proviron(mesterolone)

[toc67guru]

i know swale proviron is not FDA approved in the USA.
however it is used in europe for androgen replacement(50-100mg/day) as it is a derivative of DHT and also increases free test due to its ability to bind to SHBG.

hypothetically if indeed it was FDA approved do you feel it is a viable alternative to testosterone for HRT?

i have read conflicting advice on whether it should be used during pct with regards to recovery of the HPTA.

i know you may not want to answer this as it may be construed to be reference steroid cycling and not trt but i would appreciate your opinion on whether it would negatively effect the HPTA as i have read that above normal levels of androgens,estrogens,prolactin and progesterone cause negative feedback of the hypathalmus.

 

[SWALE]

I have no experience with it, but would guess it would exert negative feedback on the HPTA.

 

[Stez]

It wouldn't be an alternative, but in some cases could be used in conjunction.

I've dabbled with it in my HRT.

As for cycles, use it on cycle every day 25-50mg. Don't use it pct.

 

[jboldman]

All the studies i have seen show no negative effect on the hpta when used in doses of 100mg/day or less. They also have shown no impact on testosterone levels. This does not sound like a good choice for trt.

jb

 

[SWALE]

Thanks, jb, I did not know that. Do you happen to have any of these studies conveniently around, so I could see them? Thankx in advance.

I have heard Proviron prevents binding of T to SHBG. IF that is true, then I do not see how it would not affect hormone levels--with or without direct HPTA suppression.

I'm getting a bit more active in Europe now, so maybe I'd better get up to speed on this medication.

 

[mxim]

I can tell you first hand that 50mgs of proviron has an extremely possitive effect on libido;like no other.

 

[Viper1]

I can tell you first hand that 50mgs of proviron has an extremely possitive effect on libido;like no other.

It didn't on me. I took it for 6 weeks and didn't feel a thing.

 

[SWALE]

More guys posting personal experiences, please.

 

[jboldman]

I'll post up a study or two. The going theory about why test is not elevated may be due to measurement inconsistencies, ie since test has such a short half-life when released into the plasma, it needs to be measured appropriately.

jb

Thanks, jb, I did not know that. Do you happen to have any of these studies conveniently around, so I could see them? Thankx in advance.

I have heard Proviron prevents binding of T to SHBG. IF that is true, then I do not see how it would not affect hormone levels--with or without direct HPTA suppression.

I'm getting a bit more active in Europe now, so maybe I'd better get up to speed on this medication.

 

[SWALE]

Hmmm. I do know that Free T is quite unstable in serum. And I have found, through practical experience, that Total T is quite unreliable.

 

[Stez]

I found that taking 25mg ED stopped working, so i dropped to 12.5mg and I started hitting wood again. This is when I was on 250iu HCG EOD.

Now I just take 250iu hcg E5D and I have no need for the proviron anyway. I think it was my estro too high from hcg eod. I think I started losing my hair on proviron too, and I've never lost a strand in my life!

 

[jboldman]

As with all studies, you need to read between the lines a little but this one is pretty typical.

jb

========================

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1988 Feb;26(1):121-8 Related Articles, Links


The effect of mesterolone on sperm count, on serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, plasma testosterone and outcome in idiopathic oligospermic men.

Varma TR, Patel RH.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St. George's Hospital Medical School London, U.K.

Two hundred fifty subfertile men with idiopathic oligospermia (count less than 20 million/ml) were treated with mesterolone (100-150 mg/day) for 12 months. Seminal analysis were assayed 3 times and serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) luteinizing hormone (LH) and plasma testosterone were assayed once before treatment and repeated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the initiation of treatment. One hundred ten patients (44%) had normal serum FSH, LH and plasma testosterone, 85 patients (34%) had low serum FSH, LH and low plasma testosterone. One hundred seventy-five patients (70%) had moderate oligospermia (count 5 to less than 20 million/ml) and 75 patients (30%) had severe oligospermia (count less than 5 million/ml). Seventy-five moderately oligospermic patients showed significant improvement in the sperm density, total sperm count and motility following mesterolone therapy whereas only 12% showed improvement in the severe oligospermic group. Mesterolone had no depressing effect on low or normal serum FSH and LH levels but had depressing effect on 25% if the levels were elevated. There was no significant adverse effect on testosterone levels or on liver function. One hundred fifteen (46%) pregnancies resulted following the treatment, 9 of 115 (7.8%) aborted and 2 (1.7%) had ectopic pregnancy. Mesterolone was found to be more useful in patients with a sperm count ranging between 5 and 20 million/ml. Those with severe oligospermia (count less than 5 million) do not seem to benefit from this therapy.

 

[Viper1]

More guys posting personal experiences, please.

It was one of my friends that suggested Proviron to me. He said he started taking it and within three days he noticed a significant increase in his libido and sexual performance. He told me "I know this stuff will snap you out of your troubles". Of course it didn't though.

