Methyltestosterone is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid derived from testosterone, primarily used to treat male hypogonadism, delayed puberty in males, and certain hormone-responsive conditions. Chemically modified with a methyl group at the 17-alpha position, it is orally active, unlike natural testosterone, which is rapidly metabolized in the liver. Developed in the 1930s following the isolation and synthesis of testosterone, methyltestosterone became one of the first orally effective androgenic agents, offering a practical solution for hormone replacement therapy. Over the decades, it has been used to restore normal androgen levels, promote secondary male sexual characteristics, and manage specific medical conditions, while also occasionally being misused in sports and bodybuilding due to its anabolic effects.
