There
are some side effects of prohormones like acne, pain in the extremities, and
depression. Some of these supplements were banned by the US government in the
Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, which came in effect within 90 days after
January 20, 2005. Steroids Steroids are classified in two parts corticosteroids
and anabolic steroids. While corticosteroids are prescribed by the medical
fraternity to control inflammation, anabolic steroids are taken as supplements
by bodybuilders to increase muscle mass and improve performance. These
supplements replicate the effects of hormones like testosterone and
dihydrotestosterone, which are natural growth hormones produced by the body.
While comparing steroids and prohormones, steroids are direct supplements to
the hormones produced by the body, whereas prohormones are precursors to
hormones. The medicinal use of steroids has increased with doctors prescribing
them to treat diseases like cancer and AIDS. They are also used to strengthen
bones and to increase testosterone production to induce puberty in males. Like
prohormones, side effects of steroids are acne, balding, and insomnia. Some
irreversible side effects associated with steroids are gynecomastia and
balding, but these are rare. Testosterone injections for men are very popular
among athletes and bodybuilders, as they are easy to use and not that
expensive. Whereas, steroids are a schedule III drug and you need a
prescription to use or supply them.
It's not just the women who go Mandro RX through
menopause. Men do too. However, there is a catch here. The male menopause or
andropause has not been 'well-defined' by doctors. But, patients have shown
symptoms as well as response to treatments. Well, ever heard of the midlife
crisis that most men go through in their late thirties to their forties? They
deal with the male menopause soon after. Ever since we are born till we die,
the hormonal composition in our body keeps changing. In old age, the sex
hormones understandably deplete. These hormones control the physical and sexual
changes in your body as you pass through stages of puberty, adulthood and old age.
These are estrogen and progesterone in females and testosterone in males.
Menopause marks the decline in their levels in human body. In women, menopause
occurs with noticeable changes that end their menstrual cycle. However, in men,
these changes are perceived as signs of old age. This is, however, true because
sex hormones are the highest during youth and naturally decline towards old
age, thus, affecting sexual health. Did you know? At 60 to 70 years of age, the
testosterone levels in your body are about half of what you had when you were
25 years old. Dealing with Male Menopause Man-opause or andropause is the
mechanism of the fall in the levels of testosterone, also known as androgen, in
a man on the horizon of old age. The body produces lesser and lesser quantities
of this hormone, which mainly helps provide the masculine pitch to the voice
during puberty, extra growth of hair on face and body as well as the
development of the male reproductive system.
The symptoms of male menopause are
the same as exhibited during old age. Hence, it is not recognized by all
doctors as menopause since women cannot reproduce post-menopause but a man as
old as 100 years can father a child. As legend has it, Thomas Parr, born in
1483 and the oldest man documented to have lived, fathered a child even after
he crossed the 130 years age mark. In fact, in the year 2010, a 94-year old
Indian laborer had a boy with his wife. The decline in the production of
testosterone in men occurs at a much slower pace as compared to the female
menopause. These changes are felt by men in late forties and early fifties.
They become prominent by the age of 70. Symptoms of Andropause The symptoms are
very similar to those experienced by women going through menopause. But, these
symptoms reportedly disappeared once testosterone was artificially administered
to the male, which does support the existence of the male sexual disorder. The
drop in the level of testosterone in the male body leads to the following
changes: • Muscle weakness• Loss of bone weight• Memory loss• Poor
concentration power• Frequent mood swings• Osteoporosis• Exhaustion• Loss of
stamina• Depression• Loss of libido• Increase in fat percentage of the body•
Erectile dysfunction• Testicular dysfunction• Low sperm count• Premature ejaculation•
Decreased frequency of morning erection Treatment Options If a man is suffering
from andropause, he is examined by a doctor to rule out any diseases, because
type 2 diabetes and hardening of arteries also trigger the andropause symptoms.
A series of blood tests are required to be carried out to ascertain the
testosterone level in the body. If the levels are low, a man does not have to
worry as there is treatment available.
