# Testosterone propionate

Testosterone propionate, sold under the brand name Testoviron among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which is used mainly in the treatment of low testosterone levels in men. It has also been used to treat breast cancer in women. It is given by injection into muscle usually once every two to three days.
Side effects of testosterone propionate include symptoms of masculinization like acne, increased hair growth, voice changes, and increased sexual desire. Testosterone supplementation is also known to reduce the threshold for aggressive behavior in men. The drug is a synthetic androgen and anabolic steroid and hence is an agonist of the androgen receptor (AR), the biological target of androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It has strong androgenic effects and moderate anabolic effects, which make it useful for producing masculinization and suitable for androgen replacement therapy. Testosterone propionate is a testosterone ester and a relatively short-acting prodrug of testosterone in the body. Because of this, it is considered to be a natural and bioidentical form of testosterone.
Testosterone propionate was discovered in 1936 and was introduced for medical use in 1937. It was the first testosterone ester to be marketed, and was the major form of testosterone used in medicine until about 1960. The introduction of longer-acting testosterone esters like testosterone enanthate, testosterone cypionate, and testosterone undecanoate starting in the 1950s resulted in testosterone propionate mostly being superseded. As such, it is rarely used today. In addition to its medical use, testosterone propionate is used to improve physique and performance. The drug is a controlled substance in many countries and so non-medical use is generally illicit.

