Methyl 1-Testosterone, Chemical Structure
Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone or other anabolic/androgenic steroids that promote tissue growth and development [5]. While they are typically only prescribed by medical professionals for hormone replacement therapy in conditions like delayed puberty, certain types are available without a prescription through black market channels for nonmedical purposes like performance enhancement. Generally speaking, the effects of this drug class on lipid profiles (i.e., HDL/LDL cholesterol) is nominal at best; however, users will likely experience significant changes in lipoprotein profiles. Thus, how does Winstrol affect your lipid profiles?
Winstrol, also known as Stanozolol, is an anabolic steroid that cannot be aromatized into estrogen-like other steroids. It has an extremely low affinity for Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). Thus its effects on muscle tissue are not affected by increases or decreases in the bound/free fractions of Testosterone and Estrogen [6]. Additionally, Winstrol binds very weakly to the Androgen Receptor (AR), reducing the risk of side effects commonly associated with other steroids, including hair loss, acne, prostate hypertrophy, etc. The lack of AR binding also means that those who take this drug will experience little to no inhibition of endogenous Testosterone production. One of the most substantial benefits of using this steroid is that it does not cause any adverse side effects from enzyme inhibition in muscle tissue, such as gynecomastia and water retention [7].
Winstrol is a viral drug among bodybuilders for its lack of aromatization, non-toxic nature, low hepatotoxicity, low virilization rate, etc. In addition, Stanozolol has also been shown to have a large number of medical applications, including treating delayed puberty in boys [8], treating osteoporosis in women [9], increasing hemoglobin/hematocrit levels with intravenous administration before surgery or competition (to increase oxygen-carrying capacity) [10], and reversing the side effects of anabolic steroid use [11].
Stanozolol, Chemical Structure
As mentioned previously, Winstrol has a unique makeup that makes it somewhat unique among other drugs in its class. While most steroids comprise 19-nor sterane rings, this drug consists of a pyrazole ring on the A-ring structure at positions 1 and 3 [6]. This chemical modification can pose a few unique benefits to users, including higher resistance to metabolic breakdown by competing enzymes [6] and increased glucocorticoid receptor affinity [12]; however, some detriments are associated with this modified structure. For example, because Winstrol has such a high affinity for enzymes involved in glucocorticoid metabolism, it can lower endogenous levels of cortisol. This can be positive and negative for users; however, low-stress hormone levels may cause fatigue, depression, cardiovascular strain (linked to lowered cardiac output), etc.
Winstrol is one of the few anabolic steroids that does not aromatize into estrogen-like testosterone derivatives. Therefore, there are no concerns with estrogenic side effects commonly associated with other hormonal drug classes, including gynecomastia/water retention/BLOAT! However, Winstrol does have a slight binding affinity to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), resulting in increased circulating free fractions of estrogen [6]. This may be a good thing for those who respond poorly to aromatizing drugs (i.e., high blood pressure, severe fatigue, etc.) and/or desire minimal Estrogen related side effects; however, it is essential to remember that this drug does still have some negative ramifications associated with SHBG binding including decreased anabolic activity in muscle tissue [13].
Winstrol’s chemical makeup leaves it with little first-pass metabolism, which means it has very low hepatotoxicity compared to other steroids. However, even though Stanozolol liver toxicity is minimal at best, there are still several precautions one should take when administering the drug. First of all, Winstrol is 17-alpha alkylated, meaning that its metabolic breakdown is sped up over 19-nor compounds, which can cause problems during administration. This is why oral Stanozolol should only be used for brief periods (8-12 weeks max), especially by non-smokers. In addition, when dealing with 17-aa anabolic steroids, the hepatic function should always be closely monitored. This is because the drug’s metabolism will continue to buildup within liver cells until enzyme levels are overwhelmed, resulting in notable stress that can lead to severe damage over time.
Leaning out on Winstrol
Winstrol Side Effects
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Stanozolol has several other adverse side effects associated with its use, including increased LDL cholesterol levels [14] and decreased HDL cholesterol levels [15]. Because of these undesirable changes, users may be at a greater risk of developing atherosclerosis and/or experiencing other cardiovascular-related issues.
