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Unless time decides to stand still, we’re all going to natural age (sorry!). Alongside ageing comes a number of things that can happen to your body – many of which are less than ideal.
For us guys, we start to notice a gradual decrease in testosterone after the age of 30. This isn’t something that happens overnight, nor should it be a significant decrease in a short amount of time! However, with testosterone levels dropping by around 1% each year, noticeable changes start to happen.
These effects include feeling fatigued, a loss in strength, a decrease in muscle mass, and even a lack of sex drive. Let’s be honest, we’d rather avoid all of these things.
It’s totally natural to turn to the Internet for solutions, seeking ways to increase your testosterone levels and get your libido back with the need for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). During your sweep of the Internet, you’ll undoubtedly come across natural testosterone boosters and natural prohormones.
But wait, what’s the differences? Let’s talk prohormone vs testosterone boosters.
What are testosterone boosters?
Testosterone boosters or ‘test boosters’ are typically created using an all-natural formula, utilising herbs and botanicals to boost your testosterone levels. By increasing your T levels, it helps to reduce the common side effects of low T – helping you gain strength, muscle, energy and get your sex drive back.
Testosterone boosters typically work in two ways. One, by directly boosting your testosterone levels – as we mentioned above. And two, by limiting the hormones responsible for converting your T to estrogen.
Of course, much like women having small amounts of testosterone in their bodies, us men have some estrogen in ours. But keeping your estrogen (and testosterone) levels steady is crucial to avoid losing muscle and strength, or developing gynecomastia (man boobs).
When it comes to choosing the right test booster, many will do both of these things, helping to raise your T levels and block the conversion of too much estrogen.
Also Read: Benefits and Dangers of Hormone Replacement Therapy For Men
Put simply, test boosters aren’t necessarily replacers, but hormone influencers. Many testosterone boosters work in several ways to boost your T:
- By helping to stimulate the brain into signalling the testes to produce more testosterone
- Decrease the level of testosterone that is converted into estrogen through aromatization
- Steadies how much T is consumed by SHBG in your blood
What’s a prohormone?
Much like testosterone boosters, prohormones aren’t testosterone, but they are a non-active hormone that acts as a precursor to T. Once ingested, a prohormone works to convert to a target hormone through a specific conversion process.
However, unlike testosterone boosters, prohormones are made synthetically in labs which is why they are frequently associated with illegal anabolic steroids.
You may have heard the term ‘andros’ before now, which is a group of supplemental drugs – including:
- Androstenedione
- Androstenediol
- Norandrostenedione
- Norandrostenediol
But wait, how do prohormones work?
Instead of boosting your body’s natural testosterone levels, prohormones add hormones to your body by converting inactive hormones to active once ingested. This means that these hormones may already exist, but at lower levels than what’s required.
So, what’s the difference? It’s time for prohormones vs testosterone boosters.
Prohormones vs Test booster
So, who comes out top when it’s prohormones vs testosterone boosters?
Here are the main differences.
A testosterone booster stimulates your body to naturally increases its production of testosterone. It doesn’t add to your T levels, but simply encourage them while limiting testosterone’s conversion into estrogen.
While prohormones add hormones to your body, seeking out inactive hormones and converting them to active ones. While these hormones already exist naturally in your system, a prohome requires adding more hormones – in comparison to a test booster which raises your existing levels.
Prohormones vs testosterone: Which is the most effective?
There are plenty of natural ingredients that can act as a natural prohormone or test booster – having a huge impact on your T levels. These include:
- Zinc – which plays a crucial role in your testosterone production. Even a mild deficiency can cause havoc with your T levels.
- Vitamin D3 – Studies have shown that vitamin D3 can have a huge impact on your testosterone levels, boosting free T levels of men by around 20.27%.
- D-aspartic acid – This amino acid is great at boosting your T, both elevating your existing testosterone levels and signalling further T production.
These and many others (listed below) are frequently found in natural testosterone boosters and natural prohormones. Other natural ingredients include:
- Fenugreek extract
- Korean red ginseng extract
- Boron
- Nettle leaf extract
- Magnesium
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin K1
This leads us to believe that a natural prohormone or natural testosterone booster can be relatively equally matched.
Also Read:
5 Testosterone Killing Foods to Avoid
However, since most testosterone boosters are formulated with natural ingredients (when compared to predominantly synthetic prohomones) – test boosters come out top!
Side effects of prohormones
While there can be pros and cons to the many different types of prohormones on the market, it’s important to know what you’re letting yourself in for.
While you may (we can’t promise for sure!) experience an increase in testosterone with synthetic made prohormones, many men experience the following side effects:
- Acne
- Headaches
- Feeling dizzy
- Water retention
- Low sex drive
- Mood swings
- Suppression
- Gynecomastia (man boobs)
- High blood pressure
- Hepatotoxicity
While prohormones have become increasingly popular in bodybuilding circles, these type of androgens – may do more harm than good to your body in the long run.
However, if you’re looking for a ‘natural prohormone’ or natural testosterone booster, it’s worth noting that not all natural ingredients necessarily benefit your T levels. Here are some to avoid:
- Saw palmetto
- Ashwaganda
- Maca root
- Horny goat weed
- Bulbine natalensis
- Longjack
While there may not be extensive research to dispute the use of these main herbs and chemical compounds, there are studies that suggest they don’t work or may be unsafe.
Are prohormones backed by research?
Since prohormones are linked to anabolic steroids, research frequently disputes their safety and highlights the potential side effects.
Although some claim to be a ‘natural prohormone’, many are very much the same in terms of ingredients and require post cycle therapy (PCT) much like typical illegal steroids. PCT is usually required after a cycle of steroids – such as Dianabol – since these steroids can suppress your body’s natural production of testosterone.
Also Read:
How Does Age Affect Your Testosterone Level And What Can You Do About It?
So, are these types of prohormones worth it? Nope. While the intention of prohormones is to increase your testosterone levels and inhibit the conversion of T to estrogen, then having to follow it up with PCT can be draining and a health concern.
We’d always recommend a natural testosterone booster, that naturally increases your existing T levels.
Does a natural prohormone/test booster exist?
Of course, it does! However, it’s important to do your research to ensure you’re not buying a synthetic prohormone that claims to be natural.
Enter Testogen. Our scientifically-backed ingredients combine 100% natural and safe ingredients to naturally boost your testosterone levels and reverse the symptoms of low T.
Say goodbye to that flagging libido and decrease in muscle mass, and get used to improved energy, stamina, muscle growth and a sex drive beyond your wildest dreams.
