I'm 60 and had T levels of 350-ish the past 2 yrs on my annual physicals. Was told that it was normal although I had several symptoms of low-T. Finally got someone to prescribe it on a 2 month trial/experimental basis to see how it worked. As for the anabolic effects, I started with 4 pumps for around the 1st 8 days then up'ed it to 6 pumps for 4 or 5 days at which point I went back down to 4 to conserve it. At approx. the end of the 5th week I went to 6 pumps again for 5 days before getting tested. My total T came back > or = 1500 meaning it could have been higher as I think that's the threshold of that particular testing method. I thought the blood draw site might have been contaminated with some subcutaneous T residue but then my E2 came back at 72 so my T may have actually been that high. I had been applying small amounts to the jewels so that could have been spiking it.
Whatever though...to get to the point, over the past few weeks I've been able to train each body part I train once every 3-4 days instead of once every 6-7 days like before (I use short, fairly intense workouts), I've been able to add at least 5 pounds every workout to every exercise for the same number of sets/reps and I've put 1/2" on my upper arms so I do think I'm getting an anabolic effect without exceeding the recommended dosage. Of course maybe I just absorb it better than most people. And this isn't really brand new muscle or strength considering I had 17 1/4" arms 15 years ago. After that I had a 5 yr layoff and then have lifted on and off since then. But this is the 1st time I've been able to get my arms to 16" in the last 10 yrs. (due to age/low T???)
I think the key to getting any potential anabolic effect is 1. how well you absorb it of course, but also how/where you apply it may have a great deal to do with it. I always use it directly after a hot shower, I use areas of skin that have the least amount of body fat, I massage it in real well a little bit at a time and I slightly wet my hands afterward and remove as much as I can and apply it to other parts of my body (including jewels which is a high-absorbtion area but considered a no-no). I then leave it on my hands for at least an hour so as not to waste any at all (I'm retired and at home most of the time with no danger of transferal to anyone)
What I'm saying is that under the right circumstances, despite people saying that it is worthless for anabolic effect, that you can use it for that purpose even at the 7.5g-10g possibly, and if not at those doses I think very likely at a 'more than recommended' dosage of say 15-20g, and if applied optimally.
The only problem is that you won't know exactly what your levels are until you get tested , plus it could get expensive even at the lower doses. But I guess those could be issues with any type of cycle.