PEDs for Women 101: The Ultimate Guide

So you’re female and thinking about jumping into the world of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs)? A few decades ago, you would have been in a tiny minority of hardcore professionals. Nowadays, PED use among women has increased exponentially!

But that doesn’t mean you jump on the bandwagon with no research, no knowledge, no plan. Nope. You MUST know what you’re getting into before you start taking anything.

But first, I must clear this up. One of the big questions I’m asked both from women AND guys who have partners who are considering using steroids, SARMs, or other PEDs is this: “Will I/she turn into a man?“

The answer is a clear NO. It’s not possible to “turn into” a man, even by taking anabolic steroids. But women can indeed develop traits that we can only describe as masculine. That’s when androgenic substances are used and abused inappropriately.

But you know what?

That can all be avoided. Every day, females maintain their feminine appearance while using powerful PEDs. You need to know how to do it properly. This guide will cover all of the information you need to know about the best anabolic steroids (AAS), SARMs, and other PEDs for women and how to use them with minimal risk. Let’s jump in!

Steroids for Women: The Hard Truth

There are very few anabolic steroids that we could call female-friendly. The majority of female PED users want to avoid (or at least minimize as much as possible) masculinization symptoms. So that leaves you with four primary anabolic steroids to consider using as a woman:

• Anavar (Oxandrolone)
• Primobolan ( Methenolone)
• Equipoise (Boldenone)
• Winstrol (Stanozolol)

Just like males who want to avoid using particular steroids that are more androgenic and can raise the risk of hair loss, women will gravitate towards those same compounds with lower androgenic effects (the cause of masculine traits developing).

But unlike men who will gain little muscle with these “milder” steroids, women will find that these are more than powerful enough to promote nice muscle gains, along with fat loss and performance benefits.

But wait, let me tell you something else: Most of these steroids can be combined in a stack of two compounds; that’s if you’re a hardcore user who wants next-level results! This will raise the risk of masculine features appearing (plus any other side effects), so you need to weigh up those negatives versus positives before diving into a stack.

But if you’re brand new, then always stick with one at a time and see how you go! Train hard, use steroids sensibly, and you WILL NOT turn into a man! What you will do is enhance your body to a level that you never thought possible!

So, where to buy AAS? Here are my top picks:

Anavar (Oxandrolone)

Anavar is what you might call THE female steroid. Many people categorize Anavar as the best steroid for women to use. It’s undoubtedly the most popular anabolic steroid with female athletes of different types.

But if you’re new to all this, you might be surprised to learn that Anavar is derived from DHT. Despite this, Anavar does NOT come with the potent androgenic side effects of most other DHT-derived steroids.

What it does do is this:

• Promote lean muscle mass gains
• Promote gains in strength
• Make it easier and faster to lose fat and achieve a toned physique

Anavar is not without side effect risks – no steroid is risk-free. At doses anywhere above the female recommended range of 5-10mg/day, virilization is undoubtedly a possibility. Some women can be sensitive enough at those low doses to experience unwanted effects, but as long as you reduce the dose or stop using Anavar, they should go away alone.

Benefits of Running Anavar

As the single most popular anabolic steroid for females, you can be confident that Anavar comes with significant benefits. I can assure you that we would have known LONG ago if Anavar was useless for women. A steroid doesn’t become as widely used as this for no reason.

So let’s check out the top benefits of running Anavar as a female bodybuilder, athlete, and physique competitor:

• Noticeable muscle gains (remember: even moderate gains will make a big difference to the female physique) – 8lbs or more in muscle gain is possible with the proper training and diet
• Harder, denser muscle mass
• Incredible strength gains
• Increases the metabolism so you burn fat more efficiently and faster
• Retain your existing muscle when dieting/cutting
• More endurance and stamina during training
• Decreases your recovery time between training sessions
• Typically safe to use for up to 12 weeks at low doses with minimal impact on the liver compared to other orals

The Negatives of Anavar

You can’t escape the fact that ANY anabolic steroid can come with negatives. But the good news is that you can get away with little to no risk of virilizing development when you use Anavar at the low dosage range I recommend below. And as a female, those are the things you’ll be aiming to avoid.

In any case, if any of these adverse effects do start to develop, you have two options:

• Discontinue using Anavar immediately and see those virilizing side effects subside and disappear.
• Or, if there’s room to lower your dosage, do that and monitor the symptoms.

