Proviron (Mesterolone)
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Chemical Name |
[1 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one]
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Molecular Weight |
304.4716 |
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Formula |
C20H32O2 |
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Original Manufacturer |
Schering |
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Release Date |
1960 |
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Effective Dose |
25-200mgs/day |
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Active Life |
up to 12 hours |
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Detection Time |
5-6 weeks |
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Anabolic /Androgenic Ratio |
100-150:30-40 |
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History and Overview of Proviron
Proviron is the trade name/brand name for the androgen known as mesterolone.
It is an oral product and is not considered an anabolic steroid.
The reason for this is that it is known to have very weak anabolic activity.
In fact, it is so weak that it can be considered almost non-existent.
Proviron was first developed by Schering in 1934 and is one of the oldest steroids to be manufactured and sold for medical use.
In fact, it's old enough to be tied with methyltestosterone in 1935 and testosterone propionate in 1937 as the first two anabolic steroids used in medicine.
Of course, while methyltestosterone and testosterone propionate are best remembered in all their glory, proviron is less well known.
This may be due to the fact that while the former two anabolic steroids have proven to be very powerful anabolic agents, the latter has not.
Although proviron is considered a very old drug, it is still recognized as a compound with an impressive history of safety and tolerance among patients, as well as impressive effectiveness as a medicine.
In the medical community, proviron is used to treat declining health in elderly men, male sexual dysfunction, and infertility due to low testosterone levels.
The most emphasized use of provolone in the medical literature is as a fertility aid.
This is because while almost all anabolic/androgenic steroids are known to cause temporary infertility, proviron has little suppression of endogenous gonadotropins (LH and FSH) when used in normal therapeutic doses.
However, there is a misconception that proviron is an LH-increasing compound, which is not true.
Instead, research has shown that proviron provides the androgenic effects necessary for spermatogenesis in certain areas of the testes.
Schering still manufactures mesterolone today under the name proviron worldwide.
It is also sold under various brand names, including Pluriviron (Asche in Germany, Genepharm in Germany, Vistimon in Germany, and Brown & Burke in India).
Interestingly, however, Proviron has never been approved for use in the U.S. prescription drug market.
Chemical Properties of Proviron
Proviron is a modified derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with a methyl group added to the first carbon (1-methyldihydrotestosterone).
As mentioned earlier, due to its very mild anabolic activity, proviron is almost always referred to as an androgen (or androgenic steroid).
Studies have shown that proviron shares similar properties to its parent compound (DHT), which is rapidly metabolized and broken down into inactive metabolites once it enters muscle tissue.Proviron is a modified derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by adding a methyl group to the first carbon (1-methyl dihydrotestosterone).
As mentioned earlier, proviron is almost always referred to as an androgen (or androgenic steroid) because it is very mildly anabolic.
Studies have shown that the reason for its weak anabolic effects is that it shares similar properties to its parent compound (DHT), which is rapidly metabolized and broken down into inactive metabolites once it enters muscle tissue.
The problem with dihydrotestosterone is that once it enters muscle tissue, 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (present in very high concentrations in muscle tissue) binds to it and converts it to a compound that has no anabolic effects, deactivating it.
This is the real reason for the mild anabolic effects of proviron.
There is a false rumor circulating in the bodybuilding community that “Proviron blocks androgen receptors in muscle tissue,” which is incorrect and should be corrected.
Another advantage of Proviron is that it has a high affinity for SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin), a protein that binds to anabolic steroids (testosterone) in the bloodstream and completely inactivates them once bound.
In this case, the use of Proviron in conjunction with other anabolic steroids can amplify the activity and effectiveness of the other anabolic steroids through this pathway, allowing more unbound and free testosterone to do its job.
A well-known benefit of proviron is its ability to act as an anti-estrogen through its activity as an aromatase inhibitor.
However, it is important to note that its activity as an aromatase inhibitor is not as potent as that of Aromasin, Arimidex, or Letrozole, but it is still effective and can be used as such.
