Is taking testosterone the same as taking steroids?

It is not uncommon for people to confuse exogenous testosterone sold as part of a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with taking steroids to achieve gains in the bodybuilding field. However, they are not the same thing and while the use of testosterone during TRT is primarily for health reasons, taking testosterone during a cycle is generally for reasons of physical aesthetics and performance enhancement.

Thetestosterone injection for bodybuilding is a choice made by bodybuilders based on their need to achieve bodybuilding gains as quickly as possible. On the other hand, TRT may be the only option imposed on an individual seeking relief from the serious side effects of low endogenous testosterone, or hypogonadism.

In this article, we will briefly review what testosterone is, how it affects your health, whether testosterone is a steroid or not, what androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) are, and the effects of AAS on your body.

 

I. What is testosterone?

It is easy to understand why testosterone use is immediately associated with steroid use, but testosterone is first and foremost a hormone. Indeed, testosterone is a hormone secreted by both the adrenal glands (in small amounts), the testes in men and the ovaries in women (but in much larger amounts).

In fact, it is generally believed that 90 % of the testosterone hormones present in the human body are produced and released by the testicles or ovaries, while 10 % are secreted by the adrenal glands.

Testosterone is often referred to as the "sex hormone" because of its influence on libido and sperm production. However, the importance of testosterone to the human body is not limited to sexual development.

Testosterone helps regulate a number of bodily functions, including a person's overall mood, while also promoting physical growth and development.

Testosterone is responsible for stimulating protein synthesis in skeletal muscle, which leads to increased muscle mass and strength. Testosterone stimulates collagen production, which dramatically increases bone density.

Additionally, testosterone can increase red blood cell production, which increases the amount of oxygen-rich blood your vital organs and skeletal muscles are exposed to. This helps boost your stamina and endurance levels, especially during a high intensity training (HIIT). But natural or endogenous testosterone production is known to decline with age, among other factors.

Low testosterone levels or a condition known as hypogonadism can lead to a number of health problems. These health problems include low libido, unexplained mood swings, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and muscle atrophy.

To increase your testosterone levels and prevent these side effects, your doctor may recommend a TRT plan, for which you will need a prescription before you can get your hands on any testosterone for sale at a pharmacist.

TRT will provide your body with healthy doses of exogenous testosterone to increase and balance your T levels while significantly reducing the side effects associated with low T levels.

 

 

II. How does testosterone affect your body?

As we have already mentioned, the role played by natural testosterone in the body cannot be underestimated.

Testosterone promotes sexual development as well as physical characteristics, such as facial and body hair, muscle growth, strength, and endurance.

Testosterone also regulates and improves mood, which is very important, especially if you want to stay focused on a workout and diet program.

If TRT is prescribed by your doctor to address your hypogonadism issues, the doses of testosterone taken should help balance and/or increase your testosterone levels to address any or all of the following health issues:

• Sleep Apnea
• Tired
• Low libido
• Loss of muscle mass
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Weight gain
• Urinary problems

The doses of testosterone often prescribed as part of TRT will keep your T levels balanced, allowing you to recover from the side effects mentioned, among others.

However, with thetestosterone injection for bodybuilding, your dosage should be high enough to encourage muscle mass gains and improving athletic performance.

 

II. Is testosterone a steroid?

The answer to this question is yes and no. Although testosterone is a hormone as we have already explained, there are synthetic derivatives that are chemically produced in the laboratory. These AAS offer similar properties and benefits to endogenous testosterone.

Sustanon 250 is an anabolic steroid for sale which is considered the closest to natural testosterone. Sustanon 250 consists of four different esters, namely testosterone decanoate (100 mg), testosterone isocaproate (60 mg), testosterone phenylpropionate (60 mg), and testosterone propionate (30 mg). Bodybuilders looking to build muscle mass and improve their overall athletic performance use high doses of testosterone-based steroids.

Thetestosterone injection for bodybuilding suppresses the natural production of testosterone by the adrenal glands and testicles or ovaries. Your natural testosterone is then replaced by the exogenous testosterone injected into your body.

High doses of testosterone will give you rapid gains in bodybuilding, but you may experience feminizing (in men) or masculinizing (in women) side effects.

III. What about anabolic steroids?

Androgenic-anabolic steroids are primarily used by bodybuilders to achieve mass or size gains. AAS are synthetic derivatives of testosterone that can be used cyclically or stacked to achieve optimal bodybuilding gains. The main difference between using testosterone for bodybuilding and TRT is the dosing plan.

In the case of long-term treatment, your doctor will often structure your testosterone dosage to a safe and manageable level. The goal of TRT is to restore normalcy by balancing your testosterone levels. In bodybuilding, however, the goal of your dosing plan will be to flood your body with high doses of exogenous testosterone to accelerate and maximize bodybuilding gains. The risks of using testosterone in TRT are not comparable to those of using testosterone for sale in bodybuilding.

 

IV. Effects of anabolic steroids

The effects of steroids on muscles are well known to bodybuilders in the bodybuilding world. Depending on your cycle/stack and dosage plan, you can expect your use of testosterone steroids to promote protein synthesis, which then leads to muscle growth. AAS will also help you quickly recover from muscles damaged during high intensity training.

Sustanon 250, for example, is known to increase muscle size (partly through water retention). Other steroids like trenbolone (Tren) can promote the growth of lean, dry, and vascular muscle. But AAS use comes with several risks of side effects.

Male bodybuilders may be at risk for feminization side effects due to the conversion of exogenous testosterone into high levels of estrogen. Common side effects of feminization include gynecomastia, testicular shrinkage, and decreased libido.

In women, steroid use can lead to masculinization characterized by a deeper voice, breast atrophy, clitoral hypertrophy, and increased facial and body hair.

Other side effects that can result from steroid use include “roid rage,” increased cholesterol, high blood pressure, and mood swings. However, the severity of these side effects depends on several factors, including your genetics, age, cycle length, and dosing plan.

 

 

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, it is important to note that testosterone is a hormone, but there are steroids that contain synthetic testosterone that can provide similar benefits to the hormone.

TRT is intended for medical purposes to restore balance in a person's testosterone levels, while the use oftestosterone injection for bodybuilding will promote both mass gain and strength gains.

The dosage given during TRT is normally high enough to restore balance in a person's T levels, but the dosage of testosterone steroids for bodybuilding is usually high for rapid gains.

At Top-steroids, we offer different testosterone steroids online for you to choose from. However, we advise you to consult your doctor and trainer before starting a cycle. This way, you will maximize your gains and minimize the risks involved by planning a safe cycle, dosage, and post cycle therapy (PCT).