## Medical uses

Testosterone propionate is used primarily in androgen replacement therapy. It is specifically approved for the treatment of hypogonadism in men, breast cancer, low sexual desire, delayed puberty in boys, and menopausal symptoms.
vte Androgen replacement therapy formulations and dosages used in men :
| Route | Medication | Major brand names | Form | Dosage |
| Oral | Testosterone$^a$ | – | Tablet | 400–800 mg/day (in divided doses) |
| Oral | Testosterone undecanoate | Andriol, Jatenzo | Capsule | 40–80 mg/2–4× day (with meals) |
| Oral | Methyltestosterone$^b$ | Android, Metandren, Testred | Tablet | 10–50 mg/day |
| Oral | Fluoxymesterone$^b$ | Halotestin, Ora-Testryl, Ultandren | Tablet | 5–20 mg/day |
| Oral | Metandienone$^b$ | Dianabol | Tablet | 5–15 mg/day |
| Oral | Mesterolone$^b$ | Proviron | Tablet | 25–150 mg/day |
| Sublingual | Testosterone$^b$ | Testoral | Tablet | 5–10 mg 1–4×/day |
| Sublingual | Methyltestosterone$^b$ | Metandren, Oreton Methyl | Tablet | 10–30 mg/day |
| Buccal | Testosterone | Striant | Tablet | 30 mg 2×/day |
| Buccal | Methyltestosterone$^b$ | Metandren, Oreton Methyl | Tablet | 5–25 mg/day |
| Transdermal | Testosterone | AndroGel, Testim, TestoGel | Gel | 25–125 mg/day |
| Transdermal | Testosterone | Androderm, AndroPatch, TestoPatch | Non-scrotal patch | 2.5–15 mg/day |
| Transdermal | Testosterone | Testoderm | Scrotal patch | 4–6 mg/day |
| Transdermal | Testosterone | Axiron | Axillary solution | 30–120 mg/day |
| Transdermal | Androstanolone (DHT) | Andractim | Gel | 100–250 mg/day |
| Rectal | Testosterone | Rektandron, Testosteron$^b$ | Suppository | 40 mg 2–3×/day |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone | Andronaq, Sterotate, Virosterone | Aqueous suspension | 10–50 mg 2–3×/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone propionate$^b$ | Testoviron | Oil solution | 10–50 mg 2–3×/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone enanthate | Delatestryl | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1x/1–4 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone enanthate | Xyosted | Auto-injector | 50–100 mg 1×/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone cypionate | Depo-Testosterone | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1x/1–4 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone isobutyrate | Agovirin Depot | Aqueous suspension | 50–100 mg 1x/1–2 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone phenylacetate$^b$ | Perandren, Androject | Oil solution | 50–200 mg 1×/3–5 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Mixed testosterone esters | Sustanon 100, Sustanon 250 | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1×/2–4 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone undecanoate | Aveed, Nebido | Oil solution | 750–1,000 mg 1×/10–14 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone buciclate$^a$ | – | Aqueous suspension | 600–1,000 mg 1×/12–20 weeks |
| Implant | Testosterone | Testopel | Pellet | 150–1,200 mg/3–6 months |
| Notes: Men produce about 3 to 11 mg of testosterone per day (mean 7 mg/day in young men). Footnotes: $^a$ = Never marketed. $^b$ = No longer used and/or no longer marketed. Sources: See template. |||||
vte Androgen replacement therapy formulations and dosages used in women :
| Route | Medication | Major brand names | Form | Dosage |
| Oral | Testosterone undecanoate | Andriol, Jatenzo | Capsule | 40–80 mg 1x/1–2 days |
| Oral | Methyltestosterone | Metandren, Estratest | Tablet | 0.5–10 mg/day |
| Oral | Fluoxymesterone | Halotestin | Tablet | 1–2.5 mg 1x/1–2 days |
| Oral | Normethandrone$^a$ | Ginecoside | Tablet | 5 mg/day |
| Oral | Tibolone | Livial | Tablet | 1.25–2.5 mg/day |
| Oral | Prasterone (DHEA)$^b$ | – | Tablet | 10–100 mg/day |
| Sublingual | Methyltestosterone | Metandren | Tablet | 0.25 mg/day |
| Transdermal | Testosterone | Intrinsa | Patch | 150–300 μg/day |
| Transdermal | Testosterone | AndroGel | Gel, cream | 1–10 mg/day |
| Vaginal | Prasterone (DHEA) | Intrarosa | Insert | 6.5 mg/day |
| Injection | Testosterone propionate$^a$ | Testoviron | Oil solution | 25 mg 1x/1–2 weeks |
| Injection | Testosterone enanthate | Delatestryl, Primodian Depot | Oil solution | 25–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks |
| Injection | Testosterone cypionate | Depo-Testosterone, Depo-Testadiol | Oil solution | 25–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks |
| Injection | Testosterone isobutyrate$^a$ | Femandren M, Folivirin | Aqueous suspension | 25–50 mg 1x/4–6 weeks |
| Injection | Mixed testosterone esters | Climacteron$^a$ | Oil solution | 150 mg 1x/4–8 weeks |
| Injection | Mixed testosterone esters | Omnadren, Sustanon | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks |
| Injection | Nandrolone decanoate | Deca-Durabolin | Oil solution | 25–50 mg 1x/6–12 weeks |
| Injection | Prasterone enanthate$^a$ | Gynodian Depot | Oil solution | 200 mg 1x/4–6 weeks |
| Implant | Testosterone | Testopel | Pellet | 50–100 mg 1x/3–6 months |
| Notes: Premenopausal women produce about 230 ± 70 μg testosterone per day (6.4 ± 2.0 mg testosterone per 4 weeks), with a range of 130 to 330 μg per day (3.6–9.2 mg per 4 weeks). Footnotes: $^a$ = Mostly discontinued or unavailable. $^b$ = Over-the-counter. Sources: See template. |||||
vte Androgen/anabolic steroid dosages for breast cancer :
| Route | Medication | Form | Dosage |
| Oral | Methyltestosterone | Tablet | 30–200 mg/day |
| Oral | Fluoxymesterone | Tablet | 10–40 mg 3x/day |
| Oral | Calusterone | Tablet | 40–80 mg 4x/day |
| Oral | Normethandrone | Tablet | 40 mg/day |
| Buccal | Methyltestosterone | Tablet | 25–100 mg/day |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone propionate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 3x/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone enanthate | Oil solution | 200–400 mg 1x/2–4 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone cypionate | Oil solution | 200–400 mg 1x/2–4 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Mixed testosterone esters | Oil solution | 250 mg 1x/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Methandriol | Aqueous suspension | 100 mg 3x/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Androstanolone (DHT) | Aqueous suspension | 300 mg 3x/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Drostanolone propionate | Oil solution | 100 mg 1–3x/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Metenolone enanthate | Oil solution | 400 mg 3x/week |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Nandrolone decanoate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 1x/1–3 weeks |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection or SCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Nandrolone phenylpropionate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg/week |
| Note: Dosages are not necessarily equivalent. Sources: See template. ||||

### Available forms

Testosterone propionate is usually provided as an oil solution for use by intramuscular injection. It was also previously available as an 30 mg or 50 mg aqueous suspension. Buccal tablets of testosterone propionate were previously available as well.

## Side effects

Side effects of testosterone propionate include virilization among others.
Testosterone propionate is often a painful injection, which is attributed to its short ester chain.