OK, here are the main negatives to watch out for with Anavar:

• Virilizing signs: body hair growth, deepened voice, clitoral growth, decreased breast size
• Headaches, nausea, stomach upset
• Menstrual irregularities (not a cause for stopping use in most cases, as they will return to normal after your Anavar cycle)
• Liver enzyme changes (rarely serious at low doses, and should return to normal post cycle)

Anavar Cycle for Women

How long should females use Anavar?

The recommended cycle length is in the 6-8 week range for best results while minimizing virilization risk. If it’s your first Anavar cycle, six weeks at 5mg to 10mg is a perfect introduction to this steroid. More experienced females can attempt an 8-week cycle. You can start at 10mg for the first six weeks, then boost the dose to 15-20mg for the final two weeks to ramp up your results.

The maximum dosage for women who want to avoid virilization is 20mg. But you won’t necessarily ever need to take 20mg if you’re seeing excellent results at 10mg or even 15mg. Always start at the lowest dosage recommendation, evaluate your response, and then increase the dosage if you respond well and want more powerful results.

Primobolan (Methenolone)

Primobolan is another steroid derived from DHT, which is relatively female-friendly at lower doses. And those lower doses? They should allow you as a female user to avoid androgenic side effects of a virilizing nature. Still, as always, you should be open to experimenting with different dosages and lowering it if required – depending on your tolerance of side effects.

There are two forms of Primobolan:

• Oral
• Injectable (Primobolan Depot)

This is one of the milder steroids and one that men will see little benefit in using for muscle gains, but the potential for women is entirely different. Females on Primobolan will find its anabolic effects excellent, with impressive lean gains and reduced body fat – precise results will depend on your diet and workouts.

Benefits of Running Primobolan

• Lean muscle gains
• Efficient fat burning
• Protecting existing muscle tissue on a calorie deficit
• Strength, endurance, and recovery boost
• There is a low risk of virilization when low dosages are used.

The Negatives of Primobolan

• Liver toxicity (oral Primobolan only)
• Negative changes to cholesterol
• Menstrual irregularities (temporary while on cycle)

Primobolan Cycle for Women

25mg to 50mg per day is a good starting point for new female users of Primobolan. This allows you to evaluate your tolerance and response to a low dose. Cycle length should be limited to no more than six weeks. But even a short 4-week cycle (of oral Primobolan) will be effective.

Another option is to maintain that lower dosage range of Primo while stacking it with Anavar (also at a low dosage) for combined effects. If you intend to use injectable Primo, a maximum dosage of 100mg should be the upper limit to avoid virilization. But again, a stack with Anavar and low-dose Primobolan will almost always yield better results and reduced virilization side effects.

Equipoise (Boldenone)

Equipoise is a testosterone-derived anabolic steroid, and it’s another one that female bodybuilders and other athletes often use.

Equipoise is an injectable steroid only, which can be a hurdle for women who have never used injectables before and who prefer the oral choices of Anavar or Primobolan.

Nevertheless, if females are willing to inject, Equipoise can deliver some lovely, steady gains in lean muscle over a longer cycle at low doses. It’s generally well tolerated by women, providing an excellent introduction to steroids. You do need to run a longer cycle with Equipoise due to its long half-life of about 15 days, resulting in a slower onset of effects in the early stages.

Benefits of Running Equipoise

• Protection from muscle loss while dieting
• Boosts muscular endurance and recovery
• Strength increase
• Slow and steady lean mass gains
• Low androgenic strength minimizes the risk of virilization
• Increased appetite in some users

The Negatives of Equipoise

While the risk of virilizing effects is relatively low with Equipoise (provided your dosage is not excessive), if those signs do start to develop, they will take longer to subside. Why? The long half-life of Equipoise means it takes longer to exit your system. This is another good reason to start with a very low dose if it’s your first time using this steroid.

• Very slow acting
• Virilization is possible at higher doses
• It may stress the kidneys

Equipoise Cycle for Women

The range of 50mg to 100mg per week is suitable for most females to enjoy the benefits while reducing the negatives to a minimal or non-existent level. A cycle of 6 weeks at a bare minimum is needed to get the most from Equipoise due to its slow-acting nature.

But you can use this steroid up to 12-16 weeks at low doses – keep watch for those virilizing symptoms over that length of time, particularly if you’re taking a dosage at the higher end of the range above.

Winstrol (Stanozolol)

Women can use Winstrol at very low doses for short periods with minimal virilization risk. This steroid will typically place you at a higher risk of virilization if you decide that the low dose isn’t enough – its androgenic (virilizing) effects are going to be more pronounced than Anavar, Primobolan, and Equipoise.