Its strength as an aromatase inhibitor is comparable to Arimidex, but slightly lower in strength, and the problem with dihydrotestosterone itself is that once it enters muscle tissue, the 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme (present in very high concentrations in muscle tissue) binds to it and converts it into a compound that has no anabolic effect, thus deactivating it.
Proviron Side Effects
Since proviron is a DHT derivative, there is no risk of estrogenic side effects at any dose.
In fact, as mentioned earlier, proviron acts as an aromatase inhibitor in the body and thus acts as an anti-estrogen.
This can mitigate estrogenic side effects caused by other compounds by reducing total circulating plasma estrogen levels.
Research has shown that this effect of proviron has led to its medical use in the treatment of gynecomastia and breast cancer, as it combines strong androgenic properties with anti-estrogenic capabilities.
Because proviron is primarily an androgen, there is a risk of androgenic side effects, with the side effects becoming more pronounced at higher doses.
Androgenic side effects of proviron include increased oily skin due to increased sebum production/secretion, increased facial and body hair growth, and an increased risk of male pattern baldness (MPB) in genetically sensitive or susceptible men.
Women are also susceptible to feminization, which is the development of masculine features in women (e.g., deeper voice, facial hair growth, enlarged clitoris, etc.
It is also important to note that since proviron is already a derivative of DHT, products such as finasteride, proscar, or dutasteride will do nothing to reduce the potential androgenic side effects of proviron.
Proviron is not C-17 alpha alkylated (methylated at the first carbon), so it is not known to cause hepatotoxic effects, and studies have shown that it is extremely unlikely to cause liver problems from this compound.
However, the side effects of proviron can include negative effects on the cardiovascular system.
Studies have shown that taking 100 mg of proviron daily for six months can have a very significant negative effect on cholesterol levels, increasing bad cholesterol (LDL) and decreasing good cholesterol (HDL) by 65% and 35%, respectively.
Proviron may also have an inhibitory effect on endogenous natural testosterone production (although this is considered to be very weak).
Nevertheless, studies have shown that taking 150 mg or less of proviron per day does not significantly suppress testosterone.
In the same study, higher doses (300 mg or more per day) were found to significantly suppress testosterone levels.
Dosing and administration of proviron
Medical practice for the treatment of androgen deficiency uses a single 25 mg tablet three times daily (75 mg total) at the start of treatment, followed by a reduced dose, with a single 25 mg tablet per day used as a maintenance level.
The same dosage is typically used to treat male infertility, but other fertility drugs are also used in combination with proviron.
Bodybuilders and athletes typically use 50 to 150 mg of proviron per day to control estrogen levels, reduce water retention (caused by estrogen), or increase fertility after a cycle has ended.
Although proviron is not approved for use in women, some women in the athletic and bodybuilding community do use proviron.
In this case, a single dose of 25 mg of proviron per day may be enough to change their physique.
It should not be taken for more than four to five weeks to avoid masculinizing effects.
Proviron Cycles and Uses
Proviron is not an anabolic steroid and is not utilized in a cycle because it has very mild anabolic effects.
Instead, it is typically utilized as an auxiliary compound in an anabolic steroid cycle to minimize or mitigate the effects of estrogen on the body.
It is also used for its aesthetic effects, not only for its effects as a strong androgen, but also for its effects as an anti-estrogen, making the physique appear 'harder'.
Male athletes and bodybuilders use 50 to 100 mg per day as an adjunct, and there is no limit to the duration of use, so it can be taken throughout a workout cycle.
Some people prefer to use proviron as a post-cycle therapy (PCT) drug to lower estrogen levels and increase fertility.
While this can be done, there are much better compounds that have similar (and stronger) effects as PCT.
Even mild endogenous testosterone suppression can be dangerous when combined with proviron, so it is recommended to avoid using proviron for PCT purposes unless there are no other options.
During the period when an individual is attempting to restore natural endogenous testosterone levels, any threat to endogenous testosterone production, no matter how slight, is unwelcome and should be avoided at all costs.
