Uses & Side Effects
Testosterone cypionate is a generic pharmaceutical form of testosterone, often used for treating males with low testosterone (low T). It is often marketed under brand names such as Duratest, Depo-Testosterone, and Testoject LA.
In the context of restoring testosterone levels to a healthy range, testosterone cypionate is a highly beneficial form of hormone replacement therapy and well-tolerated by most patients. Like any drug, though, testosterone cypionate has benefits and possible side effects that you should be aware of before using it.
It’s also important to note that testosterone cypionate is a schedule-III controlled substance in the United States, meaning U.S. citizens can’t legally use it without a prescription and the guidance of a licensed physician trained in treating Low T.
Moving forward, this guide will teach you everything you need to know about testosterone cypionate, including what it is, benefits of using it, and the possible side effects you might experience (as well as how to control them).
What Is Testosterone Cypionate?
Testosterone cypionate is an ester of testosterone – the primary male sex hormone (androgen) in humans. In chemical terms, esters are organic (carbon-based) compounds derived from acids in which at least one -OH (hydroxyl) substituent is replaced by an -OR (alkoxy) substituent.
Esters are highly important in biology, often serving as lipids (fats). Per example, cholesterol is the most common steroid hormone (and technically a lipid) that serves as a precursor to many biologically important hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, and progesterone. As such, it might help to think of testosterone cypionate as a modified form of the natural testosterone your body produces, containing an ester bond with cyclopentylpropionate at the carbon-17β position. The image below compares the structures of testosterone to testosterone cypionate.
This alteration to the chemical structure of testosterone turns it into a “prodrug,” meaning your body converts it into a biologically active form after you administer it. Even though testosterone cypionate is a synthetic androgenic anabolic steroid, it is still considered a natural hormone since your body metabolizes it into the bioidentical form of testosterone.
The use of testosterone esters – like testosterone cypionate – is advantageous in clinical applications for a variety of reasons, including:
The effective half-life and duration of action of testosterone can be controlled
- It improves the bioavailability of testosterone
- The dosage is easier to manipulate
- The time between administrations is significantly increased
There are several other testosterone esters used in medicine for treating low T, such as testosterone undecanoate, testosterone propionate, and testosterone enanthate. Testosterone cypionate, however, is the most common ester used for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in the U.S **
** Santoro N, Braunstein GD, Butts CL, Martin KA, McDermott M, Pinkerton JV (April 2016). “Compounded Bioidentical Hormones in Endocrinology Practice: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement”. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 101 (4): 1318–43.
Uses Of Testosterone Cypionate Injection
The primary use of testosterone cypionate injections is for helping restore testosterone levels to a healthy range. Thus, testosterone cypionate is especially useful for treating low T in men.
Low T is a condition in which the body has inadequate endogenous production of testosterone.
Since testosterone is a vital hormone for overall health and wellness, males with low T often experience a myriad of debilitating symptoms when their testosterone levels drop below the desired range. These symptoms may include:
- Lack of sex drive (low libido)
- Inability to concentrate (brain fog)
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
- Shrinking testes
- Muscular atrophy
- Infertility
- Increase in body fat
- Loss of body and pubic hair
- General fatigue
- Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Feeling like you can’t get enough sleep
- Development of breast tissue (gynecomastia)
- Mood disorders
The good news is that the vast majority of men who use testosterone cypionate for TRT notice that these symptoms resolve within a matter of months (or even weeks in some cases). Testosterone is arguably the most vital hormone for a man’s vitality, especially as you grow older.
As such, it’s crucial that you keep an eye on your testosterone levels, particularly if you’re experiencing the symptoms of low T and/or you’re 30+ years of age. Contact Gameday Men’s Health today and a licensed physician can order the proper assays for you, as well as educate you more about TRT and help you decide if you’re a good candidate for using testosterone cypionate injections.
Testosterone Cypionate Use As A Performance – Enhancing Drug
Since testosterone cypionate is an anabolic androgenic steroid, athletes, bodybuilders, and gym-goers alike might use it illicitly for performance-enhancing purposes and to encourage better recovery and support lean body mass.
Excessive anabolic androgenic steroid use can cause priapism, testicular atrophy/shrinkage, impotence, premature coronary heart disease, increased LDL cholesterol, decreased spermatogenesis, and gynecomastia (“man boobs”). Androgens can also stimulate the growth of the prostate and fluid retention, leading to edema.
Anabolic steroids taken at a young age (25 years old) can cause premature closing of the epiphysis of the long bones, which stunts growth and interrupts development. High doses taken by young athletes may result in liver abnormalities and even death.
In females, androgenic steroids like testosterone cypionate can promote masculinization of the body, enlarge the clitoris, and induce menopause.
Again, the keyword is “excessive,” and remembering the adage “the difference between medicine and poison is in the dose.” Using testosterone cypionate for performance enhancement is vastly different than using it for therapeutic purposes under the guidance of our team at Gameday Men’s Health.
Therapeutic Benefits Of Testosterone Cypionate Injection
Testosterone is a powerful hormone with both anabolic and androgenic actions in the body. Androgens are steroid hormones that promote masculine features, such as body/facial hair growth, deepening of the voice, increase in muscle size, etc. Anabolic steroids are simply hormones that produce growth of certain tissues (such as skeletal muscle).