Females will generally find the other steroids detailed above are better options if gaining lean muscle is the primary goal. However, Winstrol is exceptional in other areas, particularly improving performance and cutting and dieting, where the main goal is to achieve a very lean, dry, hard, and defined physique.

Benefits of Running Winstrol

• Increases strength, power, and speed
• Promotes fat loss, muscle definition, and enhanced vascularity
• Improve tendon and bone strength

The Negatives of Winstrol

Apart from virilization, Winstrol is well known for its negative impact on the cardiovascular and liver systems. These are two additional reasons why limiting your use of Winstrol to short cycles is wise.

• Higher virilization risk than the other steroids above at anywhere above minimum dosage (deep voice, hair growth, breast size reduction)
• Reduces HDL cholesterol and increases LDL cholesterol
• Hepatotoxic: Oral Winstrol will stress the liver temporarily
• Joint pain or discomfort

Winstrol Cycle for Women

Winstrol is quite a potent steroid; therefore, females don’t require large doses to see exceptional results. In fact, keeping your dosage of Winstrol as low as possible will provide the dual reward of excellent results combined with very limited side effects (potentially allowing you to get away with zero side effects).

5mg per day of oral Winstrol is ideal for most females. Few will ever need to take any more than that. Some females are known to take 10mg and have it tolerated, but be prepared for some side effects to develop. If, for whatever reason, you want to go with injectable Winstrol over oral (perhaps to avoid liver toxicity), 20mg every four days is an ideal dose.

Whichever form of Winstrol you take, the recommended cycle length is four weeks, with six weeks being the maximum.

Factors to Consider When Using AAS

Are you female and have NEVER used a single anabolic steroid in your life? Well, you don’t want to jump in without serious consideration. By now, you should know a lot about the risks. And while you won’t “turn into a man,” 99.9% of females WILL want to avoid any masculinity… and especially irreversible effects.

The good news is you CAN use anabolic steroids as a female and enjoy the benefits. You have to know what you’re doing: Liver and cardiovascular issues are always a concern with (some) steroids, but as a female, your big focus is going to be on virilizing side effects.

I want you to know all about the main factors that contribute to the development of virilizing effects as a female steroid user. So here are the three most important factors of anabolic steroids (and how you use them) that will determine the severity of virilization that you experience:

The Androgenic Strength

The ratio of anabolic to androgenic effects will be a primary factor in how fast virilization effects can develop in women. When the androgenic rating is high, you can expect those symptoms to become noticeable early on in a cycle rapidly. This is why it’s critically important to maintain a low dosage of steroids, which have more powerful androgenic effects.

And if you are stacking two steroids, their combined androgenic strength will compound this factor even further. In short, you should know the androgenic rating of any anabolic steroid you intend to take and keep this in mind when you plan your dosages.

Dosage

As your dosage of anabolic steroids increases, the likelihood of developing virilization also increases in proportion to the dosage. Yes, this will depend upon the potency of each steroid in terms of just how severe the virilization will be.

The speed at which these virilization effects manifest is also going to be proportional. This applies to even the mildest of compounds as well, simply because the more androgen receptors being activated throughout the body (as a result of the higher dose), the greater your chance of developing those unwanted masculine traits.

Cycle Length

Without a doubt, the longer you use any steroid, the higher the chance those virilization signs are going to rear their head. Maintaining levels of male hormones in the body for increasing lengths of time provides the environment for those physiological changes to continue to advance in severity rather than being cut off and reversed when you stop taking a steroid. And that’s just one side of the story…

The stronger the androgenic rating of the steroid, the shorter your cycle should theoretically be if you’re going to prevent virilization. This is why steroids like Winstrol are specifically recommended to be used at a shorter cycle length than one such as Anavar.

So, what can you do to reduce the risk to a minimum? The best strategy is a simple one: Beginners and first-time female steroid users should start using the lowest (but still effective) dosage on a compound-by-compound basis. Monitor your response, results, and side effects, and adjust the dosage up or down as needed. Keep in mind the half-life and speed of the onset of effects for each steroid so that they have enough time to become fully active before you decide whether you need more or less.

A common practice for women is to combine a fat-loss compound with a steroid, and this is possible without building upon the steroid-related side effects (virilization) because agents like Clenbuterol (highly popular with females) are NOT anabolic steroids at all. They can, however, come with other types of side effects (some quite severe) to be aware of and know to mitigate.

