Mesterolone is an oral anabolic steroid, a synthetic product of the male hormone testosterone. The drug has shown value in treating men with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders. The drug also is commonly used to treat sexual dysfunction, including low sperm count. Additionally, mesterolone may enhance the effectiveness of other steroids. Interestingly, unlike other steroids, the drug shows little value for bodybuilding, but has the same health risks involved in steroid use for that purpose.
Mesterolone is often used as an antiestrogenic treatment and may be used by those who have had a poor reaction to testosterone treatments. The drug has shown to be beneficial in treating sexual dysfunction, impotency and low libido. Mesterolone binds to estrogen receptors, reducing their activity, which not only reduces estrogen production, but also encourages natural testosterone production in the body.
During the late 1970s, doctors who performed studies on mesterolone concluded that the drug could be used to treat depression in some men. Patients with symptoms of anxiety and low sex drive reported improvement with low doses of the steroid. During the study, higher doses proved helpful to patients with dysthymia and bipolar depression as well. Since this time, newer studies have shown that patients taking a placebo improved at the same rate as patients taking mesterolone, leading medical professionals to believe that better drug options exist.
One of the main benefits of mesterolone appears to be its ability to boost the effectiveness of other steroids. The drug's ability to disrupt estrogen production and increase testosterone in a man’s body allows other steroids to perform better. Additionally, mesterolone is a lipolytic drug, which helps the body burn fat faster.
Those taking mesterolone, however, run the risk of accelerating the growth of many cancers. For instance, those with prostate cancer, breast cancer or liver tumors should not take the steroid. Other risks involved include liver damage; hypercalcemia, or too much calcium in the blood; and increased cholesterol levels.
Mesterolone has not been shown to produce very impressive results in most studies of the drug. At best, it may assist other drugs serving functions that are more useful. Users should be aware that using steroids of any kind has the potential of doing significant damage to the body, including damage to major organs, such as the heart and liver. These damages may not manifest until years after the use of the product has stopped.