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Muscle & performance

Testosterone Phenylpropionate

Testosterone with the mid-short phenylpropionate ester, known from Sustanon, here as a single ester at 100 mg/ml.

3 min read 8 sources

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Glass vial with pale yellow oil and a black TPD label next to a blue 3D steroid molecule with an ester chain and ring, symbolic image for Testosterone Phenylpropionate
Approved in a blend · not as a single ester

Summary

At a glance

Sources checked on 26 Oct 2026

On the single ester
0 studies

on the registry only trials with a blend of four testosterone esters, as of 26 Oct 20266

Followed after one injection
60 days

Doping control studies with 6 volunteers, all esters detectable in blood, urinary steroid profile changed2

Fat-free mass, highest level
+7.9 kg

Testosterone in general: 20 weeks, highest of five levels, study with enanthate3

Phase 3 in the registry
1 trial

only with the four-ester blend, none as a single ester, as of 26 Oct 20267

  • Testosterone Phenylpropionate is testosterone with a phenylpropionate ester that carries a benzene ring. In the blood the ester is split off and testosterone remains, acting on the androgen receptor.84
  • As a single ester phenylpropionate has practically not been studied clinically. It is known as one of the four esters of a blend approved since 1973.51
  • In two doping control studies with this blend all esters were detectable in blood and detection time depended on the ester. The urinary steroid profile changed clearly.12
  • For testosterone in general, a trial with five dose levels shows that fat-free mass, strength and haemoglobin rise with the level while HDL cholesterol falls.3
  • According to the UK product information the blend has been approved since 28 February 1973, the single ester has not. Everything here is the state of research, not a recommendation.5
Profile

Updated October 2026

Class
Testosterone ester

mid-short, anabolic steroid

Form
Oil

100 mg/ml

Use
Intramuscular

every 2-3 days

Half-life
between propionate and enanthate
WADA
Banned

S1, anabolic agents

Sizes
2 sizes

100mg/ml, 200mg/ml

Contents 14 sections
  1. At a glance
  2. What is Testosterone Phenylpropionate?
  3. How it works
  4. Use and dosing
  5. Injection
  6. What the research shows
  7. Research status
  8. Side effects
  9. Storage
  10. PCT / after coming off
  11. Related compounds
  12. FAQ
  13. Glossary
  14. Sources

What is Testosterone Phenylpropionate?

Testosterone Phenylpropionate (TPP) is testosterone with a phenylpropionate ester. The ester carries a benzene ring and sits between fast propionate and long enanthate in duration. It is best known as one of the four esters in classic Sustanon; here it comes as a single ester at 100 mg/ml.

As a standalone product TPP has barely been studied clinically. What we know comes from studies on ester blends and from general testosterone research.

This information is for research and educational purposes only. No medical advice.

Comparison

Short and long esters

The same compound at the same receptor with esters of different length, as stated in the TPD lexicon. Tap a card to open its entry.

Short ester Testosterone Propionate AR
Medium ester Testosterone Phenylpropionate AR
Long ester Testosterone Enanthate AR Long ester Testosterone Cypionate AR Very long ester Testosterone Decanoate AR Ultra-long ester Testosterone Undecanoate AR

How it works

After injection the ester is cleaved in the blood and testosterone remains. It binds the androgen receptor and raises protein synthesis, nitrogen retention and red blood cell production.

Like any testosterone, part of it is converted to estradiol by aromatase and part to DHT. The mid-short ester makes levels rise faster than with enanthate but also drop sooner. That is why TPP needs more frequent doses.

Where it acts

One receptor, several organs

Tap a point or a card. Grey = effect seen in trials.

  1. Skeletal muscle

    Fat-free mass, muscle volume and leg strength rose with the level3

    Observed in trials
  2. Blood

    Haemoglobin rose with the testosterone level3

    Observed in trials
  3. Liver and blood lipids

    HDL cholesterol fell as levels rose3

    Observed in trials
  4. Fat tissue

    Fat mass fell as levels rose3

    Observed in trials
  5. Kidney and urine

    Urinary steroid profile clearly changed after one injection of the ester blend2

    Observed in trials

Targets in the ChEMBL database8

Compound CHEMBL386630: one recorded mechanism, Testosterone once the ester is split off: agonist, direct binding.

Androgen receptor
Gene
AR
UniProt
P10275
ChEMBL
CHEMBL1871
Action
Testosterone once the ester is split off: agonist, direct binding
Blue 3D molecules leave an oil droplet and reach bright muscle fibres, symbolic image
The mid-short ester releases testosterone faster than enanthate. Symbolic image.