AAS Side Effects and Dangers

What we have to remember when it comes to females using anabolic steroids is that you are introducing male androgen hormones into your body at levels much higher than would ever be produced naturally. That includes when you’re taking even the lowest doses.

So, while women have low levels of natural testosterone, even a small exogenous administration taken regularly is going to have a massive effect! That’s why females can quickly put on lean muscle with very low doses of anabolic steroids. It’s also why those same low doses can quickly lead to undesirable side effects developing, many of which are going to be very different from the types of side effects that male steroid users worry about.

Nevertheless, a few shared side effects will still affect any steroid user regardless of gender. These relate to your vital organs and the cardiovascular system:

• Increased cholesterol
• Liver toxicity
• Kidney damage

With the lower dosages you take as a female and shorter cycles, the above serious side effects should be manageable. Do all the common sense things: maintain a healthy diet, include cardio workouts in your training, and avoid high doses of liver-toxic oral compounds.

We’re not through yet: By far, the MOST concerning side effects the majority of females want to look out for when using PEDs relate to the development of masculine traits, also known as virilization.

Let’s get this part straight, though: no female will turn INTO a man by using PEDs or other steroids. But you can develop physical features that take away most of your femininity if your use of PEDs is not within the limits I’ve outlined in this guide. Let’s look at the main virilizing and related side effects female PED users need to be on alert for:

Body and facial hair growth

Can there be a more obvious sign of female steroid use than the growth of hair on the face and body? People will notice this very quickly despite it starting slowly (depending on which steroid, your dose, and how long you use it).

While you can use topical androgen blockers to try and stop hair growth, it will be a case of dropping the PED dosage or stopping use completely for most women. Any situation where you’re developing body/facial hair is one where your dosage is too high, and the easiest fix is the obvious one mentioned above.

Reduced breast size

You might be familiar with men who will do anything to avoid the development of gynecomastia when using steroids as a result of high estrogen levels. But… When it comes to female PED use, it’s the reduction in breast size that you need to be aware of as a side effect.

More potent androgens are going to pose a higher risk here. While this side effect is not likely to develop as quickly as voice changes or hair growth, it’s a reminder of why keeping lower doses and using milder compounds is so essential.

Clitoromegaly

Enlargement of the clitoris due to the presence of excess androgen hormones is an alarming side effect but not uncommon in females who use high doses of potent androgens. Females who choose to use Testosterone, Dianabol, or other potent androgenic steroids will almost always be aware of and even willing to tolerate this side effect.

Maintaining the use of milder PEDs like Anavar at low doses and for short cycle durations is usually sufficient to allow you to avoid clitoral enlargement. If changes do start to develop, they are usually reversible early on, so don’t ignore them. But if allowed to continue developing through continued use of the steroids, it can become so pronounced that the only treatment option will be surgical.

Deepened voice

One of the first and most noticeable red flags will be a deepening of the voice. Even a slight voice change is an indication that your steroids are beginning to stimulate virilization. As you know, the male voice begins to deepen at puberty. With androgen receptors existing in the larynx and vocal muscles of females as well, the exact mechanism applies if you’re taking excessive doses of male androgens.

Needless to say, your dosage and how long you use a steroid will determine your risk of voice changes and, specifically, just how deep your voice could get. It starts slowly, with a noticeable but often intermittent crackling or hoarseness of the voice, which you might mistake for an illness. But other people will soon start to notice your vocal change if it progresses with continued steroid use.

The good news is this: Voice deepening can be halted and reversed by ceasing the use of anabolic steroids once you start noticing those early signs. If you continue using steroids and allow these voice changes to keep progressing, it can be much more difficult or even impossible to reverse.

Menstrual irregularities

Menstruation cycles can easily be disrupted by changes to estrogen and other hormonal imbalances as a result of using PEDs. And it’s not only menstrual cycles that can temporarily change – fertility can also be affected (however: avoid using any PEDs if you’re attempting to fall pregnant).

Some of the ways menstrual irregularities can show up when you’re using steroids or SARMs include:

• Infrequent or unpredictable cycles
• Complete absence of cycles
• Changes in your cycle symptoms compared to when you’re not taking androgens

It can sometimes take a few months after stopping your PED cycle before your normal menstrual cycle resumes. Some women will find a quick recovery of normal cycles; this will depend on the individual and which PEDs were taken.

