Athletes looking to get ahead of the game often turn to prohormones. Even though these compounds are not steroids, they offer similar effects because they’re alike in structure. However, although these two compounds have similar properties, they differ because prohormones are not as powerful or dangerous.
Prohormones are basically hormones that are precursors to other hormones in the body. For example, testosterone, which is the male sex hormone, is a prohormone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Prohormones like peptide hormones differ in size and design, but their fundamental structure is identical. The inactive hormone chains or hormone strands connect to one another in a way that prevents hormone production, usually by making the chain’s binding ends inaccessible via the folding and binding of other chains to said ends.
When ingested, these compounds convert to testosterone and are increasingly popular on the bodybuilding and fitness circuit. With the help of prohormones, athletes can gain mass.
Prohormones vs. Steroids
Prohormone stacks can be absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract and enter the circulation as inactive hormones. Here they are ready to be activated in the cell by post-translational modification. Steroids, on the other hand, are already active.
Prohormones cannot compete with the powerful injectable versions of traditional anabolic steroids, it is a long-term task. Users enhance the anabolic effect by administering various forms of prohormones simultaneously. These include:
- Some primary forms, usually gel capsules, are used with food.
- Some athletes suck powders or tablets under their tongues 30-60 minutes before training.
- They may also apply special lotions after training to clean the skin for transdermal absorption.
Athletes often combine these primary, sublingual, and transdermal forms to get the most out of their prohormones.
How Do Prohormones Work?
So this brings us to the next question, how do prohormones work? It’s a group of substances that are used by athletes looking for an edge in their game, whether for football or weightlifting. These chemicals aren’t steroids, but they may have similar effects.
Prohormones increase levels of anabolic hormones, such as testosterone, in the body. They then stimulate androgen receptors to increase body size and strength.
- Athletes often use prohormones to improve their performance.
- Bodybuilders use prohormones to increase power and muscularity (muscle mass).
- Fitness enthusiasts use prohormones to get ripped and increase their strength.
Prohormones For Bodybuilding
Prohormones have been used by athletes in bodybuilding, powerlifting, and other strength sports for the past two decades to boost muscle mass, toughen them up and give them more strength. Prohormones’ main advantage was their legality since they are not technically anabolic steroids.
However, many prohormones have been included alongside steroids recently, and their usage is restricted.
Due to the continuous race among manufacturers and authorities, they don’t subject all prohormones to clinical trials and send them out to the market untested. Unfortunately, most of these pills have serious, more severe adverse effects than those associated with traditional steroids. In addition, experts classify prohormones as food additives, which implies that the quality control of these items is far less than that of pharmaceuticals.
Prohormones can penetrate the body deeper than traditional anabolic steroids, displacing them. There are several issues to consider, but also many benefits. Replacing methandrostenolone tablets with one type of prohormones is impossible. But you can achieve a similar effect when using them in combination. However, as the time for methane or stanozolol has passed, they are subject to doping control for several weeks after usage, so the chance of getting caught in out-of-competition testing is relatively high.
Prohormones are considered to be less harmful and rarely tampered with. However, individuals frequently counterfeit regular anabolic steroids, and you can no longer trust verified labels or packages.
Training Advice When Using Prohormones
Users generally take prohormones in 4-6 weeks cycles, with a break of several weeks between cycles. Learn more about bridging cycles here.
Don’t take more than the suggested amount and never exceed the maximum recommended dosage on the product label. Doing so may increase your risk of experiencing adverse side effects.
Prohormones can be taken orally or injected. However, injecting prohormones isn’t recommended as it may increase the risk of infections and abscesses.
It is essential to note that prohormones are not steroids and should not be confused with them. Prohormones are precursors to steroids, and their effects are much weaker.
Check out our great range of prohormones above.