Use and dosing

Dosing

Dosing, titration and syringe

Loading the dosing information …

  • Getting started and stepping up, drawn as a staircase
  • Units on the U-100 syringe for every step
  • How long one vial lasts
Glass vial with pale yellow oil and a black TPD label, a disposable syringe in front, symbolic image
Doses every 2 to 3 days. Symbolic image.

Injection

The oil is ready to use. Intramuscular injection into the glute, thigh or shoulder is recommended, with rotating sites. Short and mid-short esters irritate tissue more than long esters.

  • Thicker needle to draw, thinner needle to inject.
  • Subcutaneous only in small amounts and if well tolerated, otherwise intramuscular.
  • Mild soreness at the site is more common with this ester than with enanthate.

What the research shows

Phenylpropionate has almost only been studied as part of ester blends. In two doping control studies (Forsdahl and colleagues, 2015 and 2020), volunteers received a mix of 30mg propionate, 60mg phenylpropionate, 60mg isocaproate and 100mg decanoate. All esters were detectable in blood, detection time depended on the ester and the urinary steroid profile shifted for weeks.

For the effect of testosterone itself, Bhasin's dose-response trial (2001) is a good reference: 61 young men received 25 to 600mg per week. Fat-free mass and strength rose in line with testosterone levels. Kicman (2008) summarizes the general pharmacology of the esters.

Study results

What the trials measured

Interactive: switch tabs, tap points, show or hide arms. Arms are named relative to each other, no dosing advice.

Fat-free mass after 20 weeks3

Gain in kg in the three higher of five dose levels, 61 young men, study with enanthate

Trial with five dose levels3 body's own production switched off with medication
Level 3 of 5 +3.4 kg
Level 4 of 5 +5.2 kg
Level 5 of 5 (highest) +7.9 kg

Same testosterone, different ester. Leg strength, muscle volume, haemoglobin and IGF-1 rose with the level while fat mass and HDL cholesterol fell. Sexual function, mood and PSA did not change at any level.

Bright lab bench with sample tubes, symbolic image for research on testosterone esters
Studied mainly as part of an ester blend. Symbolic image.

Research status

Where the research stands

There is no registered trial with the single ester. Shown are trials with the approved blend of four testosterone esters, in which phenylpropionate is one of the medium-length components. As of 26 Oct 2026. 7

  1. Preclinical Pharmacology of esterification and depot action
  2. Phase 1 1 trial, 0 completed
  3. Phase 2 no registered trial
  4. Phase 3 1 trial, 1 completed
  5. Approval not as a single ester
0 participants in phase 3 Not approved as a single ester. Testosterone Phenylpropionate is part of a blend of four testosterone esters that has been approved in the UK since 28 February 1973.5
Show all 9 phase 3 and 4 trials on a timelineHide timeline 9 completed 0 running 0 with results
Phase 3
Phase 4

Bar: start to primary endpoint (planned for running trials). Green = completed, blue = progress until 26 Oct 2026. Phase 1: 1 trial on safety and pharmacokinetics, not shown as bars.

Side effects

TPP has the same risk profile as other testosterone esters. The more frequent doses add more injections, but side effects fade faster after stopping than with long esters.

  • Estrogen: water retention, rising blood pressure, gyno risk.
  • Hematocrit: rises with the dose.
  • HPTA suppression: your own testosterone production is turned down.
  • Lipids: HDL falls.
  • Androgenic: acne, hair loss if predisposed.
  • Injection site: pain or redness, more often than with long esters.

Storage

Keep the oil at room temperature, in the dark and closed. Do not put it in the fridge, as the compound can crystallize in the cold. Visible crystals dissolve when the vial is warmed and swirled until the solution is clear again.

Four glass vials with golden oil on a white shelf, next to them a folded light blue cloth
Store at room temperature and in the dark, not in the fridge. Symbolic image.

Related

Related compounds

Same receptors or blends with Testosterone Phenylpropionate: all in the TPD lexicon.

Testosterone Phenylpropionate
Testosterone Propionate Short ester, even faster Testosterone Enanthate Long ester, less frequent doses Testosterone Decanoate Very long ester, partner in the blend Testosterone Cypionate Long ester NPP (Nandrolone Phenylpropionate) Same ester on nandrolone Test Mix (high dose) Contains phenylpropionate plus three more esters

FAQ

Common questions about Testosterone Phenylpropionate

Short answers, each backed by the sources below.

Has phenylpropionate been studied clinically?

As a single ester practically not. In studies it appears almost only as part of a blend of four testosterone esters. What is known about the effect comes from general testosterone research, because once the ester is split off the same testosterone acts.14

Is Testosterone Phenylpropionate approved?

Not as a single ester. Phenylpropionate is part of a blend of four testosterone esters that has been approved since 28 February 1973 according to the UK product information. The registry only has trials with this blend, most of them after approval. Everything here is the state of research, not a recommendation.57

Does the effect depend on the amount?

