Dr. Mike Jansen
Dr. Mike JansenCurious about MK-677 for women?
Are you looking for a science-based resource that answers all of your questions about women and MK-677 supplements?
Then you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we detail everything you need to know about MK-677 for women, including why many women in the fitness community are so excited about it.
We also answer your most important questions, including:
- What is MK-677?
- What are the benefits of MK-677?
- Is MK-677 dangerous for women?
- What does an ideal dose of MK-677 look like?
…And much more!
Our team has reviewed all of the latest studies on MK-677, so you know you are getting a science-based answer to all of your most important questions.
After reading this in-depth guide, you will have all the information you need to make an informed choice on whether or not to use MK-677, and what your ideal MK-677 cycle should look like.
Now let’s get started!
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What is MK-677?
Growth Hormone (GH) is a powerful substance responsible for carrying out various essential processes in the human body. It was first synthesized in 1985 to provide solutions for individuals suffering from a number of ailments, such as GH deficiency, osteoporosis, and muscle wasting [1].
Unfortunately, GH usage has plenty of drawbacks. It can be expensive, and in many countries, it can only be legally purchased with a doctor’s prescription.
In addition, GH must be stored at low temperatures, and can only be administered via injections.
MK-677 was then developed, with the goal of providing a more accessible and less risky alternative. In 1995, MK-677 was finally synthesized and produced by the Pharmaceutical Company “Reverse Pharmacology” under the trade name “Nutrobol”.
MK-677 might also be sold under the names ‘ibutamoren’ and ‘MK-0677’ [2].
While MK-677 has a lot in common with GH, it actually functions in a distinct manner, as it is a growth hormone secretagogue and ghrelin receptor agonist.
As the name suggests, a growth hormone secretagogue sends signals to the pituitary gland, which is a small pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus, to increase the endogenous secretion of GH and IGF-1.
Although GH still has its place in bodybuilding, many athletes have recently begun to favor taking MK-677 instead. This is because GH can be costly to run over an extended period of time.
Also, it’s much more convenient to ingest MK-677 orally, rather than having to take routine injections.
Additionally, MK-677 doesn’t require any special sort of storage, whereas GH must be maintained at low temperatures.
GH is secreted from the pituitary gland through several pulses on a daily basis, instead of all at once. When GH enters the bloodstream and makes its way through, the liver is then signaled to produce insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), another crucial hormone in our bodies which facilitates several metabolic effects.
To be clear, MK-677 doesn’t cause the number of GH pulses to increase. Instead, it stimulates a greater total 24 hour GH production rate [3].
In other words, ingesting MK-677 can strengthen and augment each GH pulsation that occurs in the body.
In addition to being a potent growth hormone secretagogue, MK-677 is also an oral ghrelin mimetic. Ghrelin is a hormone excreted by the stomach in order to regulate your appetite. This is another reason why MK-677 has become so popular with bodybuilders, as it can ramp up your appetite and thus increase your caloric intake [3].
MK-677 For Women
The majority of marketing for bodybuilding supplements tends to be geared towards men.
But you might be wondering…
- How does MK-677 affect women?
- Are the benefits of MK-677 different between men and women?
- Should women be concerned that MK-677 will have androgenic effects like with anabolic steroids, such as deepening of the voice and abnormally elevated levels of testosterone?
First of all, let us put your worries to rest. If you are a woman and you take MK-677, you will not have to be concerned with any of the above.
MK-677 is not androgenic, meaning it won’t cause your voice to deepen, or for excess body hair to grow.
In fact, MK-677 will not produce any of the negative side effects commonly seen with anabolic steroids, such as irritation, high blood pressure, and extreme hormonal fluctuations [4].
On the flipside, MK-677 can be just as beneficial to women as it is for men.
We can refer to several studies which have shown positive benefits for women from taking MK-677.
For instance, one study found that, in healthy postmenopausal women, growth hormone secretagogue supplementation improves libido without any adverse side effects.
Yet another study also provides evidence that MK-677 can improve libido, which involved a group of age-advanced women who took MK-677 for 4 months [5].
Also, as we’ll expand on shortly, MK-677 has been found to protect against catabolism, such as in a study of 27 women, 62 to 82 years old, which showed a decrease in fat and some protection against bone loss [6].