A lot of men have favorably responded to
hormonal replacement therapies that were administered to them to increase their
testosterone levels. Since 1999, there has been about a 400% rise in the demand
for testosterone therapy. But, you must note that these treatments may have
some potential side effects on the body. If you are a prostate cancer patient,
have undergone treatment for it, or have a tendency of prostate cancer in your
family history, it is advised that you do not take such testosterone-increasing
therapies as they may instigate or worsen the cancer. Other side effects include
prostate enlargement, acne, thinning or loss of hair, sleep apnea and
infertility. Other treatments include, making healthy lifestyle changes,
adopting a nourishing diet to increase energy levels and a good exercise regime
that is appropriate for the man's age. You may also take psychiatric treatment
to cure mood swings or depression. However, it is best to stay away from
medications that may further disrupt the chemical changes in the body. You must
also take sufficient sleep as the amount of sleep has been linked to the level
of testosterone in the body. Did you know? If you have abdominal fat around
your belly, you will suffer from andropause sooner than your slimmer friends or
colleagues. This is because fat converts testosterone to estrogen, so you are
at the risk of depleted testosterone levels sooner. Just like menopause hits
some women at a late stage, you may also delay the onset of menopause in your
body by adopting a wholesome lifestyle for a robust body. Patrick Arnold, a
U.S. organic chemist who introduced prohormone 1-Androstenediol in 2001.
Upon
ingesting the supplement, the enzymes in our bodies convert it into an anabolic
hormone that supports growth. Its effectiveness is co-related to the enzyme
conversion rate. Androstenedione, the first prohormone product in the market,
was popularized by baseball player Mark McGwire. Steroids and sports have been
talked about in the same breath for a long time, and the public has become
aware of performance enhancing drugs. The market saw an introduction of a
number of such compounds which had different characteristics. Some used to
convert into testosterone after the enzymatic conversion in the body, while
others changed into nandrolone and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, there
are harmful, long-lasting side effects that have put a ban on some of the
compounds. What is a Prohormone These are precursors to anabolic hormones which
stimulate growth and development in our bodies. Anabolic hormones, like
testosterone and Human Growth Hormone (HGH), help strengthen our bones and
affect the body's metabolism. These are mostly used by individuals who are into
bodybuilding, and there are two techniques that are used variably. Stacking is
one of the techniques in which the prohormones are introduced to the body
orally and with injections. This is done to ensure that the body gets a good
supply for the enzymatic conversion process. Cycling is another method where
you take the bodybuilding supplements for 4 to 6 weeks, stop the dosage for
some time, and then restart. The cycling method is believed to counter the side
effects, although there isn't much scientific data to prove this.
Possible Side
Effects As the prohormones turn into anabolic hormones after an enzymatic
process in the body, the excess amount ingestion may lead to liver damage. Just
like the side effects of steroids, the kidneys are also susceptible to damage.
Some of the long-term side effects are infertility and baldness. If you use it
extensively, it is more likely to cause hair loss as it tends to reduce the
production of testosterone in the body over a period of time. One of the most
common effects is the appearance of acne on the face and body of the user.
Although this might seem like a mild side effect, body acne can lead to a lot
of discomfort. In females, it may lead to an increase in testosterone
production along with facial hair growth and deepening of the voice. Menstrual
issues are very common in females who take the supplements. In men, it can lead
to excess production of estrogen which can lead to benign enlargement of breast
tissue. Loss of libido and infertility are also quite common, and these in turn
can lead to psychological and social issues. An individual on a regular dosage
may experience high and low periods which lead to mood swings. In a high
period, you will notice a lot of aggressive behavior, whereas during a low
period, depression is experienced. The side effects were responsible for the
ban of some prohormone compounds under the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of
2004. If you are thinking of taking the supplement, it is suggested that you
speak to your physician before taking any decision. Each individual male has a
specific rate at which his mustache grows, and this depends on a lot of natural
factors that are beyond his control.
There are certain techniques that can make
a mustache grow faster, but the success of these methods cannot be predicted
accurately. Simply put, they work for some people while they don't for others.
As a person grows older, the rate of growth of the mustache tends to become
faster, but, till that stage is reached, the individual has to be satisfied
with the whiskers, or the 'upper lip peach fuzz' that he is naturally endowed
with. But after seeing some other people of the same age with a larger and denser
mustache, an individual may be tempted to explore options. Tips on Growing a
Mustache Shave Regularly It's no secret that some males have a faster growth
rate, and some even start shaving very early in their lives. For those who
don't have hair growth that is thick enough, you could try shaving off your
facial hair regularly for a while, and keep it moisturized to help stimulate
the hair follicles.