 

[toc67guru]

these are 2 studies i found.the second is the same one jboldman posted:-

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1977 May;6(5):339-45.


The hormone response to a synthetic androgen (mesterolone) in oligospermia.

Jackaman FR, Ansell ID, Ghanadian R, McLoughlin PV, Lewis JG, Chisholm GD.

Forty subfertile men with oligospermia were treated with a synthetic
androgen (Mesterolone). The effect of the drug was evaluated by measuring
serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH) and analysing the semen before and after treatment. The results
demonstrated that in twenty-three patients treated for 6-9 months there was
a significant decrease in serum testosterone (P less than 0.01); the means
+/- SEM before and after treatment were 17.05 +/- 0.95 and 14.7 +/- 0.95
(nmol/l serum) respectively. There was a pronounced increase in serum LH (P
less than 0.01), the values being 2.73 +/- 0.26 and 3.61 +/- 0.3 (u/l)
respectively. However, no significant difference was found in serum FSH
before and after treatment. The sperm concentration showed a variable
response to treatment. In twenty-one patients there was either no change or
worsening in the sperm concentration, whereas in nineteen patients an
improvement was observed. The analysis of variance of sperm concentration
and motility for the periods before and after treatment, for all the
patients, showed no significant difference in the sperm concentration
F1.145 = 2.82 (P=0.1).



Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1988 Feb;26(1):121-8.

The effect of mesterolone on sperm count, on serum follicle stimulating
hormone, luteinizing hormone, plasma testosterone and outcome in idiopathic
oligospermic men.

Varma TR, Patel RH.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St. George's Hospital Medical
School London, U.K.

Two hundred fifty subfertile men with idiopathic oligospermia (count less
than 20 million/ml) were treated with mesterolone (100-150 mg/day) for 12
months. Seminal analysis were assayed 3 times and serum follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH) luteinizing hormone (LH) and plasma testosterone
were assayed once before treatment and repeated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months
after the initiation of treatment. One hundred ten patients (44%) had
normal serum FSH, LH and plasma testosterone, 85 patients (34%) had low
serum FSH, LH and low plasma testosterone. One hundred seventy-five
patients (70%) had moderate oligospermia (count 5 to less than 20
million/ml) and 75 patients (30%) had severe oligospermia (count less than
5 million/ml). Seventy-five moderately oligospermic patients showed
significant improvement in the sperm density, total sperm count and
motility following mesterolone therapy whereas only 12% showed improvement
in the severe oligospermic group. Mesterolone had no depressing effect on
low or normal serum FSH and LH levels but had depressing effect on 25% if
the levels were elevated. There was no significant adverse effect on
testosterone levels or on liver function. One hundred fifteen (46%)
pregnancies resulted following the treatment, 9 of 115 (7.8%) aborted and 2
(1.7%) had ectopic pregnancy. Mesterolone was found to be more useful in
patients with a sperm count ranging between 5 and 20 million/ml. Those with
severe oligospermia (count less than 5 million) do not seem to benefit from
this therapy.

 

[jboldman]

Unfortunately without the full text showing the dose used for the mesterolone, that first study is meaningless. All the studies that i have seen where the doses were between 50-100mg/day, there have been little or no changes in lh, fsh, and testosterone. I did find one study where dht was elevated which might lend some credance to the idea that test is elevated briefly.

jb

 

[SWALE]

Right. So at this point we have two studies which largely contradict each other.

We do have to appreciate, though, that subjective reports of benefit with respect to sexual function would have validity--even in absence of proven alterations in hormone levels.

 

[jboldman]

i will post up some more, as i said, one study did not say the amont of proviron, i do no that in studies using 300-44 mg of proviron, there is an effect.

jb

 

[jboldman]

Metabolism. 1999 May;48(5):590-6. Related Articles, Links


Influence of various modes of androgen substitution on serum lipids and lipoproteins in hypogonadal men.

Jockenhovel F, Bullmann C, Schubert M, Vogel E, Reinhardt W, Reinwein D, Muller-Wieland D, Krone W.

Klinik II und Poliklinik fur Innere Medizin, Universitat zu Koln, Germany.

