Androgens
Tetrahydrogestrinone
A designer steroid with potent, multi-receptor activity in laboratory models, not a selective muscle-only effect.
Receptor bioassays and animal pharmacology; evidence checked 2026-10-01
Also known as: THG
Practical use
Evidence interpretation and concrete review questions
- Specify the assay
- Ask whether the number describes binding or functional activation.
- Keep other pathways visible
- Read progesterone and glucocorticoid findings alongside androgen effects.
- Avoid numerical safety rankings
- These experiments cannot identify a safer human regimen.
Androgen and progestin activity
Overview
Tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG, is a distinct steroid related structurally to gestrinone. Its activity was examined in receptor assays and animal experiments; different assay systems do not necessarily produce the same potency ranking.
Risks and limitations
Preclinical findings include activity beyond androgen signaling and altered liver glucocorticoid-related gene expression. These raise mechanistic concerns without establishing a human toxicity rate or safe exposure.
How to read this
A binding-affinity headline should be separated from functional signaling, organ effects and clinical outcomes.
Research explained
Androgen and progestin activity
Who was studied
Yeast-based reporter systems expressing human androgen, progesterone and estrogen receptors.
What was found
THG showed potent androgen and progestin activity, without estrogenic activity in those assays.
What it cannot establish
Engineered yeast assays establish signaling properties, not clinical benefit or safety.
Read the original studyBroader receptor and organ effects
Who was studied
Receptor-binding studies plus experiments in castrated rats.
What was found
THG bound several steroid receptor classes and stimulated androgen-sensitive organs. A liver glucocorticoid-responsive gene was downregulated.
What it cannot establish
Binding is not equivalent to the same functional action at every receptor; animal effects cannot be converted into a human risk ratio.
Read the original studyNo estrogen signal is not global selectivity
Other hormone receptors remained relevant to THG’s experimental profile.
Supporting sourcePotency depends on the assay
Receptor binding, reporter activation and animal organ growth measure different things.
Supporting sourceClaims versus findings
Incorrect
An androgen-receptor effect means the compound acts only on muscle.
The experimental profile included other receptors and organs.
Check the evidenceCommon questions
Does a human receptor in yeast count as a human trial?
No. The receptor is human-derived; the experimental system is yeast.
SourceSources
Androgen and progestin activity
Broader receptor and organ effects
PubChem chemical identity; checked October 1, 2026
Sources checked 2026-10-01.
General education; not a personal treatment plan.