Androsterone
A weak endogenous androgen and DHT metabolite that also serves as a prohormone, back-converting in part to DHT and downstream androgens. Sold as a 'hardening' prohormone for a dry, aggressive look. Non-aromatising and DASCA-scheduled in the US.
01 Overview
Androsterone (3-alpha-hydroxy-5-alpha-androstan-17-one) is a naturally occurring metabolite of testosterone and DHT with weak intrinsic androgenic activity. As a supplement it acts partly as a prohormone, undergoing partial back-conversion toward DHT and other 5-alpha-reduced androgens.
It is marketed for 'hardening' and improved muscle density on a cutting cycle rather than mass, owing to its non-aromatising, DHT-like character. Controlled human anabolic data are absent; the profile is inferred from DHT metabolism and user reports. It is a scheduled anabolic steroid.
02 Mechanism
Weak androgen that partially back-converts via 17-beta-HSD/3-alpha-HSD equilibria toward androstanedione and DHT; non-aromatising and 5-alpha-reduced.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community-typical | 100–300 mg/day | Oral | Reported prohormone dosing; not medically validated. |
Ester comparison
| Ester | Half-life | Injection freq. | Testosterone by mass |
|---|
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle hardening / densityUsers report a drier, harder look rather than scale weight; no controlled data. | Visual, not mass-driven (reported) | Anecdotal | |
| Aggression / driveDHT-like androgenic effect on drive and aggression reported. | Variable | Anecdotal |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHT-type effects (hair, prostate)Accelerated scalp hair loss in predisposed users and possible prostate effects. | Moderate | Common | Anecdotal | |
| HPTA suppressionSuppresses endogenous testosterone. | Moderate | Common | Anecdotal |