Triptorelin

Triptorelin is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist). This means it acts on the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain used for regulation or control of hormones in both men and women. Its known as a control centre but can be influenced to cause an increase in hormonal output, or can be influenced to decrease various hormones but drugs. GnRH is responsible for telling the pituitary gland in the brain to secrete luteinizing hormone (LH) used for testosterone production, or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) used for sperm production. Triptorelin tells the hypothalamus to secrete more GnRH, thus telling the pituitary to secrete LH and FSH, which equals more testosterone in males. But its important that its use is dosed correctly. Too much GnRH stimulating can mean the pituitary shutting down hormone production. This occurs when anabolic steroids are used, such as, Deca-Durabolin, Trenbolone and Testosterone, but is achieved far quicker with Triptorelin.

Triptorelin is used medically for the treatment of hormone-responsive cancers such as prostate cancer or breast cancer in women. Triptorelin is marketed under the brand names Decapeptyl, Diphereline and Gonapeptyl. In the United States, it’s sold by Watson as Trelstar. Its used to cause total cessation of pituitary hormonal output, including testosterone, as shown in this study. So you’re probably asking yourself, why is Triptorelin useful to a bodybuilder to restore testosterone?

Well, Triptorelin works by over stimulating the pituitary into stopping hormone production, but what about if a little is used to stimulate hormones and not over stimulate them? According to recent research, this works.

Italian researchers did a study in 2010 on a bodybuilder who had been using anabolic steroids for 13 years on and off. His natural production of testosterone was classified as hypogondal, which means he needed to be dependent on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or lead a life with a low testosterone level. This would mean a host of side effects, some serious, such as, loss of sex drive, impotence, increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), cancers and loss of energy.

A typical steroid cycle for this bodybuilder would be 8 weeks of 25mg per day Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone) injected, with 25mg every day of Winstrol (Stanozolol). This would be followed by two weeks of Primobolan at 50mg every day. Not a well planned cycle if you ask us, but Deca is very inhibitive anabolic steroid to natural testosterone levels. Even doses of 100mg can cause a shut off of natural hormone levels [1]. The bodybuilder did use drugs that would help restore his testosterone levels post cycle, but again this was poorly planned. His post cycle therapy (PCT) was Clomid 50mg every day for one week, followed by one week of 2000ius of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Although this would cause some stimulation, it appears it did nothing to prevent the bodybuilder from suffering from low testosterone later down the line. The bodybuilder’s doses did increase between 2005 and 2008. Whilst using Deca at 25mg every day and Winstrol at the same dosage, he also added Boldenone (Equipoise) at 50mg every day for three weeks.

Usual courses of PCT include drugs such as, Clomid, Tamoxifen and usage of HCG, but on this occasion the Italian researchers injected the bodybuilder with100 micrograms Triptorelin. This is a relatively small dose compared to doses used to stop all hormonal output as we alluded to earlier. Almost immediately the bodybuilders LH and FSH levels rose within minutes.

10 days later the Italian doctor saw the bodybuilder and his endogenous testosterone level had risen to 7ng/ml. Another three weeks later, his testosterone level was still normal, and his sex drive had returned. A very positive outcome and perhaps impossible if Triptorelin had not been used.

No we want to be crystal clear here. If Triptorelin is used incorrectly ie; too much is used, you will end up with the same levels of testosterone as a castrated male [2]. Triptorelin has actually been used successfully for the treatment of chemical castration of sex offenders. Its serious stuff and needs to be used with extreme caution. We’d suggest starting on a dose of 50 micrograms of Triptorelin first to see what affect it has on testosterone levels.