Testosterone Propionate
Testosterone propionate, test prop or ‘Test P’ is a fast-acting ester of injectable testosterone. Test prop was designed to provide a quick release of testosterone into the bloodstream once injected into muscle tissue.
After injection test levels rise over a matter of days, the half-life of test e is stated at around 2 – 4 days. Therefore athletes will often inject it every other day to keep a steady supply of testosterone in their body.
Testosterone propionate is often used by athletes who require shorter but more explosive steroid cycles. It is proven time and time again as a reliable and effective muscle builder.
New users can often expect to see significant gains in muscle mass and strength on cycle. For more experienced users the effects can be less exaggerated, however, still substantial.
Test p is used more regularly in cutting cycles due to users reporting less water-weight being added. Therefore more lean gains are visible over the course of a cycle (diet dependant).
Androgenic Rating: 100
Anabolic Rating: 100
Testosterone P
Test P is often supplied in vials of 100mg. Depending on the country of origin, you can also find it in 50mg/ml and 25mg/ml dissolved in a carrier oil.
Testosterone Propionate Cycles
For many bodybuilders and athletes, testosterone is often the ‘base’ of the cycle. For a beginner, the most recommended way to use test p is 50mg – 100mg injected 3 x weekly.
When running a cycle 200mg – 300mg per week is recommended and will increase muscle mass and strength.
Testosterone propionate is quite versatile in the fact that it can be run as a ‘bulking compound’ and a ‘cutting compound’, however, it often mainly used as a cutting drug due to it’s leaner gains and shorter half-life.
Testosterone is a very effective androgenic and anabolic steroid and often is ran on its own, successfully.
Test prop can be run alongside other compounds to increase gains in mass and strength even further. In a run-up to a competition, competitors may run Winstrol, or Trenbolone Acetate alongside their test prop.
Testosterone Propionate Price
Prices for test p can vary depending on where you purchase it.
An average price range for purchasing from an underground lab can be from £25 per 10ml vial up to £40.
Beginner Testosterone Propionate Cycle
Weeks 1 – 12
- Monday 1 x 100mg injection
- Wednesday 1 x 100mg injection
- Friday 1 x 100mg injection
- AI (Aromatise inhibitor)
- Weeks 12 – 14
- PCT
More experienced Testosterone Propionate Cycle
Weeks 1 – 12
- Monday 1 x 150mg injection
- Wednesday 1 x 150mg injection
- Friday 1 x 150mg injection
- AI (Aromatise inhibitor)
- Weeks 1 – 12.
- PCT
Advanced Testosterone Propionate Cycle
Weeks 1 – 12
- Monday 1 x 200mg injection
- Wednesday 1 x 200mg injection
- Friday 1 x 200mg injection
- AI (Aromatise inhibitor)
- Weeks 12 – 14
- PCT
How To Inject Testosterone Propionate
For a step by step guide on how to safely inject testosterone please see this article ‘How to inject steroids safely’.
What Are The Side Effects of Testosterone Propionate
Any drug can have side effects and steroids are no different. Side effects of testosterone can come in various forms and are usually more prevalent for people who run continued length cycles or use more substantial doses.
Side effects from steroids can affect the cardiovascular system, estrogenic and androgenic. When using anabolic/androgenic steroids, it is essential to understand the risks associated with the use and also how to minimise the chances of them occurring.
It is important to note that not everyone will experience side effects from steroids. It is essential to know and understand the risk associated with them, though.
We can break down the side effects of steroids into the following subjects;
- Estrogenic side effects
- Androgenic side effects
- Cardiovascular side effects
- Hepatoxicity
- Natural testosterone shutdown
Androgenic Side Effects Of Test Prop
Testosterone is the male sex hormone. An androgen which is responsible for what makes men, men. High levels of testosterone in the body can often result in more androgenic based side effects including; oily skin, acne, increase in body and facial hair growth.
If you have baldness in your family using testosterone can often increase the rate at which you may lose hair and an increase in male pattern baldness.
