Dihydroboldenone
Also known as: DHB, 1-Testosterone, 1-Test, Dihydroboldenone, 1-Testosterone Cypionate, 1-Testosterone Enanthate, Delta-1-Dihydrotestosterone
Lower numbers = closer to natural. Higher numbers = more enhanced.
Why this rating?
DHB (1-testosterone) is a potent, non-aromatizing injectable that produces strong lean, dry mass and hardness. Bodybuilding lore commonly markets it as "anabolic-dominant" with a 200:100 ratio versus testosterone, but the one real pharmacology study on it (Friedel et al. 2006, rats) actually found 1-testosterone equipotent to testosterone at both anabolic (muscle) and androgenic (prostate/seminal vesicle) endpoints, i.e. no demonstrated anabolic:androgenic dissociation. Regardless of the exact ratio, the quality of gains, degree of suppression and harsh side-effect profile clearly place users beyond natural limits. Rated 8: a serious compound, but not a mass monster on the level of trenbolone or the strongest orals.
Overview
A non-aromatizing injectable steroid (the 5-alpha-reduced metabolite of boldenone/Equipoise) prized for strong, lean, dry gains and strength. Its reputation is defined as much by brutal post-injection pain and harsh effects on lipids and endurance as by its results.
Important Warnings
- •Expect severe post-injection pain, trial a low dose before committing to a cycle
- •Harsh on lipids and cardiovascular endurance: not ideal if conditioning matters
- •Always run a testosterone base: DHB makes no estrogen and suppresses your own
- •Finasteride/dutasteride cannot protect hair here. DHB is already 5-alpha-reduced
Purpose & Use Cases
Lean, Dry Mass
Adds quality muscle and strength without estrogenic water retention, giving a hard, dense look.
Strength & Density
Users report notable strength and muscle hardness, useful in both lean bulks and cutting phases.
Estrogen-Free Anabolism
Chosen when someone wants strong gains with zero aromatization and no gyno/water risk.
Benefits
- Strong lean, dry muscle gains
- No aromatization: no estrogenic water retention or gyno
- Marked strength and muscle hardness/density
- Not progestogenic (no prolactin sides)
- Hard, defined look without bloat
Good to Know
Non-aromatizing means no estrogen, good and bad
The 1,2 double bond blocks aromatase, so DHB cannot make estrogen: no gyno, no bloat, no need for an AI. But estrogen is also what protects libido, mood, joints and cholesterol, so an estrogen-free androgen run solo tends to feel flat and wreck lipids. That is exactly why DHB is run over a testosterone base rather than on its own.
Not progestogenic: unlike the 19-nors
Despite being non-aromatizing, DHB is NOT a progestin. It carries none of the prolactin/progesterone side effects of nandrolone or trenbolone, so there is no need for cabergoline or P5P on DHB alone. Its problems are lipids, endurance and injection pain, not prolactin.
Finasteride does nothing here
DHB is the 5-alpha-reduced metabolite of boldenone. It is already past the step finasteride/dutasteride act on. There is no testosterone-to-DHT conversion left to block, so a 5-AR inhibitor cannot soften its androgenic effects, the same as for Masteron, Winstrol and other already-reduced compounds.
The PIP is the headline drawback
DHB is infamous for brutal post-injection pain, often peaking a day or two after the shot and sometimes bad enough to interfere with training and walking. Lower concentrations, longer esters, larger muscles and blending with better-tolerated compounds are the usual workarounds, but many people simply cannot tolerate it.
It crushes endurance and lipids
Two practical realities keep DHB niche: it tanks cardiovascular endurance much like trenbolone, and it is hard on HDL cholesterol. If your sport or goals need conditioning, or your lipids are already borderline, DHB is a poor choice regardless of how lean the gains look.
Not oral-liver-toxic, but not proven clean either
DHB is not 17-alpha-alkylated, so it lacks the oral-steroid liver mechanism seen with Anadrol or Dianabol. However, a 2006 animal study (Friedel et al., Toxicology Letters) found that injected 1-testosterone increased liver weight in rats, unlike testosterone propionate at an equivalent dose, a finding with no confirmed human follow-up. Periodic liver panels are a sensible precaution rather than a proven necessity.
Dosage Guidelines
| Experience Level | Dosage Range |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 200 – 300 mg/week |
| Intermediate | 300 – 400 mg/week |
| Advanced | 400 – 500 mg/week |
Start low to gauge post-injection pain and endurance impact before scaling. Always run over a testosterone base. High-concentration or short-ester versions tend to hurt the most.
The half-life is ester-dependent; the un-esterified base is very short-acting.
Side Effects
Severe Post-Injection Pain (PIP)
very commonDHB is notorious for intense injection-site pain that often peaks 24-72 hours after the shot and can be debilitating enough to disrupt training and daily movement.
Use lower concentrations, larger muscles, longer esters, and consider cutting/blending with a well-tolerated carrier oil. Some users pre-mix with a painless compound. Frequent small doses can spread the pain out.
Poor Endurance / Conditioning
very commonLike trenbolone, DHB is frequently reported to crush cardiovascular endurance, users feel winded quickly during conditioning work.
