Anabolic Rating: 88
Androgenic Rating: 44-57
Half Life: 10 days
Aromatization:  No
Liver toxicity – None
Detection Time: 4-5 Weeks

Overview and History of Primobolan

Primobolan is the trade name for the anabolic steroid Methenolone (also written as Metenolone). It is available in both an injectable oil-based format, as well as an oral form. Injectable Primobolan is known as Methenolone Enanthate, and the oral format is known as Methenolone Acetate. It is a very well-known and popular anabolic steroid due to its very mild nature as both an anabolic and an androgenic compound.

Primobolan is a popular anabolic steroid in performance enhancing circles, especially bodybuilding, due to the Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s often been said that Primobolan was his favorite anabolic steroid.

Along with holding a bit of a unique stigma, Primobolan carries one of the highest safety ratings among all anabolic steroids. This steroid is relatively mild and can be safe for both men and women. In fact, the steroid has even been used successfully in premature infants and children in specific therapeutic settings. The hormone is also well-known for having a solid record in the treatment of muscle wasting diseases, osteoporosis and sarcopenia, and is a great steroid for treating prolonged corticosteroid exposure.

In a performance capacity, Primobolan is not what we can call a strong mass promoting steroid. For the male athlete, it’s also not what we can call a foundational steroid. However, man or woman most will find Primobolan to be far more effective and beneficial than its oral counterpart. Despite being a relatively weak mass builder, this steroid most certainly has its place in performance enhancement but the key to obtaining the benefits is understanding the proper points of use.

Properties of Primobolan

Unfortunately, because of its poor anabolic strength rating making it lower in strength than Testosterone, Primobolan is not preferred by athletes or bodybuilders for bulking cycles, lean mass cycles, or for any measurable strength gain. Primo is also best combined with (stacked with) other anabolic steroids as well, whether utilizing it for a cutting cycle or a bulking or lean mass cycle. The use of Primobolan solitarily on its own is regarded by many as a near useless practice, and along these same lines, many anabolic steroid users claim that Primo is only useful at very high doses, which may not be very practical considering the high cost of this anabolic steroid. This dosing information will be further expanded in the doses section of this profile.

Primobolan Side Effects

The first thing to understand with Primobolan is that it is a DHT-derivative, meaning it is a modified form of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). As such, it carries with it many similar properties and characteristics, including the inability to convert (aromatize) into Estrogen at any dose used. This should certainly be a comforting fact to most individuals who are concerned about Estrogenic side effects, such as bloating, gynecomastia, high blood pressure as a result of water retention, etc.

As much as Primobolan is touted by athletes and bodybuilders as being a ‘mild’ anabolic steroid, it still exhibits suppression of endogenous Testosterone production and HPTA function. In fact, studies have confirmed that at even a very low dosage (30 – 45mg daily), test subjects experienced 15 – 65% suppression of natural endogenous Testosterone production. Being that those dosages as far lower than what is required for performance enhancement purposes, it is still heavily recommended to perform a proper PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) following the discontinuation of Primobolan.

The Methenolone hormone is much less suppressive than many anabolic steroidal hormones. Testosterone, Nandrolone and Trenbolone are all far more suppressive than Methenolone. While suppression is much milder than with the aforementioned steroids, it is still notable enough to warrant the use of exogenous testosterone when using Primobolan. Men who do not include exogenous testosterone therapy in their plan will fall into a low testosterone condition. Those who include exogenous testosterone, such as Testosterone Cypionate, Testosterone Propionate or Testosterone Enanthate, will enjoy a much more positive experience. Those who do not will open the door to numerous low testosterone symptoms. Such symptoms can be very bothersome, diminish your quality of life and are often very unhealthy. Women who use Primobolan will have no need for exogenous testosterone therapy.

Primobolan Cycles and Use

Primobolan cycles are commonly in the form of fat loss and/or cutting cycles. It is almost never used as a bulking or mass-gaining agent, and most of its use is in the form of a pre-contest drug in the final weeks leading up to a competition show or photo shoot. It is typically cycled with other compounds that hold similar qualities, properties, and half-lives. Many bodybuilders often stack Primobolan with Testosterone Propionate (or Testosterone Enanthate) and use it for the first 8 weeks of a cycle in order to assist in the retention of muscle mass during periods of low caloric intake.

Other bodybuilders will perform oral Primobolan cycles stacked with compounds such as Testosterone Propionate and Trenbolone Acetate, as all of the compounds involved work synergistically especially where half-lived are concerned. Some may opt to use Primobolan (either the oral or injectable) with some form of Testosterone and Winstrol (Stanozolol), typically the injectable form if it is with the oral Primobolan. It is important to remember not to utilized two different oral compounds within the same cycle.

Oral Primobolan (Methenolone Acetate) should normally be run for no longer than 8 weeks, and the injectable form (Methenolone Enanthate) can be run in cycle lengths of 10 – 12 weeks (or longer, depending on the individual’s goals and desires).

Primobolan Dosages and Administration

For the male athlete, 300mg per week is normally considered the low end dose of Primobolan. However, 200mg per week will provide catabolic protection during a cutting phase, but 300mg per week will be far more effective. As Methenolone Enanthate is a relatively mild anabolic steroid, most men will find they can tolerate 400-500mg per week very well. Even 600mg per week should be well within the realm of control for most men. Doses above 600mg per week are not uncommon, but keep in mind doses that fall in the 600mg or above range will potentially exasperate the androgenic activity of the steroid. Regardless of the total dosing, 8-12 weeks of total use is normally recommended. As for stacking, Methenolone Enanthate will combine well with most all anabolic steroids. As it will most commonly be used during the cutting phase steroids like Oxandrolone, Drostanolone Propionate, Trenbolone Acetate and Stanozolol are all common additions.

For the female athlete, 50-100mg per week is generally all the Primobolan  they will need. More importantly, such a dosing range should be very controllable in terms of virilization for most women. Always keep in mind individual sensitivity will play a role and while some will experience virilization symptoms at this dosing range most will not. Women who go above the 100mg dosing will more than likely experience virilization symptoms. If other steroids are stacked with it this is almost assured. Regardless of the total dose, most women will find 4-6 weeks of use to be more than enough. Many women find stacks of Oxandrolone and Primobolan to be very beneficial making up 4 weeks of a total 8 week cycle. A final note on female use; many women may find oral Primobolan to be more controllable. It is not as effective as the injectable version; however, it is a little easier to control blood levels with this fast acting form.