Testosterone is a crucial male hormone that helps to grow muscle, regulate mood, energize the body, and maintain healthy sex life. If the levels of testosterone drop, men tend to feel fatigued, depressed, overweight, and may even have a low-libido.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) along with anabolic steroids are two effective methods to augment testosterone levels and its effects in the body. Although both have testosterone in them, their application is different and so are the risks associated with them.

This article will help you understand the pros, cons, legality, and efficacy of one of the most discussed topics in the fitness industry, that is, TRT vs. Steroids.

What is TRT: Testosterone Replacement Therapy

TRT is a form of therapy that is administered to men diagnosed with low testosterone (Low-T). It consists of administering testosterone to the body, either via injections or topical gels, until hormone levels are normalized.

TRT is used in men who for different reasons such as aging, illness, or certain medical conditions suffer from Low-T. The aim is to fix the imbalance and not to increase it.

How Is TRT Administered

There are different ways in which TRT can be provided depending on what the patient is comfortable with as well as what the physician recommends:

• Injections: Patients usually receive them every one to two weeks;
• Gels and Creams: Used every day on the skin;
• Patches: Placed on the body for gradual testosterone administration;
• Pellets: Implanted underneath the skin for sustained testosterone release.

Benefits of TRT

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) helps restore normal hormone levels, offering the following benefits:

• Greater resistance to fatigue and increased energy levels;
• Ability to concentrate and enhance mood;
• Improvement in sexual drive and performance;
• Increase in strength and muscular development;
• Decrease in total body fat;
• Increase in bone mass and decrease in risk of osteoporosis.

Who can benefit from TRT

Only male patients suffering from Low-T are prescribed TRT. This will be confirmed by a doctor through a blood analysis and medical history. Symptoms of low Testosterone levels include:

• Chronic fatigue and low energy levels;
• Decreased muscle strength and mass;
• Decreased libido and erectile dysfunction;
• Irritability and depressive episodes;
• Increased weight and difficulty losing weight.

As the TRT is not designed for healthy grown men looking to improve their fitness level and musculature, its use will not help.

What Are Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids are supraphysiological doses of synthetic derivatives of testosterone used in muscle growth and enhance athletic performance. In most cases, unlike TRT, steroids are not established for medical use and are abused in bodybuilding and sports.

How Are Steroids Used

Users abuse steroids by following a strict cycle of overuse and cessation of anything between weeks to a few months. Some users also stack steroids by taking several types at once in order to achieve more extreme results, which increases the health risk even further.

Steroid Benefits: Short-Term

Steroids are notorious for providing radical changes in a very small time like:

• Muscular hypertrophy;
• Enhanced strength and endurance;
• Improved recovery time between workouts;
• 90% – 100% enhanced fat loss.

However these short term benefits come with the disadvantage of gravely impacting a person’s health in the long run.

Common Steroid Side Effects

As opposed to TRT, which helps in restoring the anterior pituitary gland to its original state, anabolic steroids only serve to flood the body with excess testosterone which has several dangerous effects:

• Severe acne and oily skin;
• Baldness (androgenic alopecia);
• Increased aggression as a result of anabolic steroid use;
• Elevated blood pressure, heart failure;
• Cirrhosis;
• Chronic Kidney Disease;
• Prominent gynecomastia;
• Testicular Atrophy: infertility;
• Reproductive age irreversible hypersecretive syndromes.

What separates these types of testosterone steroids injection is that therapy is done by a doctor while steroids are taken without any supervision, which results in bad side effects.

Key Differences: TRT vs. Steroids

Is TRT Legal?

Yes. It is legal when a doctor prescribes it to the patient. Everything is enforced such as blood tests and monitoring to make sure it is both safe and effective.

Is Steroid Use Legal?

No. Anabolic steroids without a prescription is illegal in most countries. Controlled substance to many because of the abuse and health issues it can cause.

In professional sports, it is considered a form of cheating. It has heavy repercussions such as bans and disqualifications losing their reputation.

When to Document and Assess TRT

• You are having a doctor confirm to you having low testosterone levels;
• You feel fatigued, loss of libido, lost muscle mass, or going through emotional rollercoasters;
• You want an effective treatment that is not risky;
• You are in need of sustainable lifestyle enhancements.

When to Stop Using Steroids

• You want to use them to maximize efficiency without thinking of low dosage;
• You are putting your health at risk by avoiding heart ailments and liver damage.

What You Need to Know About TRT Before and After

Depending on age, way of life, and compliance to the regimen, results will greatly differ but on average, most males strongly agree that significant changes can be felt starting from a couple of weeks.

How Long Do the Impacts of TRT Last

• 1 – 4 Weeks: Increased energy levels, improved general moods, enhanced focus;
• 4 – 8 Weeks: Further increased libido, improved sleep, increased strength;
• 8 – 12 Weeks: Increased stamina and further muscle tone improvement;
• 3 – 6 Months: Further enhanced stamina, and visibility of significantly lost fat.

TRT shifts the balance of testosterone in the body to an optimal range which results in increased strength, fat loss, and better muscle to fat ratio. Unlike steroids that create abnormal spikes of growth, TRT instead allows steady and natural enhancements to occur.

Final Verdict: Which One is Best for You

In the case of clinically low testosterone, the safest and most effective option is TRT. It is very effective because it’s monitored by specialists, prescribed legally, and directed toward maintaining health in the long run.

On the other hand, steroids are often used by bodybuilders to achieve muscle mass in the shortest time possible, regardless of the risk. In the wrong hands, steroids become more dangerous than useful so they are restricted in use.

Want To Restore Your Testosterone Safely? MedicOnlinePharmacy offers guaranteed results with expert testosterone replacement therapy solutions for men in Canada:

• Safe, medical-grade TRT drugs;
• Blood testing and doctor consultations;
• Easy online ordering with fast delivery.

Don’t live a half life anymore, book a consultation today to reclaim your health!