What is Proviged (EPF)? This is inherently a hormonal drug, a structurally androgenic steroid. It has a fairly powerful and relatively fast effect. The active substance of the drug is the steroid Mesterolone. Athletes use it mainly as a medicine to enhance libido and increase potency, and also as a component of drying courses.

Note: Mesterolone is a derivative of dihydrotestosterone (a biologically active form of testosterone), which explains many of its pharmacological qualities. Thus, the steroid has a predominantly androgenic effect (the androgen index is 150% of endogenous testosterone, anabolic - 40% of endogenous testosterone), does not aromatize (does not convert to estrogen) and does not show progestogenic activity (it is not related to progestins).

The first analogues of the modern drug Proviged of EuroPrime Pharmaceuticals went on sale in the middle of the 20th century. Moreover, for the first time, Mesterolone was described and introduced already in 1934. Behind its development is the pharmaceutical company Schering AG (patented under the Proviron trademark). Initially, the steroid was made only for medical use. To this day, it has numerous indications for medicinal use: from aplastic anaemia to sexual dysfunction.

What effect does Proviged (EPF) have on an athlete? If we list the confirmed effects, then, first of all, the drug helps to increase the concentration of free testosterone, reduce estrogenic activity, increase libido, increase potency, improve spermatogenesis, develop stiffness and muscle relief. Important: its ability to increase the concentration of free testosterone is determined by the blocking of the functions of the globulin that binds sex hormones. For athletes, this is, if not the main, then one of the main effects of the drug. Antiestrogenic properties are not as pronounced as those of specialized antiestrogens (see anastrozole, letrozole, vorozole, or exemestane).