Research demonstrates the efficacy of testosterone cypionate for increasing protein synthesis, which in turn helps build muscle (in conjunction with proper diet and exercise) **. However, this does not mean that a therapeutic dose of TRT will produce superhuman lean body mass. (In other words: Don’t expect to turn into a pro bodybuilder just because you’re using testosterone cypionate for TRT.)
Nevertheless, testosterone cypionate is certainly beneficial for supporting healthy lean body mass and fat loss, especially in males who have a hard time making much progress in the gym due to low T.
Furthermore, testosterone cypionate has seemingly ubiquitous benefits for males when it comes to TRT. Many TRT patients who inject testosterone cypionate notice a significant improvement in many areas of life, such as:
- Better sex drive (libido)
- More motivation and drive
- Enhanced focus and mental clarity
- Greater vitality and energy
- Increased body/facial hair growth
Since testosterone cypionate has systemic actions, you will need to do your best to lead a healthy lifestyle for truly maximizing its benefits. If you lay around on the couch all day watching TV, slamming beer, and overeating junk food, chances are you won’t notice much improvement while using testosterone cypionate. It’s not a miracle drug, and it won’t magically make you healthy and happy.
In conjunction with a healthy, active lifestyle, though, testosterone cypionate has a multiplicity of benefits, especially when used as part of proper TRT.
** Brodsky, I. G., Balagopal, P., & Nair, K. S. (1996). Effects of testosterone replacement on muscle mass and muscle protein synthesis in hypogonadal men–a clinical research center study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 81(10), 3469-3475.
Testosterone Cypionate Side Effects
The most noticeable initial side effect of testosterone cypionate injections is soreness at the injection site. For those who are new to TRT and injections, this is completely normal (and expected). Testosterone cypionate is delivered in an oil base (depot), generally as a deep intramuscular injection.
The advantage of this is that the drug is able to be dispersed slowly over a long duration and is very bioavailable. The drawback is that it can leave muscles that are injected somewhat stiff and sore. Over time, though, your injected muscles adapt and the soreness/stiffness becomes less and less each time you inject.
Other side effects of testosterone cypionate use as part of proper TRT are quite benign and easy to manage. Males may experience things like oily skin, night sweats, and acne (particularly on the upper back and shoulders) during the initial phase of testosterone cypionate use. These side effects are mostly cosmetic and can be controlled with over-the-counter skin ointments in the vast majority of cases.
Long-term use of testosterone cypionate may cause some physiological side effects, such as increased blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. Nevertheless, with regular bloodwork and dietary modifications, most males will be able to keep metabolic and cardiovascular biomarkers in the healthy range while using testosterone cypionate.
It’s also key to note that low testosterone levels are ostensibly much more dangerous for long-term health and longevity than using testosterone cypionate as part of TRT. In fact, longitudinal data suggest that males on TRT have healthier cardiovascular and metabolic function than those who have low T.
Lastly, the most dreaded testosterone cypionate side effect for males is testicular shrinkage. While this is an aesthetic side effect, having your “manhood” shrink is a bit hard to cope with in some cases.
However, testicular shrinkage can, in fact, be managed on TRT with the use of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) – a peptide hormone that helps the body produce luteinizing hormone, which in turn helps maintain testicle size and volume.
If you are prescribed testosterone cypionate under the guidance of a physician at Gameday Men’s Health, you can sleep easy knowing that we will be there every step of the way to help reduce the risk of side effects and ensure you stay in optimal health.
Should You Use Testosterone Cypionate?
Before using testosterone cypionate, you should absolutely have blood work done to confirm you have low T (as well as a metabolic panel to check vital biomarkers). It’s imperative that you seek the guidance of licensed physicians trained in TRT so you can maximize the benefits and minimize the risks that come with testosterone cypionate use.
Moreover, you should not expect the benefits of testosterone cypionate to kick in overnight. If you decide to use testosterone cypionate for TRT, think of it as a long-term investment in your health and longevity.
While you may be antsy to see results, patience is key. If you’re not seeing much benefit from testosterone cypionate after the first few months, then the dose may need to be adjusted by your physician.
Therefore, having an open and transparent line of communication between you and your TRT physician is of utmost importance. At Gameday Men’s Health, we believe that communication should be direct and simple – this is just one way we help our patients get the most benefit from testosterone cypionate on TRT.
We also encourage both prospective and current patients to ask questions and voice their concerns should any arise. We are here to educate and guide you, not give you the runaround and avoid contact.
Testosterone Cypionate Key Takeaways
Testosterone cypionate is one of the most desirable options for restoring testosterone levels to a healthy range. In most cases, the side effects of testosterone cypionate are benign and manageable (especially if the dose is within reason). In excessive (performance-enhancing) doses, testosterone cypionate can be a dangerous drug to use, just like any other drug.
When used properly, however, males can expect testosterone cypionate to increase libido, promote better erectile function, boost vitality, enhance energy, support lean body mass and fat loss, and provide cognitive benefits. Quite simply, testosterone cypionate use as part of TRT can help men feel happier, healthier, and more motivated.
