Comprehensive Guide to Using Testosterone Enanthate for Bodybuilding

Testosterone Enanthate (Testosteron Enanthate) is an injectable anabolic and androgenic steroid, one of the most popular and well-studied steroids used in bodybuilding and other sports to enhance performance.

In bodybuilding, Testosterone Enanthate is used as a "base" for combined mass-gaining steroid cycles.

In other sports disciplines, the drug is used to improve performance metrics such as strength, power, and cardiorespiratory endurance.

Testosterone Enanthate was chemically synthesized in the 1930s. It is a long-acting synthetic testosterone ester, created by attaching a testosterone molecule to an enanthate ester.

This modification allows testosterone to slowly enter the bloodstream from the injection site (fat depot), enabling it to act in the body for an extended period after injection—over two weeks.

Initially, the drug was used for medical purposes—rehabilitation after burns, complex surgeries, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Later, due to its anabolic qualities—muscle growth, strength, endurance, and accelerated recovery after strength training—it was adopted by professional athletes, particularly bodybuilders.

The first mentions of Testosterone Enanthate being used to enhance athletic performance date back to the 1940s. Over more than 70 years of Testosterone Enanthate use in sports, optimal and safe usage schemes for this steroid have been developed.

In this application guide, we will explain how to properly inject Testosterone Enanthate and review all aspects of its proper use: schemes and options for Enanthate-based cycles, side effects, and PCT. In short, everything you need to know to conduct a proper steroid cycle with this drug.

How to Inject and Dosage of Testosterone Enanthate

As mentioned earlier, Enanthate is a long-acting drug. Its half-life is 6-7 days, so the optimal injection frequency for maintaining stable concentrations in the body is once a week.

In my opinion, a solo Testosterone Enanthate cycle is one of the best options for a beginner's mass-gaining cycle.

The starting dosage for beginners is 250 mg per week. Advanced athletes take doses from 350 to 750 mg per week. The recommended cycle duration is 8-10 weeks.

Inject Testosterone Enanthate into the gluteal muscles or quadriceps.

The effectiveness of Testosterone Enanthate is directly proportional to the dosage used. The higher the dosage, the stronger the effect. However, increasing the dosage also raises the risk of side effects.

Studies indicate that the maximum effective dosage for Testosterone Enanthate is in the range of 2-4 grams per week. Further increases in dosage do not yield additional mass gains.

On long cycles (over 8 weeks), Enanthate significantly suppresses natural testosterone production. To reverse this process, we recommend using gonadotropin.

Gonadotropin prevents testicular atrophy, allowing you to start full PCT with "revved-up" testicles after discontinuing Enanthate.

What to Combine/Inject Testosterone Enanthate With

Testosterone Enanthate is a versatile mass-gaining steroid and the "base" for constructing any mass-gaining cycle.

It can be combined with any steroid for both mass-gaining and cutting purposes. There is no point in combining Enanthate with other long or short testosterone esters.

Testosterone Enanthate starts working almost immediately after injection, with testosterone concentrations in the blood increasing daily. However, it reaches an effective "working" concentration approximately two weeks after the first injection.

To minimize the time to reach the working concentration of the active substance, I recommend buying Testosterone Propionate and injecting 100 mg every other day for 7-10 days, alongside Enanthate injections. Thus, Testosterone Propionate acts as a booster, creating an additional anabolic effect while Enanthate ramps up to full power.

Combined Cycles

A classic and correct combination scheme involves using an androgenic and an anabolic steroid together. In our case, Enanthate is the androgen. Anabolics include Nandrolone, Methandienone, Boldenone, Turinabol, Stanozolol, Oxandrolone, Trenbolone, and Masteron.

I believe that Testosterone Enanthate can only manifest its maximum effectiveness on long cycles exceeding 10 weeks. Shorter cycles of 6-8 weeks will yield significantly less effect unless a short ester is used as a loading agent.