Birth defects

It should not need to be said, but I will say it anyway: “Using anabolic steroids while pregnant is out of the question.” The very high risk of abnormalities and severe birth defects is real. It’s almost certain that things will go wrong. Most of these birth defects will relate to the development of the sex organs of the fetus. Women should avoid ALL use and contact with any anabolic steroids while pregnant or attempting to become pregnant.

AAS On-Cycle Therapy and PCT

On-cycle therapy will focus on protecting your liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular system. Even low doses of PEDs can pose a risk, but common sense actions can minimize the chance of serious complications.

• To protect the liver, consider taking 1mg of NAC each day, plus a quality omega-3 fish oil supplement daily to aid your cholesterol levels and cardiovascular system.
• It’s not essential to take DHEA, but some women do find it helpful to take a small daily amount: 25mg to 50mg.

What about PCT, you ask? Men almost always require PCT after steroids. It’s essential to get their suppressed testosterone back in normal working order. As a female, you are not concerned about testosterone suppression. You don’t need to stimulate any hormones after using PEDs! This is one of the significant advantages women have over men when using these substances.

One option to gradually get your body back to its natural state is to taper the dose of all PEDs being used. This can provide a smoother transition to coming off the cycle. But keep in mind: Even tapering is not essential for women. There is no hormone crash or hormonal recovery to worry about. If you’re noticing virilization symptoms, a complete termination of the steroids rather than tapering is the best action.

SARMs for Women: Dosage, Cycling, Stacking

Selective androgen receptor modulators (or SARMs for short) have become increasingly popular with female bodybuilders and athletes. To understand their appeal, we can look at it in comparison to Anavar – arguably the most widely used anabolic steroid among women, which provides exceptional gains at low doses and the most negligible side effects of all steroids.

SARMs (at least some of them) can provide very similar benefits to Anavar for women. And even Anavar’s relatively low side effect profile still poses some risk of virilization. But the suitable SARMs for women reduce this risk right down to near zero when you use them correctly.

In my opinion (and in the experiences of those women who use them), the most ideal SARMs for women are the ones I’ve detailed below. They are:

• Ostarine (MK-2866)
• Andarine (S4)
• Testolone (RAD-140)
• Ligandrol (LGD-4033)

Yes, there are certainly SOME SARMs that women will want to avoid, just as there are with steroids. Females best avoid the more potent SARMs like YK-11 or LGD-3033.

Ostarine (MK-2866)

Also called MK-2866, Ostarine is an ideal starting point for a female taking any PED for the first time. You will only need low doses to see some very noticeable benefits (listed below).

Ostarine is an excellent all-round compound that women can use for a range of goals. Any side effects should be minimal and very manageable when you maintain the recommended dosage below.

Benefits of Running Ostarine

• Strength boost
• Increased muscle mass
• Performance enhancement
• Noticeable vascularity and muscular hardness
• Strengthens joints and tendons
• Improve bone density

The Negatives of Ostarine

• Possible decreased HDL and increased LDL cholesterol
• There is a mild increase in liver enzymes in some users (usually at higher doses)
• Some users report insomnia

Ostarine Cycle for Women

Take once daily, starting at 5mg for 6-8 weeks. If you respond well to Ostarine at 5mg, increasing the dosage to 10mg can provide significantly better results, provided you don’t become sensitive to side effects. Most women will not want to go beyond 10mg as side effects will begin to outweigh the benefits.

Andarine (S-4)

If you want even more muscle hardness and vascularity than Ostarine can provide at tolerable doses, then Andarine is the next SARM to look at.

Andarine is a good option for females who compete or do physique modeling. Still, you need to keep in mind we have minimal data about the possible good and bad effects of Andarine because it was discontinued by researchers some time ago.

Benefits of Running Andarine

• Increase and preserve lean muscle
• Increased vascularity and hardness
• Improved strength
• Faster recovery
• Increased bone density

The Negatives of Andarine

• Yellow tint to the vision (temporary)
• Negative cholesterol changes

Andarine Cycle for Women

Ideally, it is taken twice daily – take half in the morning and half at night.

• New users should start at 12.5mg and evaluate your response for at least two weeks.
• The maximum dosage of Andarine for women who want to minimize side effect risk is 25mg daily.

A cycle length of 8 weeks is ideal, with 12 weeks being possible, but it also heightens the risks of side effects.

Testolone (RAD-140)

Testolone, or RAD-140, is quite a powerful SARM. Yet, females can use it without virilization (at low doses).

