Testosterone is considered a relatively safe anabolic steroid because it’s a hormone naturally produced by the human body.
This is because the body is familiar with the effects of testosterone, and the hormone has been extensively studied.
Unlike some modified anabolic steroids that can cause unexpected side effects, testosterone is natural to the body and rarely produces strange adverse reactions.
That’s not to say testosterone is completely free of side effects.
However, the side effects of Testosterone Enanthate can be fully anticipated and managed with a thorough understanding of the drug.
Estrogenic Side Effects of Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone is moderately aromatized by the aromatase enzyme, a process in which it converts into estrogen.
This leads to a rise in estrogen levels, and the higher the dose, the more conversion to estrogen occurs.
The estrogenic side effects that occur with testosterone use include water retention, bloating, increased blood pressure, fat gain, and the risk of gynecomastia.
There are two ways to manage this.
First, use an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) to inhibit the aromatase enzyme and block the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.
Second, use a SERM (like Nolvadex) to prevent estrogen from binding to receptors in breast tissue, thereby preventing gynecomastia.
However, SERMs do not lower estrogen levels, so an Aromatase Inhibitor is necessary for fundamental estrogen control.
Androgenic Side Effects of Testosterone Enanthate
The side effects of Testosterone Enanthate also include androgenic side effects.
Testosterone has an androgenic strength of 100 and plays a major role in androgenic activity in the body.
Specifically, testosterone converts into the more potent androgen DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) via the 5-alpha reductase enzyme.
This enzyme is abundant in the scalp, skin, and prostate, so when testosterone reaches these tissues, it is rapidly reduced to DHT, causing strong androgenic side effects.
To inhibit DHT, drugs like Proscar (Finasteride) or Dutasteride are used, which block the 5-alpha reductase enzyme to reduce DHT production.
However, the androgenic activity of testosterone itself still remains, so side effects cannot be completely eliminated.
As a topical alternative, using Nizoral 2% shampoo can help reduce side effects like hair loss and acne, as its ketoconazole ingredient blocks DHT in the skin and scalp.
Key androgenic side effects include increased sebum secretion and acne, growth of body and facial hair, and an increased risk of male pattern baldness (MPB) in genetically predisposed individuals.
Side Effects on HPTA and Endogenous Testosterone Production
All anabolic steroids suppress the endogenous production of testosterone through the negative feedback loop of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis (HPTA).
Testosterone Enanthate is no exception to this rule, suppressing or shutting down endogenous testosterone production during its use.
After an anabolic steroid cycle ends, it is crucial to follow a proper Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) protocol, using ancillary compounds like Nolvadex or HCG to stimulate testosterone production.
If this is ignored, the HPTA can be permanently damaged, potentially requiring Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) to maintain adequate testosterone production.
Hepatotoxic Side Effects
Since Testosterone Enanthate is not a C17-alpha alkylated anabolic steroid, it carries no risk of liver toxicity.
In fact, a study where high doses of testosterone were administered orally for 20 days showed no toxic changes in the liver.
This experiment was designed to test for potential liver toxicity via oral administration, which involves a “first pass” through the liver, but even compared to injection methods, no issues were found.
Therefore, there is no need to worry about hepatotoxicity when using Testosterone Enanthate.
Cardiovascular Side Effects of Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone Enanthate can cause peripheral effects such as cardiovascular strain and cholesterol changes, including a decrease in HDL (good cholesterol) and an increase in LDL (bad cholesterol).
These changes are dose-dependent, with higher doses potentially increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis.
Testosterone has less of an impact on cholesterol than other anabolic steroids, but it still has some effect.
For example, in a study using 280mg of testosterone for 12 weeks, the impact on HDL cholesterol was minimal, but when an aromatase inhibitor was used, HDL decreased by 25%.
In another study, increasing the dose to 600mg resulted in a 21% reduction in HDL cholesterol.
Since aromatase inhibitors can worsen the negative impact on cholesterol, it is important to use the minimum effective dose to keep estrogen levels within a normal range.
