Side Effects
The same expected side effects that come with using any form of testosterone steroid for performance enhancement can be a possible risk when using either the oral or injectable forms of Testosterone Undecanoate. Experienced steroid users will have a good idea of the signs to watch out for, and how to mitigate some of the more serious or undesirable side effects.
The higher the dosage of Testosterone Undecanoate and the longer it’s used for, the higher risk of side effects or more severe effects are likely to be. Most men tolerate taking any form of testosterone well, but everyone has a different risk profile when it comes to potential negative effects.
Here are the main side effects to be aware of when using either the oral or injection form of Testosterone Undecanoate:
Androgenic Side Effects
Side effects relating to androgenic activity will vary between each male user as some guys are much more predisposed genetically to acne and hair loss, while others will have no issues at all in these areas and again, the higher the dosage the more the risk increases of androgenic effects developing.
Female users can expect, even at low doses, to be at risk of virilization symptoms that include a deeper voice and body hair growth, at which point the steroid should be discontinued to allow these effects to subside.
Estrogenic Side Effects
Higher doses of testosterone can result in the development of estrogenic side effects like gynecomastia and water retention due to testosterone converting to estrogen through aromatization. When gyno is left to develop unhindered it can be difficult or impossible to reverse without surgery, and water retention can lead to dangerous increases in blood pressure.
Controlling estrogenic side effects is therefore important, and even more so when you’ll be using other potentially more estrogenic steroids in your cycle. Testosterone is naturally a highly aromatizable steroid, but experienced users should have no issue with controlling these effects. Almost all users will want to make use of an aromatase inhibitor drug during the cycle to combat these effects and prevent them from developing at all. Arimidex is a popular and effective option.
Cholesterol
Low doses for the purpose of testosterone replacement are unlikely to have a noticeably negative impact on cholesterol levels, but studies show that when testosterone is used alongside an aromatase inhibitor, which most users will be doing to combat estrogenic effects, HDL cholesterol levels can decrease.
Those with existing cholesterol problems should monitor levels closely, but all Testosterone Undecanoate users should be sticking with a cholesterol friendly diet with plenty of omega-3 foods and including cardio work in your workouts regularly.
Testosterone suppression
Male users can expect their natural testosterone production to be suppressed when using this steroid, with the more severe suppression occurring the higher your dosage is. In any case, and especially when stacked with other suppressive steroids, a proper PCT plan needs to be in place which will start either towards the end of your cycle or sometime after it, depending on the half-lives of any other compounds you’re using.
TESTOSTERONE UNDECANOATE POST CYCLE THERAPHY:
Providing the body with an external source of testosterone will always result in your natural testosterone function becoming suppressed or even stopping completely. How severe this suppression is will depend on your Testosterone Undecanoate dosage and any other compounds being used in your cycle.
Once your cycle ends, you will be in a state of low testosterone while the body starts to ramp up normal production again. But this can be a slow process, so Post Cycle therapy is needed to stimulate testosterone function quicker so you can avoid serious low testosterone symptoms as you recover from steroids and maintain the gains you’ve made during your cycle.
Your PCT schedule when using Testosterone Undecanoate will also depend on any other compounds being used and which form of Testosterone Undecanoate you are using. The very long lasting Nebido can continue taking effect two to three months after your last injection, so PCT can be delayed until that time.
A standard PCT protocol of HCG combined with either or both Nolvadex and Clomid carried out for 4 weeks with a tapering dosage will suffice for most users.