Testosterone enanthate is an ester of the naturally occurring androgen, testosterone. It is responsible for the normal development of the male sex characteristics. In the event of insufficient testosterone production an almost complete balance of the functional, anatomic, and psychic deficiency symptoms can be achieved by substituting testosterone." (Except from the package insert of the German pharmaceutical group, Jenapharm GmbH for its compound Testosterone-Depot.)

These lines clearly describe what an important and effective hormone testosterone is. One of the many testosterone substances is the testosterone enanthate. In a man it is normally used to treat hypogonadism resulting from androgen deficiency (1) and anemia (2). Surprisingly, in medical schools testosterone enanthate is also used in women and children. Boys and male youth take it as growth therapy and women take it as an "additive treatment for certain growth forms of the nipples during post-menopause". In body building, however, it is THE "mass building steroid." No matter what you think of Dianabol, Parabolan, Anadrol 50, Finaject, and others, when it comes to strength, muscle mass, and rapid weight gains, testosterone is still the "King of the Road." Testosterone enanthate is the European counterpart to Testosterone Cypionate which is predominantly available in the U.S. (see also Testosterone Cypionate). Testosterone enanthate, as most trade names already suggest, is a long-acting depot steroid. Depending on the metabolism and the body's initial hormone level it has a duration of effect of two to three weeks so that theoretically very long intervals between injections are possible. Although Testosterone enanthate is effective for several weeks, it is injected at least once a week in body building, power lifting, and weight lifting. This, by all means, makes sense since Testosterone enanthate has a plasma half-life time in the blood of only one week.

The decisive advantage of Testosterone enanthate, however, is that this substance has a very strong androgenic effect and is coupled with an intense anabolic component. This allows almost everyone, within a short time, to build up a lot of strength and mass. The, rapid and strong weight gain is combined with distinct water retention since a retention of electrolytes and water occurs. A pleasant effect is that the enormous strength gain goes hand in hand with the water retention. Weight lifters and power lifters, especially in the higher weight classes, appreciate this characteristic. In this group, Testosterone enanthate, Testosterone Cypionate, and Sustanon 250 are the number one steroids; this is also clearly re-flected in the dosages. Dosages of 500 mg, 1000 mg or even 2000 mg per day are no rarity mind you, per day, not per week. Sports disciplines requiring a high degree of raw power, aggressiveness, and stamina offer an excellent application for Depot-Testosterone. The distinct water retention has also other advantages. Those who have problems with their joints, shoulder cartilages or whose intervertebral disks, due to years of heavy training, show the first signs of wear, can get temporary relief by taking testosterone.

For the bodybuilder, the water retention that goes hand in hand with Testosterone enanthate cuts both ways. Certainly, one gets rapidly massive and strong; however, one's reflected image after a few weeks often shows completely flat, watery, and puffy muscles. The muscles appear as if they have been pumped up with air' to new dimensions, yet during flexing nothing happens. Those who do not believe this should bother to go visit the so called "body building champions" during the OFF-season when these exaggerated quantities of "Testo" come in. A look at the now defunct bodybuilding magazine WBF makes it even clearer. An additional problem when taking Testosterone enanthate is that the conversion rate to estrogen is very high. This, on one hand, leads the body to store more fat; on the other hand, feminization symptoms (gynecomastia) are not unusual. However, it must be clearly stated that this depends on the athlete's predisposition. By all means, there are athletes who even with 1000 mg +/week do not show feminization symptoms or fat deposits and who suffer very low water retention. Others, however, develop pain in their nipples by simply looking at a Testoviron-Depot ampule. Yet the additional intake of Nolvadex and Proviron should be considered at a dosage level of 500 mg+ /week. As already mentioned, Testo is effective for everyone, whether a beginner or Mr. Olympia. Testosterone enanthate also strongly promotes the regeneration process. This leads to distinctly shorter overcompensation phases, an increased feeling of well-being, and a distinct energy increase. This is also the reason why several athletes are able to work out twice daily for several hours six times a week and continue to build up mass and strength. Those who can work out again two hours after a hard leg workout know that Testo works. Athletes who take Testosterone enanthate report an excessively strong pump effect during training. This "steroid pump" is attributed to an increased blood volume with a higher oxygen supply and a higher quantity of red blood cells. Those who take megadoses of Testosterone enanthate will already feel an enormous pump in their upper thighs and calves when climbing stairs. Despite this we recommend that steroid novices stay away from all testosterone compounds. To make it very clear: Those who have never taken steroids do not yet need any testosterone and should wait until later when the "weaker" steroids begin to have little effect. For the more advanced, Testosterone enanthate can either be taken alone or in combination with other compounds.