Example of a good mass-gaining cycle for beginners:

Testosterone Enanthate 250 mg per week + Turinabol 40 mg per day for 8 weeks.

Cycle for advanced users:

Testosterone Enanthate 500 mg per week + Boldenone 200-300 mg per week + Stanozolol 30-40 mg per day for 10 weeks.

Cycle for experienced athletes seeking extreme mass gain:

Testosterone Enanthate 750 mg per week + Trenbolone Enanthate 200 mg per week + Stanozolol 40-50 mg per day for 10-12 weeks.

We have provided examples of only the most common cycles based on Testosterone Enanthate. In reality, there are numerous cycle options with this steroid.

If you are unsure which cycle suits you, consult our online advisor. We will help you choose and buy steroids for a cycle based on your goals, training experience, and budget.

Positive Effects of Use

Dramatic increase in muscle mass and volume (mainly due to fluid retention in the early stages of the cycle, if aromatase inhibitors are not used).
Growth in strength and power endurance.
Pumping effect due to increased red blood cell mass.
Increased motivation to train and desire to work out.
Enhanced psycho-emotional tone.
Positive impact on joints, prevention of joint pain.
Enhanced regenerative and recovery abilities of the body.
Increased libido and suppression of spermatogenesis (can be used as a male contraceptive).

Side Effects

Like any medical drug, Testosterone Enanthate has several side effects. It is important to note that with proper use, all side effects can be avoided. In case of "side effects," they can be eliminated with the appropriate measures.

The main side effect of Testosterone Enanthate is aromatization. Under the influence of the enzyme aromatase, testosterone can convert into the female sex hormone estradiol.

Thus, on long cycles of this drug, you may experience the full "pleasures" of aromatization: muscle bloating (swelling), rapid "pumping" during training due to excess fluid retention, increased blood pressure, fat deposits in a "female pattern," and gynecomastia development.

To avoid these negative consequences, we recommend including an aromatase inhibitor, such as Anastrozole, in the Testosterone Enanthate cycle.

Start taking Anastrozole at 0.5 mg every other day from the beginning of the cycle. After 8-10 days of the Enanthate cycle, get a blood test to determine estradiol levels and adjust the Anastrozole dosage as needed.

This approach will help you gain quality muscle mass without excess fat and water, minimizing post-cycle regression.

Besides estrogenic side effects, Testosterone Enanthate also has androgenic effects:

Possible prostate hypertrophy.
Acne.
Hair loss.

Many fear the last side effect the most.

Practical use has shown that hair loss with androgen use occurs due to hereditary factors—male-pattern baldness tendencies.

For example, if your father is bald, you are highly likely to experience the same over time, and AAS use can accelerate this process. Others need not worry about this.

To combat acne, avoid simple carbohydrates during the cycle, use water treatments with soap matching your skin's pH, and take B vitamins.

Prostate hypertrophy is very rare and can only occur with extremely high doses and prolonged use.

PCT After Testosterone Enanthate

Post-cycle therapy (PCT) after Testosterone Enanthate is essential. This therapy involves using anti-estrogens such as Clomid or Tamoxifen.

Post-cycle recovery with anti-estrogens should begin only when Enanthate is fully cleared from the body.

For moderate Enanthate dosages during the cycle, "full clearance" occurs no earlier than three weeks after the last injection (about three half-life periods).

Starting PCT before this time will be ineffective, as the concentration of exogenous testosterone in the blood will still be high. As a result, recovery will not occur, your natural testosterone level will be lower than before the cycle, and you will experience the "regression phenomenon."

To know exactly when to start PCT, we recommend "exiting the cycle" with a short ester—Propionate—for three weeks after the last Enanthate injection, starting PCT six days after the last Propionate injection.

It is best to get a lab test for total testosterone a week after the last Enanthate injection and check your testosterone levels. Post-cycle therapy should start when total testosterone levels reach 5-6 nmol/L.