Some of the effects of Testolone are similar to Ostarine, but this is a much more potent SARM. This will become obvious both in its positive and negative effects. It’s quite versatile; women can use it for cutting and lean muscle-gaining goals.

Benefits of Running Testolone

• Fast and significant lean mass gains
• Dry gains with no water retention
• Retain existing muscle when dieting
• Increased strength and stamina
• Improved bone density
• Faster recovery

The Negatives of Testolone

• Negative cholesterol changes
• It may increase liver enzymes temporarily.

Testolone Cycle for Women

The vast majority of female Testolone users will limit the dosage to 5mg per day and no more. In rare cases, 10mg might be taken, and indeed, some women will find they tolerate this amount well – but make sure you’re comfortable with 5mg first. An 8-week cycle length is the maximum recommendation, but even 4-6 weeks will yield good results with this fast-acting SARM.

Ligandrol (LGD-4033)

We could call Ligandrol the most powerful weight-gaining SARM for women to use safely. One crucial thing to remember is that this is a potent compound, and for women to use it effectively, it must be kept at a very low dosage.

Expect some excellent weight gain (if your diet supports it), but a fair amount of it will be water.

Benefits of Running Ligandrol

• Impressive weight gain
• Strength increase
• Performance boost
• Increased bone density
• Fuller appearance and powerful pumps
• Speeds up recovery times

The Negatives of Ligandrol

• Water retention
• Reduced HDL cholesterol and increased LDL cholesterol levels
• Flu-like symptoms in some users

Ligandrol Cycle for Women

2.5mg per day is the maximum recommended dosage for women. Even men will see exceptional results at such a dose, given how powerful Ligandrol is. Ligandrol can be taken once per day. A cycle length of 8 weeks is the maximum recommendation due to the potency of this SARM.

SARM Stacks for Women

As a female SARM user, you could have a range of reasons for wanting to use these PEDs:

• To gain lean muscle
• To lose fat and get a toned, defined physique
• To enhance performance for athletic purposes

You might often want to get results in all the above areas. The great thing about many SARMs is that they CAN support versatile goals, and you’re not locked into just focusing on one thing.

Here’s the thing: What you get out of any SARM is going to depend just as much on what you eat and how you work out than on the compound itself. Eat to support weight gain, and you’ll see muscle growth. Go on a calorie deficit or do a lot of cardio workouts. You’ll find it easier to burn fat and increase muscle definition.

Below are two excellent examples of simple two-compound stacks that are suitable for females wanting bulking and cutting cycles:

Bulking Stack

This is a serious stack for women who want the maximum amount of lean mass gains. Strength will be enhanced significantly as well, allowing you to lift heavier. But the downside here is water retention, so some weight will be lost after the cycle.

Fish oil, NAC, vitamin B6 (P5P), and Berberine are all recommended ancillaries to support the potential side effects relating to cholesterol, liver, blood sugar, and prolactin.

This is an 8-week cycle that you can optionally taper off on the last week. No PCT is required.

LGD-4033:

• Week 1-7: 2.5mg/day
• Week 8: 1.25mg/day

Ibutamoren:

• Week 1-4: 5mg/day
• Week 5-8: 10mg/day

Cutting Stack

Using two of the best cutting compounds provides a straightforward but very effective cutting stack with minimal side effects. Cholesterol changes and mild liver stress are the main concerns, so including fish oil and NAC is recommended. Strength and muscle will be retained while you’re on a calorie deficit with the primary goal of fat loss and toning up.

Here is a simple 8-week cycle with a tapering of Ostarine in the final week:

Ostarine:

• Week 1-4: 5mg/day
• Week 5-7: 10mg/day
• Week 8: 5mg/day

Cardarine:

• Week 1-8: 10mg/day

SARMs Side Effects & PCT

Just as with anabolic steroids, females do not need to hold concerns about the suppression of testosterone like men do when using SARMs. This means there’s no need for PCT!

It’s the effects on cholesterol that are one of the significant concerns:

• Reduced HDL
• Increased LDL

Only at higher doses of RAD-140 will you need to seriously become concerned about liver toxicity and even things like hair loss and acne. Virilization is not likely when you maintain the dosage ranges I’ve outlined above. Avoiding high doses and long cycles is females’ most proactive step to minimize (and even completely avoid) side effects.

One of the more likely side effects, even at lower doses, is those changes to menstrual cycles I detailed earlier. This is a minor (although annoying) side effect. But thankfully, it is temporary, and you will have to accept it as a consequence of using SARMs. You will have the peace of mind of knowing your menstrual cycles will return to normal once you stop the use of SARMs; therefore, this becomes more of an inconvenience than anything else.

