Prohormones: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Prohormones are chemicals that the body converts into hormones such as testosterone or estrogen. They are often marketed to athletes and bodybuilders.

Prohormones are used to increase testosterone levels, improve athletic performance, increase energy, and for other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Prohormones may also be unsafe.

In the US, prohormones are considered the same as anabolic steroids and are not legally permitted in supplement products. Prohormones are also banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and some prohormones are banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Prohormones overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Prohormones are possibly unsafe. Side effects include liver damage, infertility, behavioral changes, hair loss, and others.

When applied to the skin: Prohormones are possibly unsafe. Side effects include liver damage, infertility, behavioral changes, hair loss, and others.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Prohormones are possibly unsafe when pregnant or breast-feeding. Avoid using.

Hormone-sensitive conditions: Some prohormones are used by the body to make the hormones testosterone and estrogen. People with hormone sensitive conditions should avoid prohormones. Some of these conditions include breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancer; endometriosis; and uterine fibroids.

Liver problems: Prohormones might make liver problems worse. Don't use prohormones if you have liver problems.

Prostate cancer: There is some concern that certain prohormones might increase the chances of developing prostate cancer. Until more is known, avoid prohormones if you are at risk for prostate cancer.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Prohormones overview.

Dosing

Prohormones are a group of many different chemicals. See specific topics for information on use.

View References

REFERENCES:

van Weerden WM, van Kreuningen A, Elissen NM, et al. Effects of adrenal androgens on the transplantable human prostate tumor PC-82. Endocrinol 1992;131:2909-13.

Anon. Creatine and androstenedione, two dietary supplements. Med Lett Drugs Ther 1998;40:105-6.

Wallace MB, Lim J, Cutler A, Bucci L. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone vs androstenedione supplementation in men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31:1788-92.

Broeder CE, Quindry J, Brittingham K, et al. The Andro Project: physiological and hormonal influences of androstenedione supplementation in men 35 to 65 years old participating in a high-intensity resistance training program. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:3093-104.

Kuritzky L. DHEA: Science or wishful thinking? Hosp Pract 1998;33:85-6.

Leder BZ, Longcope C, Catlin DH, et al. Oral androstenedione administration and serum testosterone concentrations in young men. JAMA 2000;283:779-82.

King DS, Sharp RL, Vukovich MD, et al. Effect of oral androstenedione on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1999;281:2020-8.

Brown GA, Vukovich MD, Martini ER, et al. Endocrine responses to chronic androstenedione intake in 30- to 56-year-old men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000;85:4074-80.

Brown GA, Vukovich MD, Reifenrath TA, et al. Effects of anabolic precursors on serum testosterone concentrations and adaptations to resistance training in young men. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2000;10:340-59.

Anabolic Steroid Act, Public Law No. 108-358, 2004.

National Collegiate Athletic Association. NCAA Banned-Drug Classes 2005-2006. Available at: https://www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/health-safety/drug_testing/banned_drug_classes.pdf.

Leder, B. Z., Leblanc, K. M., Longcope, C., Lee, H., Catlin, D. H., and Finkelstein, J. S. Effects of oral androstenedione administration on serum testosterone and estradiol levels in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87(12):5449-5454.

Kicman, A. T., Bassindale, T., Cowan, D. A., Dale, S., Hutt, A. J., and Leeds, A. R. Effect of androstenedione ingestion on plasma testosterone in young women; a dietary supplement with potential health risks. Clin Chem 2003;49(1):167-169.

Broeder, C. E. Oral andro-related prohormone supplementation: do the potential risks outweigh the benefits? Can J Appl Physiol 2003;28(1):102-116.

Brown, G. A., Vukovich, M., and King, D. S. Testosterone prohormone supplements. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006;38(8):1451-1461.

Brown, G. A., Vukovich, M. D., Sharp, R. L., Reifenrath, T. A., Parsons, K. A., and King, D. S. Effect of oral DHEA on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men. J Appl.Physiol 1999;87(6):2274-2283.

Joseph JF, Parr MK. Synthetic androgens as designer supplements. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2015;13(1):89-100.

Granados J, Gillum TL, Christmas KM, et al. Prohormone supplement 3b-hydroxy-5a-androst-1-en-17-one enhances resistance training gains but impairs user health. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2014;116(5):560-9.

Prohormones, Designer Steroids, and Body Building Supplements. ProhormoneDB.com. Available at: https://prohormonedb.com. Accessed: March 26, 2016.

Broeder CE. Oral andro-related prohormone supplementation: do the potential risks outweigh the benefits? Can J Appl Physiol. 2003;28(1):102-16.

Martínez-Sanz JM, Sospedra I, Ortiz CM, Baladía E, Gil-Izquierdo A, Ortiz-Moncada R. Intended or Unintended Doping? A Review of the Presence of Doping Substances in Dietary Supplements Used in Sports. Nutrients. 2017;9(10). pii: E1093.

What Should Tested Athletes Know About GW1516? Education, Spirit of Sport. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). September 24, 2019. Available at: https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/education/what-should-athletes-know-gw1516/

Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014. Public Law No: 113-260.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2025 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.