Testosterone can also have an impact on the prostate gland. Users have reported prostate enlargement while on cycle. This can go down once steroid use has been stopped.
Estrogenic Side Effects
The aromatise enzyme can aromatise excess testosterone into estrogen. When on a cycle using large doses of testosterone can cause this to become more prevalent. Some people are more prone to testosterone being converted into estrogen.
Estrogen is the primary sex hormone for females. This can cause an abundance of unwanted side-effects in men.
Estrogenic side effects of testosterone can include water retention, an increase in body fat and gynecomastia. When using testosterone, athletes will often run either Nolvadex to stop estrogen binding to fat tissue or an Aromatize Inhibitor (ai) like Arimidex or Aromasin to reduce the amount of testosterone which gets synthesised.
It should be noted people with higher body fat have often been shown to suffer from estrogenic side-effects more so than people with lower body fat.
Test prop exhibits less estrogenic side effects. The short ester and lower mg/ml dose mean there is less excess testosterone in the body to be aromatised.
Managing estrogenic side effects on testosterone propionate is usually done with Nolvadex at 10mg a day.
Cardiovascular Side Effects
Steroids can increase muscle mass as well as causing the user to hold more ‘water weight’. This additional weight is often built up in short spaces of time and can result in added strain being put on the heart and organs.
Testosterone can affect cholesterol levels by reducing HDL or ‘good cholesterol’ and increasing LDL ‘bad cholesterol’. This shift, over time, can result in the hardening of the artery walls and higher levels of fat in the bloodstream leading to strokes, or heart attacks if left unchecked and untreated.
The increase in muscle mass and water weight can also lead to higher blood pressure which can again, affect the heart and kidneys.
Using testosterone can also affect your blood ‘thickness’. Testosterone therapy increases red blood cell count and can lead to polycythemia which is the increase of haemoglobin and hematocrit.
Steroid users will often have multiple blood tests per year to check for danger markers. More often than not donating or letting blood every couple of months if enough to keep blood-related issues arising.
Testosterone Propionate Effects On The Liver
Test p alone often has little to no effect on the liver, unless users are suffering from a pre-existing condition.
When taken in conservative doses, it is highly unlike to experience hepatoxic side effects caused by testosterone alone.
Natural Testosterone Shutdown
Using any form of steroid will lead to the suppression of your natural test production. This often returns after the cycle has stopped.
In rare cases or when users have been on cycle for prolonged periods, people can be shut down permanently or suffer from low testosterone levels for many years.
PCT ancillaries such as HCG can help keep the testes stimulated and producing natural testosterone. It is usually taken as a part of a PCT (post cycle therapy).
Benefits of Testosterone Propionate
- Great muscle and strength builder
- Readily available in pharma grade and UGL
- Short detection times
- Quicker gains in mass and strength
- Great for cutting cycles
FAQs for Test Prop
Is Test Prop Fast Acting?
Yes! Test prop has a relatively short half-life. This means the initial release of testosterone into the bloodstream happens very quickly. Many people who prefer running short cycles favour prop due to its ability to be in and out of the body quite quickly.
How Many Times a Week Should I Inject Test Prop?
It is recommended to inject testosterone propionate 3x weekly. A Monday, Wednesday and Friday injection schedule is the best way to keep hormone levels stable and minimize any side effects from unstable hormone peaks and drops.
Where Do You Inject Test Prop?
All steroids are required to be injected IM (intramuscularly). Never inject steroids into a vein.
How Long Does Testosterone Propionate Take To Kick In?
Most users will start to feel test prop at around weeks two – three. The most recognizable effects are usually a greater sense of wellbeing, pumps followed by muscle and strength gain.
Conclusion
Testosterone propionate is a great choice of steroid for anyone looking to run shorter cycles or cutting cycles. Keeping steady hormone levels is important to manage side effects.
Test prop needs to be injected around three times weekly which makes it not a great choice for people with a fear of needles or beginners.
However, if you use test prop you can rest assured that your gains in mass and strength will be both quick and impressive.