Episode 93 - Dr. Dean St Mart; Muscles, Minds, and Milligrams - Androgens!

Dr. Dean St Mark, a pharmacologist and product formulator for UK-based brand called Supplement Needs, brings his expertise on testosterone, PEDs, and their health implications to the podcast.

• TRT usage has shifted from older men to being prescribed for men in their mid-20s with hypogonadism
• Many users push beyond replacement therapy (800 ng/dL) into enhancement territory (1200+ ng/dL) 
• Androgens impact brain chemistry, creating psychological dependency through altered dopamine thresholds
• Female athletes face unique risks including potentially irreversible virilization effects like voice deepening
• Polypharmacy and arbitrary dosing based on gym advice rather than science increases health risks
• "FemTest" protocols inappropriately extrapolate safety data from PCOS patients to healthy female athletes
• Excessive size and muscle mass may contribute to early mortality in bodybuilders (40-60 years old)
• EPO can benefit endurance athletes but requires careful monitoring due to blood viscosity concerns

Find Dr. Dean St Mark on Instagram @DeanSTM.