AIs have also been shown to be advantageous when combined with SERMs for restoring testosterone production. SERMs can be used over the long term, being deemed "acceptable" in regard to side effects (22). Research shows that taking 25–50 mg of clomiphene per day, or every other day, is effective at restoring natural testosterone production (21). SERMs are medications that interfere with estrogen receptors via the hypothalamus in the brain, decreasing the production of the female sex hormone and thus increasing testosterone. Once endogenous testosterone has been restored, if a user wants to continue taking AAS, we have found hCG to be effective at maintaining fertility in doses of 500 IU every other day. We have experienced success administering hCG 2-3 times per week in doses of 1500–5000 IU for 3-6 months. High doses and longer cycles will cause a more severe suppressing effect. However, we find injectable Dianabol to be less common on the black market, with orals being the more standard form of administration. Also, milk thistle is generally considered to be safe when taken orally (16), with only a small percentage of people experiencing any side effects. Studies have found that prolonged use of AAS (anabolic-androgenic steroids) can cause a 100% increase in LDL cholesterol and a 90% reduction in HDL cholesterol (6). The severity of these side effects will depend on the dose, duration of the cycle, genetics, and other steroids stacked with Dianabol. Other steroids, such as trenbolone or Anavar, are superior in this regard because they don’t cause extracellular water retention. However, due to Dianabol causing some extracellular fluid retention (water collecting outside the muscle cell), we do not rate it as the best steroid for enhancing vascularity. We have found that bodybuilders on Dianabol can experience an increase in vascularity. Consequently, damaged muscle cells from weight training are able to grow notably bigger and stronger than before. However, this effect from eating protein is very mild compared to Dianabol’s effect on nitrogen retention, which is more efficacious (4). Equally, a negative nitrogen balance is catabolic and present in those suffering from muscle-wasting diseases. Steroids’ adverse effects were not well known, and they were 100% legal. This enabled bodybuilding to transition into the Golden Era, where physiques became larger in size but remained equally aesthetic-looking. Dianabol slightly increases levels of the major androgen in men, DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Doses as high as 100 mg can also be taken daily and have been shown to be beneficial in recovering testosterone levels in young men after 2–3 months. Low testosterone levels can cause testicular atrophy due to reduced sperm production. However, we find it can take several months for a user’s testosterone levels to return to normal. There’s also evidence to suggest that steroids have a permanent effect on the myonuclei inside your muscle cells (34). As injectable Dianabol can take longer to have an effect, users may want to increase the duration of their cycles. This was used in a clinical setting on 19 men, in which 100% of them recovered their natural testosterone production 45 days after taking steroids. The reason why oral steroids become less active when taken in conjunction with food is that they’re fat-soluble compounds. At this dose, we have had women avoid virilization side effects, which are commonly experienced at doses of 10 mg or more per day. A bodybuilder’s goal when cutting is often to achieve maximum muscle definition and a small waist; thus, Dianabol will counteract this. So, for maximum results on Dianabol, users commonly adopt a calorie surplus diet, known as a bulking phase. However, using Dianabol during cutting cycles is an uncommon practice. We have seen users abstain from lifting weights and still see noticeable improvements in body composition (being sedentary) from Dianabol use. The only other factor that might lead to subcutaneous fat gain is if Dbol users adopt a calorie surplus diet to maximize results when bulking. This is why they often have a more bloated look to their physiques, despite being under 4% body fat on stage. One way that steroids can make pain worse is by weakening connective tissues, such as ligaments and tendons. While this can be an advantage for bodybuilders, it may also lead to muscle imbalances. Dr. O’Connor also co-authored the largest survey on anabolic steroid use, involving 2,385 men, published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Men’s Health. Dianabol is typically an oral steroid; however, there are veterinary versions of it available that can be injected, immediately entering your bloodstream and bypassing the liver. Injectable Dianabol is an option for those who don’t want to experience liver issues when taking this steroid. However, liver failure remains a possibility with Dianabol and other hepatotoxic steroids.