Keep doses moderate; maintain cardio; do not stack with other endurance-killing compounds if conditioning matters.
Lipid Deterioration
very commonStrongly suppresses HDL and worsens the cholesterol profile, as with most non-aromatizing androgens; cardiovascular risk rises with duration.
Omega-3 and citrus bergamot, cardio, moderate doses, and regular full lipid panels. Keep cycles reasonable in length.
HPTA Suppression
very commonA strong androgen that meaningfully suppresses natural testosterone, requiring a testosterone base and full PCT.
Run a testosterone base, consider hCG, and complete a proper SERM PCT after the ester clears.
Androgenic Effects (acne, hair loss in the predisposed)
commonA potent androgen at the receptor, so acne and accelerated hair loss are possible in sensitive individuals.
Good skin hygiene; note that as an already 5-alpha-reduced compound, finasteride does nothing here.
General Mitigation Strategies
Expect and plan for post-injection pain. Use lower concentrations, longer esters and larger muscles. Support lipids (omega-3, citrus bergamot, cardio) and monitor a full lipid panel, since DHB is hard on HDL. Always run a testosterone base to preserve libido and provide the estrogen DHB never makes. Note that finasteride/dutasteride are useless here. DHB is already 5-alpha-reduced, so there is no conversion to block.
Support Supplements
Ancillary supplements commonly run alongside Dihydroboldenone to manage side effects, support the target tissue, or fill nutrient demands it creates.
Testosterone base
KeyDHB provides zero estrogen and strongly suppresses natural testosterone; a testosterone base preserves libido, mood, joints and lipids that would otherwise crash on an estrogen-free androgen.
- Dose
- At least a replacement dose (typically equal to or above the DHB dose)
- Timing
- Throughout the cycle
- When
- Strongly advised: running DHB solo tends to flatten libido and mood because there is no estrogen at all.
Lipid support (omega-3 + citrus bergamot)
KeyDHB notably suppresses HDL; omega-3 lowers triglycerides and citrus bergamot lowers LDL via statin-like flavonoids.
- Dose
- Omega-3 2-4 g/day; citrus bergamot 500-1,000 mg/day
- Timing
- With meals
- When
- Especially important given DHB's harsh lipid effect and any stacked dry compounds.
Blood pressure support (telmisartan / low-dose tadalafil)
Manages cycle-related BP rise; tadalafil also supports erectile function and endothelial health.
- Dose
- Telmisartan 20-40 mg/day; tadalafil 2.5-5 mg/day
- Timing
- Daily; titrate to readings
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
DHB is strongly suppressive and non-aromatizing, so restoring natural testosterone is the goal (estrogen rebound is not a concern). Start timing by ester (~2 weeks after the last long-ester pin, ~3-4 days after propionate) then run a standard SERM PCT (e.g. Nolvadex 40/40/20/20mg/day). hCG on-cycle or pre-PCT helps testicular recovery. Confirm rebound with bloodwork (LH, FSH, total/free testosterone).
How It Works
DHB is 5-alpha-dihydroboldenone, boldenone with a saturated A-ring, structurally a 1-ene androgen in which the double bond blocks aromatase, so it cannot convert to estrogen. It is a strong androgen-receptor agonist that drives protein synthesis and nitrogen retention through a potent, estrogen-free signalling profile. The marketed "anabolic-dominant" claim is not well supported by the limited pharmacology data (see the anabolic:androgenic ratio note below).
Hormonal & Androgenic Profile
Bodybuilding lore commonly cites ~200:100 relative to testosterone (anabolic-dominant), but the only real pharmacology data, a 2006 rat study (Friedel et al., Toxicology Letters), found 1-testosterone equipotent to testosterone propionate at both the anabolic (levator ani muscle) and androgenic (prostate, seminal vesicle) endpoints tested, i.e. no demonstrated dissociation. The 200:100 figure appears to trace to prohormone-era marketing rather than data.
Does not aromatize, no AI needed. The flip side is that DHB provides NONE of estrogen's benefits (libido, mood, joint comfort, favourable lipids), which is a key reason it is run over a testosterone base rather than solo.
DHB is already a 5-alpha-reduced androgen (the saturated A-ring of boldenone), so 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors like finasteride/dutasteride do nothing. There is no testosterone-to-DHT step to block. Its androgenic hair/skin effects cannot be mitigated with 5-AR inhibitors, same logic as the DHT-derivative steroids.
Harsh on lipids (strongly suppresses HDL) and, like trenbolone, tends to hurt cardiovascular endurance. No estrogenic water retention, but monitor lipids and BP closely.
Fundamentals
Reference on the practices relevant to Dihydroboldenone: how they are done and where they go wrong. Not a recommendation to use it.
Common Stacks
- DHB + Testosterone - Lean, dry mass base
- DHB + Testosterone + Masteron - Hard, dry cutting/recomp stack
- DHB + Testosterone + Anavar - Strength and hardness with minimal water
Legal Status
Schedule III controlled substance (USA); sold historically as the "1-testosterone" prohormone.
Legal status varies by country and changes over time. This is a general summary, not legal advice.
WADA Status
Dihydroboldenone (1-testosterone) is prohibited at all times as an anabolic androgenic steroid.