07/03/09
Steroids weren’t always that big of a deal back when everyone could get them. They were treated with the same zeal that many people exhibit for items such as protein powder, ephedrine, and other legal compounds today. They were sometimes a bit costly, their use was a little confusing, and they delivered some decent results for those people willing to put in the work in terms of training and diet. Sure, some people used them recreationally for vanity reasons without engaging in the bodybuilding lifestyle, but their use wasn’t all that big of a deal. That is, until the media ran with the story, terrified parents and energized young users in high school sports, which led to Congress getting involved in limiting access of Americans to anabolic steroids.
The Steroid Control Act changed everything, in terms of the perception that steroids had in the view of users. Suddenly they became this holy grail of muscle growth and fat loss, an unreachable fountain of muscle for those willing to order them illegally from some faraway land. Instead of being able to try steroids of guaranteed quality at reasonable prices, users were forced to order from shady sources with no legal resources for fraudulent products received. The reality is that if many of today’s interested users actually had access to the drugs they long so much for, they might just realize they don’t want them.
That being said, many doctors today are responding to the demands of their patients for elevated testosterone levels. As men discover a loss of athletic proficiency, stamina, energy, and sexual performance as they enter their 40s and 50s, they begin doing their research as to how to reclaim their vitality. Their searches often lead to artificial testosterone replacement therapy, which leads these men to ask their doctors for the drug. If they wish to enjoy repeat business, they often comply with these requests. We’ve seen a giant increase in male users of testosterone products in the last ten years as a result.
Testosterone creams are most often prescribed by physicians. They must be administered twice daily and can be dangerous when allowed to come in contact with your female partner’s skin. At a concentration of 100 mg per 10 g of cream, the levels that can be reached using the cream can approach normal, but aren’t going to reach much above that.
If you’re a bodybuilder – or even a male seeking a return to the glorious days of your twenties when your T levels were much higher, then you’re likely going to be dissatisfied with the use of testosterone cream. You will see a slight elevation on the blood test panels, but your real-life physique isn’t going to change all that much. Most likely, the changes will mainly manifest in your attitude, energy levels, and sexual ability. In terms of muscle mass, the cream won’t help you all that much. If your goals are to take it to a level head and shoulders above what the cream can deliver, then you should consult with your physician about moving up to injectable testosterone. Even small doses of 200 mg per week far eclipse what T cream can do in terms of helping you to reach your bodybuilding goals.
