Welcome to our SARMs vs Prohormones article! Below we’ll get into the benefits and side effects of both of these body-enhancing drugs. But first, let’s discuss what a SARM and a prohormone actually is.
SARMS vs Prohormones – Introduction
Getting that chiseled physique is very difficult. It requires more than just a proper diet and a rigorous workout routine.
Bodybuilders are usually forced to rely on performance-enhancing substances that’ll help their bodies not only in building lean muscle mass but to do so at a much faster rate than usual. Another thing about these substances is that they help bodybuilders to overcome their genetic boundaries.
We all know that our bodies are designed to avoid building muscle mass beyond a certain point. This is useful in ensuring that at no point does one end up building more muscles than the body can handle.
The beauty with performance-enhancing drugs is that they can help you overcome your body’s limit while also making sure that the muscles you are gaining can be supported by your body.
How so you may wonder. Well, these drugs will go as far as increasing your bone density which makes sure that the muscles are well anchored while also solving the issue of fractures and other bone degenerating disorders.
The problem with the performance-enhancing drugs industry is that there are many different classes of these drugs.
And it gets even worse because under each class we have even more drugs.
The industry gets even more complicated because every manufacturer claims that their products perform better and are safer than their competitors. This makes it very difficult for bodybuilders to know which drugs will suit them best.
In today’s review, we will be discussing two classes of performance-enhancing drugs, i.e. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) and Pro Hormones.
We will help you understand how each of these work, the key benefits associated with each one of them and the repercussions you can expect from them.
This information should make it easier for you to decide which of the two is right for your unique fitness needs.
What are SARMs?
Most SARMs were actually formulated for completely different reasons. These drugs were supposed to solve muscle wasting and bone degenerating disorders common among individuals suffering from chronic conditions.
After a few trials, scientists reported incredible results that caught the attention of bodybuilders and other fitness enthusiasts. The substances showed impressive bodybuilding results.
Not only did they manage to eradicate muscle wasting disorders but they actually stimulated the muscles to grow at a much faster rate. The same results were recorded when they investigated the effects of these compounds to bones.
With such reports, it was rather obvious that the compounds were bound to be so popular in the bodybuilding industry and that’s precisely what happened.
Unfortunately, SARMs are yet to be approved for human consumption.
These chemicals are available on different online platforms, but they are supposed to be used for research purposes only.
However, the lack of exclusivity on federal laws has made it very easy for US bodybuilders to get them. You can easily place your orders for the SARMs under the disguise of “research purposes” and then proceed to use them for personal reasons.
You should also know that SARMs are not as old in the market as prohormones.
After reports emerged on their potential in the bodybuilding industry, scientists made improvements on SARMs to make them a better alternative to Pro Hormones.
The biggest difference that they made is the selectivity of these substances.
This increased their affinity to the androgen receptors of the muscles and bones without tampering with the other androgen receptors found all over the body.
This difference may seem minor, but it is what makes SARMs safer than Pro Hormones.
What are Prohormones?
Prohormones are chemicals formulated to be precursors of certain hormones. When consumed, the substances are converted into certain hormones (anabolic hormones) by some of the enzymes found in the body.
This will increase the levels of anabolic hormones in the body thus triggering your muscles into growing even bigger within a short period.
ProHormones were formulated to be a safer alternative to steroids. They managed to deliver the benefits of steroids without most of the harmful adverse reactions, but they were still not 100% safe.
ProHormones still came with the menace that is hormone suppression. Due to the lack of a viable option, most bodybuilders had no choice but to use them anyway.
Unlike SARMs which can still be purchased as research chemicals, Pro Hormones are illegal to buy and use.
You can only get them through the black market, but this poses a serious risk of purchasing ineffective and contaminated chemicals that’ll be harmful to the body.
The entrance of SARMs in the market and the strict laws regulating the distribution of Pro Hormones has also seen the supply of Pro Hormones reduce drastically.
At the moment, it is challenging to find sufficient supply of these chemicals.
Benefits of SARMs
Selective Androgen Receptors Modulators are beneficial in various ways such as:
- Boosts lean mass gain
- Reduces body fat resulting in a toned physique
- Boost strength and power
- Enhances recovery
- They do not aromatize into the female sex hormone known as estrogen
- They do not suppress the production of natural testosterone. However, prolonged use of SARMs can result in testosterone suppression
- They are milder than Pro Hormones
Benefits of Prohormones
On the other hand, Pro Hormones can be used to:
- Promotes lean mass gain
- Reduces bot fat
- Increases strength levels
- Faster recovery
- Delivers better pumps
- Enhances sleep
- Boosts aggression while working out
- Increases appetite
- They are milder than their bigger brother, i.e. anabolic androgenic steroids
Side Effects of SARMs
SARMs are milder to the body than Prohormones, but they are not entirely free from adverse reactions. The use of these substances can result in:
- Acne
- Cysts
- Testicular atrophy, i.e. shrinking of balls
- An increase in LDL or bad cholesterol
- Can also interfere with blood pressure
- May suppress testosterone production
The risk of these side effects increases with the increase in dosage. You shouldn’t experience any of these issues if you use Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators as directed and you follow each cycle with PCT.
Side Effects of Prohormones
Prohormones are more brutal to the body compared to SARMs since they are not as selective. They usually cause a wide variety of side effects, and most of these are typically bound to happen regardless of how small the doses you are taking are. Some of the common side effects include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Acne breakout
- Reduced sex drive
- Water retention
- Gynecomastia, i.e. development of the infamous “man boobs.”
- Mood swings
- May lead to toxicity in certain organs such as liver, kidney, etc.
SARMs vs Prohormones – Conclusion
In this SARMs vs. Prohormones battle, SARMs have to come out on top. If you’ve been keen, then you know that SARMs offer every benefit associated with steroids yet they are a lot milder.
Yes, Pro Hormones may be more aggressive in delivering the desirable effects, but the catch is that they will also go on affecting other tissues and organs which have nothing to do with muscle growth.
Also, Pro Hormones are illegal, and they are very difficult to come by. In most cases, you’ll have to source them from underground laboratories that are unregulated which means that the efficacy and safety of the chemicals are not guaranteed.
Meanwhile, Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators can be purchased from some reputable companies as research chemicals. They definitely deliver the desired results without making the user pay a hefty price for the benefits.
Read Also: What Are The Best SARMs for Bulking?