For testosterone in general, yes. In a trial with 61 young men and five dose levels (with enanthate, the body's own production switched off) fat-free mass rose by 3.4, 5.2 and 7.9 kg in the three higher levels. Leg strength, muscle volume and haemoglobin rose with the level while fat mass and HDL cholesterol fell.3

How long is phenylpropionate detectable?

In a doping control study 6 volunteers received one injection of the four-ester blend or of undecanoate, blood was followed over 60 days. All esters were detectable and detection time depended on the ester. In urine the steroid profile changed clearly, a ratio of sulfates and glucuronides is considered an additional marker.12

How does it differ from nandrolone phenylpropionate?

The ester is the same, the hormone is a different one. Testosterone Phenylpropionate releases testosterone, part of which is converted to estradiol and DHT. Nandrolone is a separate anabolic. The ester only sets how fast the compound leaves the depot.4

Which side effects can be expected?

There are no data on the single ester. For testosterone in general HDL cholesterol fell as levels rose while haemoglobin went up. Sexual function, mood and PSA did not change at any level in the dose trial. Typical of testosterone esters are also estrogen effects, a suppressed hormone axis and irritation at the injection site, as described in the entry above.3

Glossary

Terms explained briefly

Dotted words in the text open these explanations directly.

Androgen receptor
Protein inside the cell that testosterone binds to. Genes are then read, for example for muscle building.
Aromatase
Enzyme that converts part of the testosterone into estradiol.
Benzene ring
Ring-shaped group of six carbon atoms, here part of the ester.
DHT
Dihydrotestosterone, a stronger androgen made from testosterone. It acts mainly on skin, hair and prostate.
Ester
An attached acid chain. It makes testosterone oil-soluble and sets how fast it is released from the depot. It is split off in the blood.
Haematocrit
Share of red blood cells in the blood. If it rises a lot, the blood gets thicker.
HDL cholesterol
The cholesterol considered favourable. High amounts of testosterone lower it.
Hormone axis (HPTA)
Hypothalamus, pituitary and testes together control the body's own testosterone production. Testosterone from outside suppresses this axis.
Steroid profile
Pattern of several hormones and their breakdown products in urine. Doping controls compare it over time.
Trial phases
Phase 1 tests tolerability in a few people, phase 2 looks for the dose, phase 3 confirms benefit and safety in many. Phase 4 runs after approval.

Practice

PCT / after coming off

Anabolic substances suppress the body's own testosterone production in the research context. Anyone who comes off a cycle (rather than running it continuously) typically uses a post-cycle therapy (PCT) to restart the natural axis (HPTA).

The standard scheme in the research/literature context combines a SERM (tamoxifen and/or clomifene, alternatively enclomiphene) over roughly four weeks, optionally preceded by HCG to re-sensitise the testes before the SERM block. An aromatase inhibitor (anastrozole/exemestane) belongs more to on-cycle estrogen control than to the PCT itself.

Tip: order the PCT items together with the cycle so they are already on hand when you come off.

This information serves research and educational purposes only. Not medical advice.

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) SERM, core of PCT View Clomid (Clomifen) SERM, core of PCT View Enclomiphene (Androxal) SERM alternative View HCG testicular restart before PCT View Arimidex (Anastrozole) aromatase inhibitor, on-cycle View Aromasin (Exemestane) aromatase inhibitor, on-cycle View

Evidence

Sources

Show all 8 sourcesHide sources 4 Studies2 Trial registry2 Database checked 26 Oct 2026

Studies

  1. Detection of testosterone esters in blood

    Forsdahl et al., Drug Testing and Analysis, 2015

    DOI 10.1002/dta.1914 PMID 26695486
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  2. Urinary steroid profile over 60 days after one injection

    Forsdahl et al., Steroids, 2020

    DOI 10.1016/j.steroids.2020.108614 PMID 32097612
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  3. Dose response in young men, five levels over 20 weeks

    Bhasin et al., American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2001

    DOI 10.1152/ajpendo.2001.281.6.E1172 PMID 11701431
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  4. Pharmacology of anabolic steroids, review

    Kicman, British Journal of Pharmacology, 2008

    DOI 10.1038/bjp.2008.165 PMID 18500378
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed

Trial registry

  1. Search for the single ester on ClinicalTrials.gov

    ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2
  2. Trials with the four-ester blend on ClinicalTrials.gov

    ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2

Database

  1. Product information of the four-ester testosterone blend (UK)

    electronic medicines compendium (emc), Zusammensetzung und Datum der ersten Zulassung

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via medicines.org.uk
  2. Mechanism of testosterone in ChEMBL

    ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI (CHEMBL386630)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ChEMBL

In the shop

Testosterone Phenylpropionate in the catalog

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