Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for Men: Omnadren or Nebido?

Ivan Vlasov project creator

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Hormone Replacement Therapy and Health

What kind of study is this? An extensive study that lasted for 11 years and was funded by Bayer. This is not surprising, as Bayer is almost the only global giant that still produces drugs actively used for HRT. It should be noted that similar studies on this topic have been conducted before, but none were as large-scale and long-lasting.

Purpose of the study – to find out how hormone replacement therapy affects the health of men.

More than eight hundred elderly men were selected to participate in the study – all with testosterone levels below normal or near the lower limit. All were of approximately the same age, with similar diseases, habits, and lifestyles.

• Main group ("HRT group," 428 men) received injections of the drug "Nebido" – 1000 mg once every 12 weeks.
• Control group (395 men) did not receive any injections at all – not even a placebo. 1000 mg of testosterone every 12 weeks is less than 100 mg per week: as a result, the total testosterone level was guaranteed to stay within the physiological norm.

Results

What results were obtained? I will not present all the results, only the main ones.

1. The men in the HRT group lost weight, while the men in the control group gained weight. The weight loss was due to a reduction in fat, and the gain was due to an increase in fat.
2. The blood pressure of the men in the HRT group decreased on average. For the control group, it increased.
3. Insulin sensitivity increased in the HRT group and decreased in the control group (i.e., insulin resistance increased in the control group).

Where the control group had an advantage was in the change in the ratio of HDL ("good" cholesterol) to LDL ("bad" cholesterol). In the HRT group, it worsened, while in the control group, it improved.

However, this did not matter much, as the mortality from natural causes during the "reporting period" was 5.4% in the HRT group and 19.5% in the control group. Almost four times more.

Of course, some might call this figure far from objective, but that is incorrect. Firstly, the subjects were specially selected to have approximately equal chances of survival.

And if you consider the changes in weight, blood pressure, and insulin resistance, it becomes clear that there is definitely a connection between hormone replacement therapy and increased lifespan.

Nebido or Omnadren

At the end of the article, it's worth discussing the drug used in the study. "Nebido" – testosterone undecanoate, an oil solution for intramuscular injections, produced by Bayer.

The half-life of testosterone undecanoate is about two to three weeks, and the period of activity can reach up to one and a half months. So, its injections can be given much less frequently than, for example, testosterone enanthate injections.

I would note that injections once every 12 weeks seem too infrequent to me. By the end of the tenth week, there would be very little testosterone in the blood, but if you give injections every 9-10 weeks, there is a risk that the total testosterone level will exceed the physiological limits.

Price of Nebido

One ampoule of "Nebido" has a volume of 4 ml and costs 5200 UAH (almost 190 US dollars). Which, in my opinion, is a bit excessive. So, if you want to follow the protocol provided, it's better to find a replacement for this drug.

Nebido Alternatives

However, it should be noted that the quality of "Nebido" is simply outstanding. The first solution that comes to mind is to try to find a cheaper alternative to Bayer's drug.

Officially, no one else produces testosterone undecanoate in injection form, so you'll have to look for it "underground." But:

1. there is no guarantee that you will find it;
2. there is no guarantee that the acquired drug will be even remotely close to "Nebido" in quality.

Solution number two: "Omnadren 250" – fortunately, this drug is not hard to find in pharmacies. It contains testosterone decanoate, whose half-life is not much shorter than that of undecanoate. So, you can try giving "Omnadren" injections of 250 mg once every three weeks.

Solution number three: testosterone propionate, which can also be purchased in pharmacies. Injections of 50 mg of this drug should be given subcutaneously (I have already explained how) once every 4-5 days. In general, something can be chosen.

Summary

But whatever you choose, it will still be much better than going without HRT when your body literally demands it. You'll be healthier and live longer. At least, that's what science says.