There’s an increasing interest in emerging anabolic-androgenic therapies. This interest stems from treatments that help manage hypogonadism, or low Testosterone in men.
Testosterone is one of the most well-known anabolic hormones, and it is often used to treat low Testosterone.
Certain anabolic hormones are known to accelerate healing and recovery following an injury, as well. In addition, providers may prescribe these hormones due to their positive effect on body composition, which can result in more lean tissue (muscle) and faster decrease in body fat. Changes in body composition and fat gain are often symptoms of low Testosterone.
What does “Anabolic-Androgenic” Mean?
Anabolism is a growth process in the body. It refers to the creation of new bone, tissue, and muscle. Anabolism is extremely important in wound healing and recovery. It’s also an important factor of body composition.
Physiologically, increasing anabolic activity can change a person’s body composition. It does so by increasing muscle and bone density while also accelerating fat metabolism – all of which result in body fat reduction.
Androgenic refers to a hormone’s ability to promote sexual characteristics, including body hair, genitalia development, and sex drive, among other things.
Anabolic-Androgenic hormones are sex hormones that exhibit both characteristics.
For example, Testosterone is equally balanced between anabolic and androgenic effects (a 1:1 ratio). This means it supports tissue repair and equally supports the development of sex characteristics. The anabolic effects of Testosterone include increases in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and exercise recovery.
There are other hormones similar to Testosterone but with a much stronger anabolic potential, making them more focused on tissue repair while being less androgenic (for example: more muscle growth but less body hair growth).
These anabolic hormones have been used in medicine for various purposes, including:
- The treatment of hypogonadism and other hormone deficiencies
- Wound and surgery recovery
- The reversal of sarcopenia resulting from age or another condition (Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle and increase in fat mass that leads to a multitude of health issues and risks. It can be cause by aging, chronic health conditions, lifestyle behaviors, and other factors.)
- Treatment for chronic joint pain
Types of Anabolic-Androgenic Therapies:
Oxandrolone
Oxandrolone is available in capsule or tablet forms and can be taken orally. It has high anabolic potential with low androgenic potential. This means Oxandrolone focuses on body composition and metabolic health, with less activity around sex characteristics and other androgenic functions.
Oxandrolone was first approved for use in 1964 and is a modified form of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a hormone that is essentially created from Testosterone and responsible for supporting sexual characteristics (androgenic) and functions.
Nandrolone
Nandrolone has strong anabolic potential but with even less androgenic activity than Oxandrolone. Emerging evidence has shown that Nandrolone can be used to successfully treat joint pain in men.
Nandrolone was discovered in 1950 and has been used in medicine since the early 1980s. Like Testosterone, it cannot be taken orally due to how its metabolized.
Until now, Nandrolone has been used to treat conditions that lead to degeneration and/or wasting. These include renal failure, anemia, osteoporosis, and HIV/AIDS.
Stanazolol
Stanazolol is another oral anabolic hormone like Oxandrolone. Some doctors report slightly more effect in certain areas with Stanazolol, particularly to treat sexual dysfunction.
There is also an increasing number of Women’s Health doctors prescribing low-dose Stanozolol for female sexual dysfunction (FSD). It is typically prescribed as a topical cream for vaginal application.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Anabolic-Androgenic therapies like Nandrolone and Oxandrolone appear to be effective and safe hormone treatments for age-related (or otherwise) body composition changes and metabolic health issues. They also show promise in treating pain and helping with injury recovery.
We’re in an exciting era with access to new technologies, pharmaceutical innovation, and progression of clinical knowledge. This allows physicians to create a hormonal environment that shifts the body to an anabolic state and helps treat some of the most common conditions that progress with age, poor lifestyle habits, injury, and disease.
These hormones can make a positive impact on patients’ quality of life and ability to survive.