Without any PCT to worry about or plan for, you can either stop your SARMs cycle on the final day or choose to taper down the dose during the final week of your cycle.

Other PEDs for Women

There are other types of PEDs that women can and do use in addition to steroids and SARMs. They are:

• Clenbuterol (Clen)
• Cytomel (T3)
• Cardarine (GW-501516)
• Stenabolic (SR-9009)

Most of these are used for their powerful fat-burning ability, and some can be classed as stimulants. Many come with additional benefits like increasing performance and stamina, protecting lean muscle, suppressing the appetite, and even muscle growth. Due to their powerful effects, fat burning can come on fast with these PEDs. But you will often find the side effects can be just as potent.

Clenbuterol

Clenbuterol is perhaps the most famous “fat burner” out there. It was never intended to be a fat-burning agent, instead being researched and used medically for its benefits for respiratory conditions like asthma.

But being a stimulant and thermogenic, it soon became known within the bodybuilding community that Clenbuterol was indeed excellent at promoting fat loss. Clenbuterol does come with some severe risks, though, if abused or taken at high doses, so it should be used with caution.

Benefits of Using Clenbuterol

• Improves breathing, heart rate, and metabolic rate
• Promotes fast fat burning when combined with intensive cardiovascular exercise
• It can prevent the breakdown of muscle and promote some muscle growth
• Some users experience a suppressed appetite

The Negatives of Clenbuterol

• Cramping
• Anxiety and jitters due to stimulant effects
• Increased blood pressure and heart rate
• Excessive sweating and fever-like increase in body temperature
• Long-term use can raise the risk of an enlarged heart, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications

How to Use Clenbuterol

We can’t consider Clenbuterol to be a safe drug, and there are undoubtedly other safer fat-burning alternatives out there (even a steroid like Anavar is likely to come with fewer risks for females).

A Clenbuterol cycle should be short and start at a low dose, especially if it’s your first time. You will want to evaluate your response to this drug before raising the dose. Typically, Clenbuterol dosages will increase as your cycle progresses to ensure your body doesn’t become used to the lower dose, which can cause stagnant results.

A cycle of 4-8 weeks is ideal, starting at 20mcg/day for the first 1-2 weeks, then increasing the dosage by 10mcg every 1-2 weeks (depending on your chosen cycle length). Another option is to run a 2-week on, 2-week off-cycle plan. This is less than ideal as far as results go, but it does allow you a break from the side effects if you find you’re sensitive to issues like anxiety or insomnia.

Potassium tablets can be taken to ease cramping. 100-400mg per day, depending on the severity of cramps (some users won’t require this at all). To reduce cardiovascular risk, some users take Nebivolol at 5mg daily; however, you should consult a medical professional before attempting new medications.

T-3 Cytomel

T3 is a thyroid hormone that is naturally produced by the pituitary gland. Its role is to regulate the metabolism, and its primary use in performance settings is to facilitate fat burning. People using T3 medically do so for hypothyroidism, where the body doesn’t naturally make enough of the hormone.

While Cytomel is a safe drug when used for that medical purpose, in people who do not have hypothyroidism, you’re essentially providing more of a hormone you already have enough of; as you’d expect, this can come with some risks, which you should be aware of before deciding whether to use T3 for fat burning. This is a drug not suited for beginners to PEDs.

Benefits of Using Cytomel

• Boosts fat loss by increasing your base metabolic rate and energy expenditure
• Improves cognitive function
• Enhances immunity
• Supports function of the muscles
• Achieve a shredded physique if you’re already lean
• Reduces cholesterol levels

The Negatives of Cytomel

• It will burn muscle tissue along with fat.
• Increased sweating and body temperature
• Anxiety in some users
• Moderate blood pressure increase
• Increased appetite
• Suppresses thyroid stimulating hormone, resulting in a slow metabolism and possible weight gain for 1-2 weeks after stopping use of T3.

How to Use T-3

Using T3 as a sole compound is not recommended. This is a very catabolic hormone that WILL have you losing muscle unless you include an anabolic compound in the cycle. But if you still intend to use it alone and don’t mind a bit of muscle loss along with fat, starting at the lowest tablet dose of 25mcg daily is the way to go.

If you respond well, the option to increase to 50mcg can be considered, and benefits will undoubtedly increase – as will possible side effects. Few will want to go beyond 75mcg daily at a maximum.

