https://hitechpharma.com/blogs/news/93201665-prohormones-101-a-starters-guide?mc_cid=adba8bf7f3&mc_eid=585dbe867e
Prohormones have been a pretty common term since Mark McGwire admitted to using them en route to breaking the home run record in 1998. Since then we’ve all heard the term countless times. You’ve read about them, your gym buddies have talked about them, and you’ve even considered using them…but do you truly understand what “Prohormones” are? Don’t worry if you don’t, the fact is that very few people actually do!
In the most simplified terms, a Prohormone is something that converts into an active hormone after we consume it. This means to be classified as a true Prohormone, the product needs to go through one or more hormonal conversions once it’s in your body. This means things like testosterone boosters (mostly herbal extracts) are NOT prohormones, since they never convert to an actual hormone (they only increase your body’s ability to create more natural testosterone). Supplements like creatine, protein powder, beta alanine, and other standard supplements can in no way be classified as Prohormones.
Continuing the topic of what Prohormones aren’t, it is necessary to bring up the topic of Designer Steroids. Designer Steroids are commonly referred to as Prohormones, however they are not the same. Designer Steroids (think back to the days of Dymethazine, M-drol, PheraPlex) never undergo a conversion in the body, and are just newer and less studied forms of actual anabolic steroids.
Most educated gym-goers will claim that Prohormones were recently banned due to sweeping legislation from 2014, however this isn’t true! The Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014 specifically made Designer Steroids illegal. Extremely powerful Prohormones ARE still legal & available on the market, you just have to know what to look for.
Prohormones have been a pretty common term since Mark McGwire admitted to using them en route to breaking the home run record in 1998. Since then we’ve all heard the term countless times. You’ve read about them, your gym buddies have talked about them, and you’ve even considered using them…but do you truly understand what “Prohormones” are? Don’t worry if you don’t, the fact is that very few people actually do!
In the most simplified terms, a Prohormone is something that converts into an active hormone after we consume it. This means to be classified as a true Prohormone, the product needs to go through one or more hormonal conversions once it’s in your body. This means things like testosterone boosters (mostly herbal extracts) are NOT prohormones, since they never convert to an actual hormone (they only increase your body’s ability to create more natural testosterone). Supplements like creatine, protein powder, beta alanine, and other standard supplements can in no way be classified as Prohormones.
Continuing the topic of what Prohormones aren’t, it is necessary to bring up the topic of Designer Steroids. Designer Steroids are commonly referred to as Prohormones, however they are not the same. Designer Steroids (think back to the days of Dymethazine, M-drol, PheraPlex) never undergo a conversion in the body, and are just newer and less studied forms of actual anabolic steroids.
Most educated gym-goers will claim that Prohormones were recently banned due to sweeping legislation from 2014, however this isn’t true! The Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014 specifically made Designer Steroids illegal. Extremely powerful Prohormones ARE still legal & available on the market, you just have to know what to look for.
Below is a comprehensive guide to all Prohormones currently available:
Available Products: Current products which feature this Prohormone.
Target Hormone: This is what makes a Prohormone a Prohormone…it has to convert to an active hormone (AKA Steroid). So this piece of information is crucial to understanding the effects of the Prohormone in question. If a Prohormone converts into Testosterone, it will give results similar to Testosterone. If it converts into another steroid, for example Nandrolone (Deca), it will give results similar to Deca.
Anabolic Potency: Indicates how powerful the hormone is for building muscle mass. The higher the number, the more potential for increased size and mass.
Androgenic Potency: Indicates how powerful the compound is for building strength, muscle hardening, and libido increases.
Cut or Bulk: How to best utilize the product - Should you use it when bulking up for size, would it be better when dieting down to get lean and hard, or can it be used effectively for both?
1-Andro or 1-DHEA (also 1-androstene-3b-ol-17-one, 1-dehydroepiandrosterone or 3b-hydroxy-5a-androst-1-en-17-one)
Available Products: 1-AD®, 1-Testosterone™, 1-ANDRO™, Anavar®, Sustanon 250™, Androbolic 250™, Monster Plexx®
Target Hormone: 1-Testosterone
Anabolic Potency: 200 (2x that of Testosterone)
Androgenic Potency: 100 (1x that of Testosterone)
Cut or Bulk: With 2x the anabolic potential of pure testosterone, this Prohormone makes an excellent choice for any bulking cycle. Users can experience significant lean muscle mass gains to the tune of 10lbs+ in just a month.
4-Andro or 4-DHEA (also 4-androstene-3b-ol-,17-one, 4-dehydroepiandrosterone, 4-androstene-3b-ol-17-one)
Available Products: Anavar®, Androdiol®, Sustanon 250™, Androbolic 250™, 4-ANDRO™, Monster Plexx®
Target Hormone: Testosterone
Anabolic Potency: 100 (1x that of Testosterone)
Androgenic Potency: 100 (1x that of Testosterone)
Cut or Bulk: As this compound converts into pure Testosterone, it means it is perfectly suited both for any bulking or cutting cycle. This compound makes a perfect “base” to be stacked with any other Prohormone available.
1,4-Andro or 1,4-DHEA (also 1,4-androstene-3b-ol-17-one, 1,4-dehydroepiandrosterone, 3b-Hydroxy-1,4-Androstadien-17-one)
Available Products: Equibolin®, Dianabol®
Target Hormone: Boldenone
Anabolic Potency: 50 (1/2 that of Testosterone)
Androgenic Potency: 100 (1x that of Testosterone)
Cut or Bulk: Since it converts into Boldenone, a famous bodybuilding steroid which has a fortunate side effect of increasing hunger, this Prohormone is traditionally utilized on long bulk cycles. It offers slow and steady gains that can be used to solidify quick weight increases while bulking. For those with great self control however, this Prohormone can be used effectively on a cut as it directly increases vascularity and helps increase muscle hardness and definition.
19-NorAndro or 19-NorDHEA (also 19-NorAndrost-4-ene-3b-ol, 17-one, 19-Nordehydroepiandrosterone)
Available Products: Decabolin®
Target Hormone: Nandrolone
Anabolic Potency: 125 (1.25x that of Testosterone)
Androgenic Potency: 37 (.37 that of Testosterone)
Cut or Bulk: With an anabolic potential greater than that of Testosterone, Nandrolone (AKA Deca) is one of the most coveted bulking agents of all time.
Epiandrosterone or Epiandrostenolone (also 3b-hydroxy-etioallocholan-17-one)
Available Products: Anavar®, Sustanon 250™, EPI-ANDRO 50™, Monster Plexx®
Target Hormone: Dihydrotestosterone
Anabolic Potency: 260
Androgenic Potency: 60
Cut or Bulk: This compound shows us that although the anabolic:androgenic ratio shows it SHOULD be a great bulking agent, the reality is that the body doesn’t always behave the way science says it should. This compound is actually the most effective hardening/strength/defining compound of all the Prohormones, and the weakest for mass gains. This is the absolute perfect option for any cutting cycle.