
There can be cardiovascular changes as a result of increased androgen use. While this is very common in individuals with bad cardiovascular systems to begin with, you’ll really need to add something to it to enhance the effects. This means that by exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle before adding an androgen, you’re upping your odds of successful supplementation. This is because higher test levels can result in more serum blood cholesterol.
Androgenic Side Effects
Because of the potent androgenic effects of testosterone, you have to be prepared for the downsides of having high testosterone. One of the worst ones is the acceleration of male pattern baldness. This happens because when there are high levels of testosterone, it activates the 5-alpha reductaste enzyme to break down the androgens, and thus, it is converted into dihydrotestosterone, which is the reason many men with high test experience baldness or skin irritation and oiliness. Some men supplement with Finasteride, which is a 5-alpha reductaste inhibitor, but beware that using this may reduce the effectiveness of the testosterone to some extent. Remember, hair loss happens in those that were going to lose it no matter what, but it just means the process is going to be accelerated.
Hepatoxic Side Effects
These refer to side effects that would affect liver toxicity. Thankfully, Androgel is not hepatoxic, so you do not have to worry about it affecting your liver or other organs in a negative fashion.
Androgel Administration and Uses:
As a low testosterone treatment testosterone preparation, 5g is used per day to start applied to dry, clean skin. After a period of 2-3 weeks, total testosterone levels will be checked again by the endocrinologist to see where circulating androgen levels are. A range of 400-1100ng/dl is required for longevity, health and to ward of low testosterone symptoms. A dosage of 10g per day may be required depending on the patients requirements.
It’s strongly recommended to wash your hand thoroughly after the application of AndroGel and to avoid contact with women and children. After all, this gel is androgenic and may cause women and children irritation.
For performance enhancing, Androgel is not well suited. Higher doses would be required such as 20-30g per day. The volume of gel needed and its application would become problematic. Other testosterone-based steroids are advised as performance enhancers such as, Testosterone Enanthate, Testosterone Cypionate and Testosterone Propionate.
There are no female medical Androgel dosages. Although this compound would aid in the sexual desire of women, due to virilisation related side effects, testosterone should not be used by women in any dosage.
Buy Androgel Online, Legality and Availability:
It’s not easy to buy Androgel online. Steroid sources often carry pharmaceutical grade anabolic steroids, both oral and injectable, but Androgel is rarely seen. Often internet steroid suppliers provide branded anabolic steroids for cheaper prices than prescription obtained anabolic steroids. However, transdermal testosterone steroids are rare as steroid users and bodybuilders favour injectables.
Purchasing Androgel will prove difficult, as it’s a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States. Both the Steroid Control Act of 1990 and the Steroid Control Act of 2004 make possessing, trafficking and manufacturing anabolic steroids a serious offence in the U.S. Legally, you can buy AndroGel once your doctor or endocrinologist has issued a valid prescription. Punishments range from a $250,000 fine to over 10 years imprisonment.
The price of Androgel is around $100-200 for 30 sachets of 5g transdermal testosterone gel. As you can see, this is an expensive way of treating low testosterone (hypogonadism), but less intrusive than administering testosterone injections weekly.
Androgel Pictures:
Androgel Transdermal Testosterone 1% Gel
Abbott Laboratories Androgel 5g Sachets
Androgel Sachets Transdermal Testosterone Gel
Androgel Chemical Information:
- 4-androsten-3one-17beta-ol
- 17beta-hydroxy-androst-4-en-3-one
- Manufacture: (original) Unimed
- Effective Dose Men: 5g-10g every day
- Effective Dose Women: Not Recommended
- Active Half-Life: 72 hours
- Detection Time: 3-6 months
- Anabolic/Androgenic Ratio: 100/100