On top of all that, we can refer to one large study involving 292 women between the ages of 64 to 85 suffering from low femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD). The participants were randomly assigned to one of four daily regimens for 12 months involving varying doses of MK-677.
It was then found that MK-677 increased IGF-I levels by up to 45%. Researchers also report that BMD increased at the femoral neck by 4.2%, due to the fact that the growth hormone released as a result of taking MK-677 stimulates bone remodeling [2].
Is MK-677 Safe?
A lack of education about supplements can lead to the misconception that every powerful compound out there is a steroid or somehow dangerous.
In reality, there are plenty of bodybuilding supplements available that are not considered steroids at all, are completely legal to purchase over the counter, and produce little to no major adverse effects.
For example, GH is known to produce certain unpleasant side effects when taken improperly.
MK-677 Vs Growth Hormone
You might be wondering – is MK-677 safer than growth hormone? What side effects does MK-677 have?
In the case of MK-677, let us clear the air right off the bat by saying that MK-677 is not an anabolic steroid, nor is it a pro-hormone or a SARM.
In fact, MK-677 does not even bind to the body’s androgen receptors, which is how anabolic steroids function [7].
This means that the endocrine system isn’t directly affected at all by MK-677, whereas anabolic steroid use will temporarily halt natural testosterone production… and sometimes permanently stunt it.
With that said, it’s also unnecessary to take post-cycle therapy supplements with MK-677, otherwise abbreviated as PCT.
MK-677 Side Effects
If we dig into the side effects from MK-677, we’ll find a short list.
One of the most commonly reported side effects from MK-677 is lethargy, as is to be expected from any substance that increases your GH and IGF-1 levels, which leads to changes in blood sugar.
To avoid this side effect, we suggest taking the daily does of MK-677 before bed, as opposed to in the morning.
Another common side effect from MK-677, and higher levels of GH and IGF-1 in general, is water retention. Some muscle pain may also come about as an indirect side effect caused by intracellular water retention, which increases pressure on the joints and muscles.
Elevated blood sugar levels, and a subsequent crash, tends to be one of the more serious potential side effects from MK-677 and the increased IGF-1 levels that come as a result.
GH causes blood sugar levels to go up, which then causes the pancreas release insulin in order to restore blood sugar levels back to normal.
However, overall, several trials with MK-677 have shown almost no serious side effects in participants, both young and elderly. In general, MK-677 is safe to take as long as it is dosed in accordance with the guidelines. We would suggest starting with a low dose to evaluate how your body reacts to it, and then ramp up from there [8].
Is MK-677 Legal?
Both steroids and SARMs are listed as controlled substances in many parts of the world.
However, we’ve already made it clear that MK-677 is neither a SARM nor a steroid. Due to the claims made about its powerful effects, as well as how MK-677 is typically sold alongside SARMs, some might be led to believe that a substance like MK-677 is a controlled substance.
Even though MK-677 is often marketed as ‘legal growth hormone’, the same commercial restrictions are not applicable to MK-677 as they are with pure human growth hormone.
MK-677 is 100% legal and available to buy as an over-the-counter supplement.
It’s critical that this difference between MK-677 and other anabolics, such as steroids and SARMs, be taken into account.
Even though the purchase and use of MK-677 is not regulated in a number of countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, the rules are a bit different when it comes to professional sports.
The governing body responsible for deciding which substances can be allowed to be consumed in professional competitive sports, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), has banned MK-677 and placed it under category S2 of prohibited substances.
This means that athletes competing at the highest levels of sport, such as the Olympics or the IFBB, are not permitted to have MK-677 in their system when competing [9].
Best MK-677 Supplements | 2023 Edition
In order to provide you with the best recommendations on which online vendors have superior MK-677 products for sale, our team researched several different stores.
Ultimately, our team identified a legitimate and reputable vendor to buy MK-677 from: Chemyo. Here’s why:
- Certified customer reviews. Chemyo MK-677 has dozens of positive reviews from verified customers, which is already a stark indication that their product is legitimate and works as promised.
- Great shipping rates. Free shipping is also offered on domestic orders over $100, as well as for international orders over $275. However, Chemyo may not provide shipping to your country, so be sure to double check before placing your order.
- Certified lab reports. As an added bonus that sets Chemyo MK-677 apart from similar products on the market, you can view a number of up-to-date lab reports certifying the purity of Chemyo’s products, such as Chemyo MK-677.
