If you take a look into the world of bodybuilding, you will see men and women who are training on a daily basis to make their muscles bigger and stronger than normal.
You will see many trips to the gym and many protein powders and protein shakes being taken.
Various forms of hormones are also being taken to help build muscle mass and increase strength and agility. However, there is another substance being used that is nothing like hormones, though it shares a similar name.
About A Guide to Prohormones
Prohormones are actually steroids. Even though they share a name with hormones, they are 100% steroids and contain no traces of any hormones.
Prohormones are illegal in the bodybuilding sport for most of the developed world, as are other forms of steroids for bodybuilding.
The only country that does not either outlaw steroids or put tight restrictions on them is the United Kingdom.
In the UK, you can import steroids for use in body building competitions and there are not any restrictions stopping a body builder from taking them in a competition setting.
You can get forms of steroids that are legal and prescribed by a medical doctor, but there are tight restrictions on being able to use them in a competition.
As with most medications, supplements, and other drugs, there are benefits to taking them and there are also side effects to taking them.
We are going to discuss the top three benefits of prohormones and the top three side effects. Once we have discussed those we will move on into whether you should take them and how much they cost if you choose to take them. We are going to start with benefits first:
Prohormones Benefits
Increased Muscle Mass
This is the main benefit that everyone is looking for when it comes to bodybuilding. Everyone wants increased muscle mass.
They also want the appearance of bigger muscles. Prohormones claim to give you that bigger muscle mass and to help you increase the overall size of your muscles.
Faster Athletic Recovery
If you are into bodybuilding, then you know that there is always a chance that you could get hurt when working out.
Sometimes you can be out for weeks or months at a time depending on what type of injury you are dealing with.
Prohormones claim to help you recover from your injuries faster than simply riding it out until you feel better. They claim to get you back on your feet faster and back to working out as quickly as they can.
If you have ever injured yourself while working out, then you know how crucial it can be to get right back into training. If you are out of the game for too long, then you run the risk of having to start your training all over again.
Increased Sex Drive
Prohormones claim to help you increase your sex drive. They do this by raising your testosterone levels, which helps get your libido pumping.
This is not proven to be true for every male that takes these steroids, but a large majority of the men who have taken prohormones claim they have had a better sex drive while taking it.
Side Effects
As with any other steroids, prohormones have their own list of side effects and some of them are horrible to think about.
Hypertension
Hypertension is high blood pressure, and it is a pretty big deal when it comes to your health. You want your blood pressure to be at a normal rate all of the time.
Even when you are working out and your heart rate goes up, you want to make sure that your blood pressure stays about the same.
If your blood pressure becomes too high, you can experience dizziness, nausea, blackouts, and even seizures. This is something that you don’t want to compromise on. Having high blood pressure can do a number on your health.
Swollen Prostate
There are many men all over the country who suffer from prostate cancer and other prostate issues that are not related to prohormones.
However, prohormones have shown in research studies to enlarge the prostate. Having a swollen or enlarged prostate can lead to many different problems.
For example, you will be at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, and the prohormones alone can increase your risk of prostate cancer as well.
Liver Damage
Most people have heard that if you consume too many aspirins at a time that it can cause liver damage.
The same can be said about prohormones if you continuously take them on a daily basis. You can do some serious damage to your liver, which can result in liver failure.
Without your liver, your other organs will begin to shut down as well and your life will be in danger.
It can be very difficult to come back from liver damage and continue to lead a healthy life. You should also avoid alcohol while on a prohormone, as it can increase your risk for liver damage.
How Much Do Prohormones Cost?
Prohormones can run you anywhere from $30 to $50 for a one month supply. While that may sound like a small amount compared to some of the other hormones and steroids on the market, prohormones actually work out to be over $1,000 a year.
This is due to the fact that not only will you be purchasing the steroids, you will also be purchasing the supplements that you will need to take along with the steroids.
If you are thinking of taking prohormones, then you should consult with your medical doctor before you start.
More than likely, your medical doctor will not support your decision to begin a steroid treatment, but you will need expert medical advice. You will need to know the extensive risks of taking these steroids and what they can do to your body.
No one under the age of 21 should be taking prohormones because their endocrine systems are still developing.
You will need to be careful if you ever decide to come down off of steroids, as your body may stop producing testosterone.
There are many side effects to prohormones, and it is our humble opinion that they greatly outweigh the benefits.