We investigated whether the androgen type or application mode or testosterone (T) serum levels influence serum lipids and lipoprotein levels differentially in 55 hypogonadal men randomly assigned to the following treatment groups: mesterolone 100 mg orally daily ([MES] n = 12), testosterone undecanoate 160 mg orally daily ([TU] n = 13), testosterone enanthate 250 mg intramuscularly every 21 days ([TE] n = 15), or a single subcutaneous implantation of crystalline T 1,200 mg ([TPEL] n = 15). The dosages were based on standard treatment regimens. Previous androgen substitution was suspended for at least 3 months. Only metabolically healthy men with serum T less than 3.6 nmol/L and total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) less than 200 mg/dL were included. After a screening period of 2 weeks, the study medication was taken from days 0 to 189, with follow-up visits on days 246 and 300. Before substitution, all men were clearly hypogonadal, with mean serum T less than 3 nmol/L in all groups. Androgen substitution led to no significant increase of serum T in the MES group, subnormal T in the TU group (5.7 +/- 0.3 nmol/L), normal T in the TE group (13.5 +/- 0.7 nmol/L), and high-normal T in the TPEL group (23.2 +/- 1.1 nmol/L). 5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone significantly increased in all treatment groups compared with baseline. Compared with presubstitution levels, a significant increase of TC was observed in all treatment groups (TU, 14.4% +/- 3.0%; MES, 18.8% +/- 2.5%; TE, 20.4% +/- 3.0%; TPEL, 20.2% +/- 2.6%). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) also increased significantly by 34.3% +/- 5.5% (TU), 46.4% +/- 4.1% (MES), 65.2% +/- 5.7% (TE), and 47.5% +/- 4.3% (TPEL). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) showed a significant decrease by -30.9% +/- 2.8% (TU), -34.9% +/- 2.5% (MES), -35.7% +/- 2.6% (TE), and -32.5% +/- 3.5% (TPEL). Serum TG significantly increased by 37.3% +/- 11.3% (TU), 46.4% +/- 10.3% (MES), 29.4% +/- 6.5% (TE), and 22.9% +/- 6.7% (TPEL). TU caused a smaller increase of TC than TE and TPEL, whereas the parenteral treatment modes showed a lower increase of TG. There was no correlation between serum T and lipid concentrations. Despite the return of serum T to pretreatment levels, serum lipid and lipoprotein levels did not return to baseline during follow-up evaluation. In summary, androgen substitution in hypogonadal men increases TC, LDL-C, and TG and decreases HDL-C independently of the androgen type and application made and the serum androgen levels achieved. Due to the extended washout period for previous androgen medication and the exclusion of men with preexisting hyperlipidemia, this investigation demonstrates more clearly than previous studies the impact of androgen effects on serum lipids and lipoproteins. It is concluded that preexisting low serum androgens induce a "male-type" serum lipid profile, and increasing serum androgens further within the male normal range does not exert any additional effects. The threshold appears to be above the normal female androgen serum levels and far below the lower limit of normal serum T levels in adult men. These findings may have considerable implications for the use of androgens as a male contraceptive and for androgen therapy in elderly men.

 

[jboldman]

Horm Metab Res. 1984 Sep;16(9):492-7. Related Articles, Links


Effect of non aromatizable androgens on LHRH and TRH responses in primary testicular failure.

Spitz IM, Margalioth EJ, Yeger Y, Livshin Y, Zylber-Haran E, Shilo S.

We have assessed the gonadotropin, TSH and PRL responses to the non aromatizable androgens, mesterolone and fluoxymestrone, in 27 patients with primary testicular failure. All patients were given a bolus of LHRH (100 micrograms) and TRH (200 micrograms) at zero time. Nine subjects received a further bolus of TRH at 30 mins. The latter were then given mesterolone 150 mg daily for 6 weeks. The remaining subjects received fluoxymesterone 5 mg daily for 4 weeks and 10 mg daily for 2 weeks. On the last day of the androgen administration, the subjects were re-challenged with LHRH and TRH according to the identical protocol. When compared to controls, the patients had normal circulating levels of testosterone, estradiol, PRL and thyroid hormones. However, basal LH, FSH and TSH levels, as well as gonadotropin responses to LHRH and TSH and PRL responses to TRH, were increased. Mesterolone administration produced no changes in steroids, thyroid hormones, gonadotropins nor PRL. There was, however, a reduction in the integrated and incremental TSH secretion after TRH. Fluoxymesterone administration was accompanied by a reduction in thyroid binding globulin (with associated decreases in T3 and increases in T3 resin uptake). The free T4 index was unaltered, which implies that thyroid function was unchanged. In addition, during fluoxymesterone administration, there was a reduction in testosterone, gonadotropins and LH response to LHRH. Basal TSH did not vary, but there was a reduction in the peak and integrated TSH response to TRH. PRL levels were unaltered during fluoxymesterone treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

 

[jboldman]

Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1980 Mar 28;92(7):243-7. Related Articles, Links


[Androgen therapy of impotentia coeundi in elderly men. Psychological and endocrinological investigations (author's transl)]

[Article in German]

Lunglmayr G, Stellamor M, Spona J.

The aim of the present investigation was to assess impotence in elderly men by clinical, endocrinological and psychological examinations. Altogether 17 patients were treated in a double-blind study with placebo or 75 mg mesterolone per day over 8 weeks. The subjects were aged between 45 and 60 years and suffered from impotentia coeundi. No differences in serum LH and testosterone levels were noted between the start and end of therapy. Similarly, serum LH and testosterone levels in these patients did not differ from those in a control group. These results suggest that the "male climacteric" need not necessarily the associated with alterations in hormone parameters. On the other hand, mesterolone therapy resulted in an improvement in potency and other psychosomatic parameters.