As mentioned previously, Winstrol is a drug that does not aromatize into estrogen, which will eliminate water retention and bloating for most users; however, some users may still experience slight edema formation even without having any additional aromatizing steroidal compounds being used. This can be due to several factors, including differences in body type (i.e., mesomorphs vs. ectomorphs), level of physical activity, etc.; however, it should not be a concern as the condition should disappear shortly after discontinuation of use. Because Stanozolol will promote nitrogen conservation, it can also cause an increase in blood pressure levels [16].
Winstrol has also been shown to have some progestogenic properties [17], increasing the severity of gynecomastia in males predisposed to the condition. As such, males who are sensitive to this side effect must keep their dosage levels under control and limit the use of the steroid to short periods. Due to Winstrol’s ability to inhibit SHBG, users may experience an increase in free testosterone levels while using the drug; however, there are more efficient choices for increasing free testosterone through inhibition of SHBG (i.e., HCG). The increased level of circulating free fractions will also lower protein binding, causing a shift towards albumin protein binding, which is not desirable if blood protein levels are low.
WINSTROL SIDE EFFECTS: MALE VERSUS FEMALE USERS
Winstrol is a popular anabolic steroid, but due to its high degree of androgenicity, users need to be very careful when administering it. In addition, many believe that this drug is suitable for both genders. Still, the truth is that females should only use mild doses if they choose to use at all, as it can cause virilization issues which may even occur with the mildest dosages if they do not have a low enough level of SHBG.
Males, on average, have much higher levels of SHBG compared to women, so it is relatively uncommon for them to experience such issues unless they incorporate aromatizing compounds into their cycles. Even with the aromatizing combinations, however, Winstrol is still one of the milder options for hepatoxicity, making it a popular choice for many athletes looking to stack multiple different anabolic steroids in their cycles without adding too much stress to the body.
While some possible side effects are specific to male users, they are less common than in female users, who will be more likely to experience virilization symptoms even at very low dosages. This is because females have low levels of SHBG and therefore don’t need large amounts of Stanozolol for its metabolites to suppress not only natural testosterone production but also lower protein binding, leading to increased free fractions while simultaneously inhibiting endogenous SHBG production.
All in all, males have a greater risk of experiencing side effects. Still, it is relatively easy to control these issues compared to females so long as they tailor the dose to their individual needs and remain particularly cautious when aromatizing compounds are used.
Stanozolol Side Effects for Women
Testosterone-based anabolic steroids are the most commonly used performance enhancers in female athletics, but another drug has grown in popularity over the last few years.
Stanozolol, more popularly known as Winstrol, is very similar to testosterone in its characteristics and effects.
The only significant differences are that it doesn’t aromatize into estrogen and has a lower tendency to produce hepatotoxic effects because of its 17aa modification.
Winstrol’s anabolic rating of 320 is between that of Dianabol (an oral steroid with properties similar to testosterone) at 320 and Anadrol (another synthetic anabolic steroid with properties like testosterone but four times as vital) at 500+.
Winstrol Side Effects for Men
Winstrol is a commonly abused anabolic steroid, one of the most popularly used products on the market today.
It is no surprise that there are potential side effects from using it, and thankfully they can be easily avoided if a few common-sense rules are followed during your cycle.
The first thing to know about this drug is that it doesn’t aromatize into estrogen but rather into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which has a strong binding affinity with the receptor sites. Therefore, it can be challenging to treat gynecomastia alone with Winstrol because stopping estrogen production isn’t sufficient to combat the end-organization buildup. Instead, it would be necessary to use a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) such as Nolvadex or Clomid to combat this problem.
The next thing worth mentioning is that hepatotoxicity can occur if you fail to take the proper precautions during your cycle. This means avoiding 17aa oral steroids at all costs, sticking to low doses, staying away from combination products containing 17aa derivatives and Stanozolol, using the minimum adequate quantity possible, avoiding long cycles, and taking milk thistle extract during your cycle.
The level of hepatotoxicity is mainly dependent upon the individual user, as some people are simply less likely to experience liver problems. However, if you fall into this category, that doesn’t mean you should take the drug without caution. It is still essential to be cautious during your cycle because it takes only one high-dose oral ingestion before the damage occurs.
