Testosterone enanthate is an injectable form of the hormone testosterone. It is often prescribed to treat low testosterone levels in men and also has some therapeutic uses for a variety of conditions.
What is testosterone enanthate exactly?
Testosterone enanthate is an esterified variant of the androgen testosterone. The enanthate ester attached to the testosterone molecule helps control its release rate and extends its half-life so doses do not need to be taken as often. Once injected into muscle tissue, testosterone enanthate is deposited into adipose tissue and slowly released into circulation over time.
What are the uses of testosterone enanthate?
Some of the main medical uses of testosterone enanthate include:
- Treating hypogonadism: Testosterone enanthate can restore normal testosterone levels in men unable to produce enough endogenous testosterone. This helps alleviate low-T symptoms like low energy, reduced muscle mass, erectile dysfunction, and emotional changes.
- Gender transition: Transgender men take testosterone, often in the enanthate form, to induce masculine secondary sex characteristics like a deeper voice, body and facial hair growth, and muscle development.
- Anemia: By stimulating red blood cell production, testosterone enanthate may help treat anemia that is unresponsive to other therapies.
- Breast cancer: Some breast cancers rely on hormones like estrogen to grow. Testosterone enanthate stops the production of estrogen and may slow cancer cell proliferation.
At Balance Hormone Clinic, our highly-trained medical staff specialize in testosterone replacement therapy and transgender care. We provide compounded
testosterone enanthate formulas tailored to each patient's unique health needs and goals.
Contact us today to learn more or schedule your initial hormone optimization consultation!
What are the side effects of testosterone enanthate?
As with any medication, testosterone enanthate does come with some potential
side effects to be aware of:
- Increased oiliness of skin and acne
- Male pattern baldness in those predisposed
- Gynecomastia (male breast tissue growth)
- Sleep apnea exacerbation
- Erythrocytosis (increased red blood cell count)
- Negative impacts on heart health like arterial plaque and cardiac hypertrophy
Of course, the risk of side effects depends greatly on the dosage administered and can be mitigated through close physician monitoring and blood testing. Most patients find testosterone replacement with enanthate esters safe and highly effective.
I hope this overview on what exactly testosterone enanthate is and its medical uses was helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.