Cycle length is flexible with T3. Some people will use it for months at a time; others will restrict themselves to a six or 8-week cycle. This all depends on your goals and if you’re stacking it with steroids, SARMs, or other fat-burning PEDs.

To mitigate expected side effects, L-tyrosine and iodine are a common combination. And to hold on to your muscle during an 8-week blast cycle, stack T3 with any female-friendly steroid or SARM at a low dose, like Anavar.

Cardarine (GW-501516)

Cardarine appeals to both bodybuilders and performance athletes, but the effects on fat loss and endurance are most valued with this PPAR receptor agonist.

Despite the alarming results from lab tests that revealed excessive cancer formation from high doses and prolonged use of Cardarine, many people continue to use it, believing that the benefits outweigh the risks. Others prefer to avoid using Cardarine altogether due to the lack of evidence around whether low dose or short-term use could also pose a cancer risk.

Benefits of Using Cardarine

• Enhanced cardiovascular endurance and stamina
• Accelerates fat loss by directing stored fat to be used as energy
• Improves cholesterol levels
• Decreases blood sugar and inflammation

The Negatives of Cardarine

• May reduce weight lifting performance due to the conversion of slow and fast twitch muscle fibers
• Enlargement of the heart
• Lab studies uncovered clear cancerous tumor development in rodents
• Possible liver complications

How to Use Cardarine

Despite its alarming potential health impacts (which we still know very little about), the majority of users of Cardarine inevitably tolerate it remarkably well and enjoy its results. Ideally, you limit a cycle to 8 weeks, if for no other reason than the uncertainty around potential risks of longer-term use.

First-time users can start at just 10mg per day. With a half-life of 24 hours, a once-daily morning administration is all you need. If you find 10mg is well tolerated and you want more extreme results, Cardarine users commonly take a maximum of 20mg daily.

Stenabolic (SR-9009)

Stenabolic is often called a SARM, but it’s a Rev-ErbA agonist. Its actions are similar to Cardarine, but it comes without the concerning cancer risk of that compound.

Unfortunately, any oral form of Stenabolic is going to have such low bioavailability that it is simply not worth using in that form. This alone makes Stenabolic a compound that isn’t widely used despite its unique and appealing benefits.

Unlike most of the other PEDs I’ve detailed in this guide, Stenabolic can IMPROVE cholesterol. This makes it a helpful compound used purely as a cholesterol support to offset the harmful effects of others.

Benefits of Using Stenabolic

• Enhanced fat burning through energy expenditure regulation
• Improves immunity
• Regulates the circadian rhythm
• More endurance and stamina
• Improves cholesterol health
• It may reduce blood sugar levels.
• Anti-inflammatory effects

The Negatives of Stenabolic

• It is only effective when taken as an injection or sublingually
• Insomnia (a negative effect of Stenabolic’s actions on the circadian rhythm
• There is little data about other possible side effects

Stenabolic Cycle for Women

Stenabolic should be taken either sublingually or, even better, as an injection. It has very low bioavailability orally. Take Stenabolic twice daily for best results, as it has a short half-life. An 8-week cycle is recommended at 20mg daily for eight weeks. For the best effects on endurance, take your dosage 30 minutes before working out, but avoid administration close to bedtime to reduce the risk of insomnia.

Final Thoughts

Women now have a significant number of quality PEDs to choose from to achieve just about any goal. While you can never say that any PED is safe to use, many have been in use long enough to have plenty of anecdotal experiences from females who regularly enjoy their benefits while being able to mitigate and even completely avoid the side effects by sticking with common sense use.

Whether it’s purely for aesthetic reasons, for competition, for gaining or losing weight, or for athletic performance – women are spoiled for choice when it comes to PEDs. And while the selection of suitable substances might not be as extensive as those for males, the available ones are so good at what they do that you’re hardly going to feel like you’re missing out!

And I can’t go without mentioning this. Yeah, it’s been said a million times. What you eat and how you work out are still going to be the determining factors in your results. Don’t take any of the above PEDs if you’re unwilling to work to reach your personal goals. But when you get it all right, you get focused, and everything comes together. Like thousands of other women out there using PEDs, you won’t regret it!

Related:

• SARMs 101: The Ultimate Guide for Bodybuilders and Athletes
• Anabolic Steroids 101: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
• Post Cycle Therapy 101: The Ultimate Guide for PED Users

— Furious Joe