- Product documentation. They provide full documentation for each product and batch, including IR, GC-MS, LC-MS and HLPC, as opposed to other companies that only provide a certificate of authenticity.
- Superior quality. Chemyo’s products are all produced in accordance with high standards of quality in an FDA-approved facility in the United States.
We strongly suggest purchasing two bottles of Chemyo MK-677, so that you’ll have enough to run a proper 3 month cycle.
You can visit them here to learn more and purchase Chemyo MK-677:
What are the Benefits of MK-677?
MK-677 was originally developed to prevent muscle and bone catabolism in elderly patients, as well as to provide an alternative treatment to GH for people experiencing GH deficiency.
While you might be wondering what the benefits of MK-677 are, it’s important that we also take a peek at what benefits can normally be gained just from GH and IGF-1, as MK-677 causes both of these substances to increase in the body.
In order to grow properly, the body requires sufficient levels of GH. In fact, the anti-aging properties of GH are particularly important, so much so that GH is often referred to as the “fountain of youth”.
Once people arrive at the age of 40, it is natural for GH levels to begin decreasing, which also leads to IGF-1 levels dropping.
What then tends to happen is that lean muscle catabolizes, and mortality increases [3].
Higher GH levels also lead to higher levels of fat metabolization, which decreases bodyfat levels. It can also produce an improvement in one’s complexion by tightening up loose skin, accelerate hair growth, improve sleeping patterns, and increase bone density, which can prevent fractures [10].
In terms of bodybuilding, GH promotes and increases protein synthesis, which allows more muscle to be built.
IGF-1 also serves an important role in muscle-building, since it supports cellular division (hyperplasia). This is extremely unique in that IGF-1 is the only hormone with the ability to induce brand new muscle cell growth via muscular cell division.
MK-677 is special because it can provide these benefits without inducing a lot of the adverse side effects normally associated with consuming exogenous GH.
Most importantly, you can expect to see improvements in both lean muscle mass and strength when taking MK-677 [8].
A number of studies have shown that MK-677 can increase IGF-1 levels by between 39-89%, which in turn causes muscles to grow in size. One research trial in particular found that healthy elderly subjects who consumed MK-677 achieved levels of IGF-1 and growth hormone secretion on par with levels seen in young adults.
As per its original intentions, numerous studies have shown that MK-677 has been effectively used in several cases to help medical patients recover from injuries.
For example, in one randomized, double-blind study that looked at 123 elderly hip fracture patients receiving 25mg/day of MK-677 or placebo, a much more rapid recovery was observed over the course of 4 weeks [2].
IGF-1 levels in treated patients increased by 51.4 ng/mL compared to placebo.
In conclusion, it was found that a daily dose of MK-677 stimulates bone turnover in the elderly based on elevations in biochemical markers of bone resorption and formation [8].
MK-677 can have positive effects on sleep, which in turn causes an elevated sense of well-being across the board.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 8 subjects between the ages of 18-30 was conducted to test this idea. Doses were 5 and 25 milligrams of MK-677 and matching placebo.
The high-dose MK-677 treatment resulted in an approximately 50% increase in the duration of stage IV and in a more than 20% increase in REM sleep as compared to placebo. Researchers also found that interruptions to normal sleep decreased from 42% under placebo to 8% under high-dose MK-677.
Ultimately, the participants in this study experienced much more restful sleep, as well as deep states of sleep for longer periods without interruptions [11].
MK-677 For Women | Overall
Based on all the information presented in this guide, we can come to a two-part conclusion.
Firstly, MK-677 is not any more harmful to women as it is to men, and will not cause any masculinizing effects in women, as can often be seen with anabolic steroids and even SARMs.
Secondly, MK-677 can actually be beneficial specifically for women in regards to elevating libido, enhancing recovery, and preventing muscle catabolism.
In other words, MK-677 works just as well for women, as it does for men!
MK-677 is available to purchase legally as an over-the-counter sports supplement which can produce a number of benefits seen with regular steroids, without having to deal with a number of adverse side effects.
If you have been considering conducting your own research on growth hormone secretagogues like MK-677, then we recommend picking up a few bottles of Chemyo MK-677.
They submit all of their products through rigorous 3rd-party testing protocols, so you know you are getting one of the purest products available anywhere in the world.
So what are you waiting for?
Pick up a bottle of Chemyo MK-677 today and get the body you always dreamed of!