## Pharmacology
### Pharmacodynamics

vte Androgenic vs. anabolic activity ratio of androgens/anabolic steroids :
| Medication | Ratio$^a$ |
| Testosterone | ~1:1 |
| Androstanolone (DHT) | ~1:1 |
| Methyltestosterone | ~1:1 |
| Methandriol | ~1:1 |
| Fluoxymesterone | 1:1–1:15 |
| Metandienone | 1:1–1:8 |
| Drostanolone | 1:3–1:4 |
| Metenolone | 1:2–1:30 |
| Oxymetholone | 1:2–1:9 |
| Oxandrolone | 1:3–1:13 |
| Stanozolol | 1:1–1:30 |
| Nandrolone | 1:3–1:16 |
| Ethylestrenol | 1:2–1:19 |
| Norethandrolone | 1:1–1:20 |
| Notes: In rodents. Footnotes: $^a$ = Ratio of androgenic to anabolic activity. Sources: See template. ||
Testosterone propionate is a prodrug of testosterone and is an androgen and anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS). That is, it is an agonist of the androgen receptor (AR).

### Pharmacokinetics

Testosterone propionate is administered in oil via intramuscular injection. It has a relatively short elimination half-life and mean residence time of 2 days and 4 days, respectively. As such, it has a short duration of action and must be administered two to three times per week.
Intramuscular injection of testosterone propionate as an oil solution, aqueous suspension, and emulsion has been compared.
vte Pharmacokinetics of testosterone esters :
| Testosterone ester | Form | Route | T$_{max}$Tooltip Time to peak levels | t$_{1/2}$Tooltip Elimination half-life | MRTTooltip Mean residence time |
| Testosterone undecanoate | Oil-filled capsules | Oral | ? | 1.6 hours | 3.7 hours |
| Testosterone propionate | Oil solution | Intramuscular injection | ? | 0.8 days | 1.5 days |
| Testosterone enanthate | Castor oil solution | Intramuscular injection | 10 days | 4.5 days | 8.5 days |
| Testosterone undecanoate | Tea seed oil solution | Intramuscular injection | 13.0 days | 20.9 days | 34.9 days |
| Testosterone undecanoate | Castor oil solution | Intramuscular injection | 11.4 days | 33.9 days | 36.0 days |
| Testosterone buciclate$^a$ | Aqueous suspension | Intramuscular injection | 25.8 days | 29.5 days | 60.0 days |
| Notes: Testosterone cypionate has similar pharmacokinetics to Testosterone enanthate. Footnotes: $^a$ = Never marketed. Sources: See template. ||||||
vte Parenteral durations of androgens/anabolic steroids :
| Medication | Form | Major brand names | Duration |
| Testosterone | Aqueous suspension | Andronaq, Sterotate, Virosterone | 2–3 days |
| Testosterone propionate | Oil solution | Androteston, Perandren, Testoviron | 3–4 days |
| Testosterone phenylpropionate | Oil solution | Testolent | 8 days |
| Testosterone isobutyrate | Aqueous suspension | Agovirin Depot, Perandren M | 14 days |
| Mixed testosterone esters$^a$ | Oil solution | Triolandren | 10–20 days |
| Mixed testosterone esters$^b$ | Oil solution | Testosid Depot | 14–20 days |
| Testosterone enanthate | Oil solution | Delatestryl | 14–28 days |
| Testosterone cypionate | Oil solution | Depovirin | 14–28 days |
| Mixed testosterone esters$^c$ | Oil solution | Sustanon 250 | 28 days |
| Testosterone undecanoate | Oil solution | Aveed, Nebido | 100 days |
| Testosterone buciclate$^d$ | Aqueous suspension | 20 Aet-1, CDB-1781$^e$ | 90–120 days |
| Nandrolone phenylpropionate | Oil solution | Durabolin | 10 days |
| Nandrolone decanoate | Oil solution | Deca Durabolin | 21–28 days |
| Methandriol | Aqueous suspension | Notandron, Protandren | 8 days |
| Methandriol bisenanthoyl acetate | Oil solution | Notandron Depot | 16 days |
| Metenolone acetate | Oil solution | Primobolan | 3 days |
| Metenolone enanthate | Oil solution | Primobolan Depot | 14 days |
| Note: All are via i.m. injection. Footnotes: $^a$ = TP, TV, and TUe. $^b$ = TP and TKL. $^c$ = TP, TPP, TiCa, and TD. $^d$ = Studied but never marketed. $^e$ = Developmental code names. Sources: See template. ||||

