Vinyltestosterone is a relatively weak AAS.[2][4][5] In one study, it showed approximately one-third and one-fifth of the respective androgenic and anabolic activity of other AAS such as nandrolone (19-nortestosterone), methyltestosterone (17α-methyltestosterone), and ethyltestosterone (17α-ethyltestosterone) in castrated male rats, whereas ethisterone (17α-ethynyltestosterone) showed almost no androgenic and anabolic activity (only 1/20 the anabolic potency of vinyltestosterone).[4] Additionally, in women with metastatic breast cancer, vinyltestosterone was found to be ineffective in treating the disease (unlike other AAS such as testosterone propionate or fluoxymesterone)[6] and produced little or no virilization in the women at a dosage of 100 mg intramuscularly three times per week.[5][7][8]
^ abLewis RA, DeMAJO S, Rosemberg E (December 1949). "The effects of 17-vinyl testosterone upon the rat adrenal". Endocrinology. 45 (6): 564–570. doi:10.1210/endo-45-6-564. PMID15402199.
^ abSaunders FJ, Drill VA (May 1956). "The myotrophic and androgenic effects of 17-ethyl-19-nortestosterone and related compounds". Endocrinology. 58 (5): 567–572. doi:10.1210/endo-58-5-567. PMID13317831.
^ abSchedl HP, Delea C, Bartter FC (August 1959). "Structure-activity relationships of anabolic steroids: role of the 19-methyl group". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 19 (8): 921–935. doi:10.1210/jcem-19-8-921. PMID14442516. 17α-Vinyltestosterone in large doses manifested weak myotropic and androgenic activities in castrated male rats (1) and proved to be ineffective in the therapy of patients with metastatic breast cancer, in whom it had little or no virilizing effect at a dosage level of 100 mg. intramuscularly three times a week (18).
^Drill VA (17 September 2013). "Physiology and Pharmacology of Steroids Affecting Tumor Growth". In Pincus G, Vollmer EP (eds.). Biological Activities of Steroids in Relation to Cancer: Proceedings of a Conference Sponsored by the Cancer Chemotherapy National Service Center, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Elsevier Science. pp. 26–. ISBN978-1-4832-7057-9.
^Schedl HP, Delea C, Bartter FC (August 1959). "Structure-activity relationships of anabolic steroids: role of the 19-methyl group". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 19 (8): 921–935. doi:10.1210/jcem-19-8-921. PMID14442516.