Testosterone Propionate (TP 100)

Description

Propionate is a fast-acting Testosterone ester, present in products such as Testoviron®.

Testosterone propionate has the ability to produce impressive gains in the early stages of a cycle.

Although it kicks in fast, it’s not the most rapid form of Testosterone, with Suspension being superior in this regard.

As Propionate is absorbed quickly, frequent injections are required to maintain peak testosterone levels (1). It is thus recommended to be injected every other day.

Testosterone Propionate injections can be painful in our experience, regularly leaving users feeling sore or even having to limp (after injecting in the leg).

Testosterone Propionate Benefits

The general benefits of Testosterone Propionate are typically the same as cycling any other Testosterone ester.

We see users experiencing roughly 20 lbs of lean muscle (combined with some fat loss) when taking Testosterone for the first time.

Strength will also go up dramatically in the first few weeks, then slowly continue increasing until the end of a cycle.

The main difference with Propionate in our experience is that results occur in the earlier stages of a cycle, compared to slower esters (such as Enanthate or Cypionate) taking longer to kick in.

However, the end result is the same no matter what Testosterone ester you take; as they are all essentially the same steroid (they just peak at different times).

Testosterone Propionate Side Effects
The usual side effects associated with Testosterone also apply to Propionate, such as:

High cholesterol
Increased blood pressure
Risk of gynecomastia
Oily skin or/and acne
Hair loss
Testosterone suppression
LDL cholesterol levels rising and HDL levels falling is typical when taking any steroid. However, it’s worth noting that Testosterone is one of the least harmful steroids for negatively affecting cholesterol in our testing. Thus, blood pressure will rise, however, if moderate dosages are taken for reasonable lengths of time — this is often manageable.

We have seen bodybuilders combat excessive spikes in BP by supplementing with fish oil, taking 4 grams per day throughout a cycle (2).

Testosterone is estrogenic, thus water retention, bloating and gynecomastia are all possible.

Despite Testosterone causing some fat loss (due to its androgenic nature stimulating lipolysis); it is mainly used when bulking. Thus, many users do not mind a temporary ‘smooth’, watery look.

We find SERMs, such as Nolvadex, to be effective in reducing the risk of gynecomastia. AI’s (anti-aromatase inhibitors) are not recommended as blocking estrogen can worsen cholesterol and blood pressure; due to estrogen having a positive effect on HDL cholesterol.

Oily skin and acne are possible for some users (3), which is the result of testosterone’s strong androgenic properties (causing increased sebum production).

Hair thinning on the scalp, or recession is possible due to elevated DHT levels.

In some cases, we have seen that when DHT drops post-cycle, hair on the scalp becomes thicker again. Although, those who take androgenic compounds long-term will be more susceptible to permanent hair loss.

It seems ironic that by taking Testosterone, your natural testosterone crashes. However, this is the reality (as is the case with all anabolic steroids). This occurs due to the body detecting exogenous testosterone, with total levels rising excessively high, causing the body to halt natural production (to try and maintain homeostasis).

Thus, after a cycle ends users are left with shut down endogenous testosterone, needing a PCT to help resurrect testosterone back to adequate levels. We find that an effective PCT can usually restore hormone function in approximately 4 weeks. Without a PCT, low testosterone levels can persist for several months (4).

Testosterone Propionate Cycle

Testosterone Propionate comes in bottles dosed at 1ml/100mg.

Beginner Cycle
100mg every other day, for 8 weeks.

Note: Testosterone Propionate generally isn’t advised for beginners, due to painful injections (and having to be administered frequently).

Intermediate Cycle
150mg every other day, for 8 weeks.

Advanced Cycle
200mg every other day, for 8-10 weeks.

Other supplements:
Fish oil (4g/day)
Nolvadex (20-40mg/day)
Note: Intermediates and advanced steroid users often stack Testosterone Propionate with other compounds for maximum results; however, this isn’t recommended for beginners (due to additional side effects).