## Chemistry

Testosterone propionate, or testosterone 17β-propanoate, is a synthetic androstane steroid and a derivative of testosterone. It is an androgen ester; specifically, it is the C17β propionate (propanoate) ester of testosterone.
vte Structural properties of major testosterone esters :
| Androgen | Structure | Ester | Ester | Ester | Ester | Relative mol. weight | Relative T content$^b$ | logP$^c$ |
| Androgen | Structure | Position(s) | Moiet(ies) | Type | Length$^a$ | Relative mol. weight | Relative T content$^b$ | logP$^c$ |
| Testosterone | | – | – | – | – | 1.00 | 1.00 | 3.0–3.4 |
| Testosterone propionate | | C17β | Propanoic acid | Straight-chain fatty acid | 3 | 1.19 | 0.84 | 3.7–4.9 |
| Testosterone isobutyrate | | C17β | Isobutyric acid | Branched-chain fatty acid | – (~3) | 1.24 | 0.80 | 4.9–5.3 |
| Testosterone isocaproate | | C17β | Isohexanoic acid | Branched-chain fatty acid | – (~5) | 1.34 | 0.75 | 4.4–6.3 |
| Testosterone caproate | | C17β | Hexanoic acid | Straight-chain fatty acid | 6 | 1.35 | 0.75 | 5.8–6.5 |
| Testosterone phenylpropionate | | C17β | Phenylpropanoic acid | Aromatic fatty acid | – (~6) | 1.46 | 0.69 | 5.8–6.5 |
| Testosterone cypionate | | C17β | Cyclopentylpropanoic acid | Cyclic carboxylic acid | – (~6) | 1.43 | 0.70 | 5.1–7.0 |
| Testosterone enanthate | | C17β | Heptanoic acid | Straight-chain fatty acid | 7 | 1.39 | 0.72 | 3.6–7.0 |
| Testosterone decanoate | | C17β | Decanoic acid | Straight-chain fatty acid | 10 | 1.53 | 0.65 | 6.3–8.6 |
| Testosterone undecanoate | | C17β | Undecanoic acid | Straight-chain fatty acid | 11 | 1.58 | 0.63 | 6.7–9.2 |
| Testosterone buciclate$^d$ | | C17β | Bucyclic acid$^e$ | Cyclic carboxylic acid | – (~9) | 1.58 | 0.63 | 7.9–8.5 |
| Footnotes: $^a$ = Length of ester in carbon atoms for straight-chain fatty acids or approximate length of ester in carbon atoms for aromatic or cyclic fatty acids. $^b$ = Relative testosterone content by weight (i.e., relative androgenic/anabolic potency). $^c$ = Experimental or predicted octanol/water partition coefficient (i.e., lipophilicity/hydrophobicity). Retrieved from PubChem, ChemSpider, and DrugBank. $^d$ = Never marketed. $^e$ = Bucyclic acid = trans-4-Butylcyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid. Sources: See individual articles. |||||||||

## History

Testosterone esters were synthesized for the first time in 1936, and were found to have greatly improved potency relative to testosterone. Among the esters synthesized, testosterone propionate was the most potent, and for this reason, was selected for further development, subsequently being marketed. Testosterone propionate was introduced in 1937 by Schering AG in Germany under the brand name Testoviron. It was the first commercially available form of testosterone, and the first testosterone ester, to be introduced. The medication was the major form of testosterone used medically before 1960. Buccal testosterone propionate tablets were introduced for medical use in the mid-to-late 1940s under the brand name Oreton Buccal Tablets. An aqueous suspension of testosterone propionate was marketed by Ciba by 1950. In the 1950s, longer-acting testosterone esters like testosterone enanthate and testosterone cypionate were introduced and superseded testosterone propionate. Although rarely used nowadays due to its short duration, testosterone propionate remains medically available.

## Society and culture
### Generic names

Testosterone propionate is the generic name of the drug and its USANTooltip United States Adopted Name and BANTooltip British Approved Name. It has also been referred to as testosterone propanoate or as propionyltestosterone.

### Brand names

Testosterone propionate is or has been marketed under a variety of brand names, including, among numerous others:
* Agrovirin
* Andronate
* Andrusol-P
* Anertan
* Masenate
* Neo-Hombreol
* Oreton
* Perandren
* Synandrol
* Testoviron

### Availability

Testosterone propionate is no longer available commercially in the United States except via a compounding pharmacy.

### Legal status

Testosterone propionate, along with other AAS, is a schedule III controlled substance in the United States under the Controlled Substances Act and a schedule IV controlled substance in Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.