Table of Contents
There's no question that testosterone is paramount for achieving an increased muscle mass and reducing fat percentage. Both healthy young men and those reaching andropause can use exogenous testosterone to experience more gains in the gym or to achieve a particular body composition.
There are numerous ways testosterone can get into the body. Most people use injections, but you can also use creams, gels or pellets. However, what's the best and safest testosterone dosage for gaining muscle? This is what you're going to find out in this article, so keep reading.
Finding the "Sweet Spot" for Testosterone Dosage
Dosing testosterone is not a one-size-fits-all matter. You need to take multiple factors into account. For example, some people might get about 50-60mg of testosterone per week, but this might be too little to experience significant gains in the gym.
Other people get up to 300 mg of testosterone per week or even higher doses while their blood work remains in good parameters. It's important to remember that around 200mg of testosterone per week might be the safest "upper limit" for most people.
But what happens if you get too much testosterone? In some cases, your hematocrit might increase and this can lead to various health complications. The HDL cholesterol might drop and you might experience other side effects such as water retention, acne, etc. That's why it's recommended to be careful when finding your "sweet spot" for testosterone dosage to increase muscle gains.
125 Mg Per Week Might Be Ideal for Increased Muscle Mass
Some studies show that the "ideal" testosterone dosage might be somewhere around 125 mg per week, taken either as injections or gels. The study analyzed the performance of 61 men aged between 18 and 35 years. Study participants received testosterone in different doses such as 50mg, 100mg, 125mg, 300mg, and 600mg per week.
The increases in fat-free mass were dependent on the testosterone dose given. Leg strength and power were also directly proportional to the testosterone dosage. This means that the higher the dose, the better the gym performance. Surprisingly, HDL cholesterol started to drop as testosterone doses increased, that's why some scientists believe that around 125mg of weekly testosterone is the "ideal" dosage for men who want to experience significant muscular gains without compromising their blood lipids.
Injectable Testosterone Might Be Better for Strength Gains Rather Than Gels
As mentioned earlier, there are numerous administration methods for testosterone, but their effects vary greatly. For example, studies have proven that injecting testosterone is better for muscle gains instead of taking testosterone gels. That's because when you inject testosterone, higher peak T levels are usually attained. As a result, it can help increase muscle mass with greater efficiency.
Even if you go for scrotal creams that offer better absorption, you'd still better off with injections. Bodybuilders have used testosterone injections for decades and that's why they have been able to achieve almost superhuman levels of muscle.
How Long Does It Take to See The Effects of Exogenous Testosterone?
This is a good question and it's usually asked by men of all ages who want to see the fruits of their labor in gyms. As mentioned in this article, you might be able to experience increases in muscle size and a reduction of fat mass after 3-4 months of administering testosterone. This period can vary slightly from individual to individual, but it will continue to show improvements for years to come for people on TRT.
Now You Know More About the Ideal Testosterone Dosage for Strength Gains!
Obviously, it's advisable to talk to your TRT doctor and ask any questions you might have about testosterone dosage. Finding the ideal dose for you is also a matter of experimenting and seeing how you feel over time. Make sure that you keep a close eye on your blood work as well.
For more information about testosterone dosage for muscle gains, make sure that you check out this thread. You'll learn from other men who have different testosterone dosages and what was their experience while on TRT.