Anavar is the brand name for theΒ anabolic steroidΒ medication Oxandrolone. The drug is popular in bodybuilding and fitness circles thanks to its profound positive effect on the muscle-skeletal system. Anavar also comes highly recommended in weight loss circles, particularly among users seeing minimal improvement from exercise and diet.
However, although men and women can useΒ Anavar products, the drug is not exclusively formulated to accommodate feminine physiology. Therefore, women using Anavar should cycle it to avoid building tolerance and other undesirable side effects.
Find out the best way women can cycle Anavar and reap its benefits.
What Is Anavar?
Before delving into cycling Anavar, you must understand the drug and its effect on your body. Anavar belongs to a group of medications called anabolic steroids. These are synthetic variations of the hormone testosterone formulated to deliver effects quite similar to testosterone. Testosterone is a male sex hormone that facilitates the male sex’s physique development.
During puberty, males have high testosterone levels as the growth hormone promotes the development of typically male characteristics like broad shoulders and muscle growth. Such positive effects on the muscle-skeletal system are called anabolic developments and include big, stronger muscle growth and lower fat deposits.
Anabolic steroids likeΒ AnavarΒ also induce protein synthesis and facilitateΒ nitrogen retention, two crucial factors for muscle repair and hormone production. While Anavar is a variation of testosterone, it is not testosteroneβs bioidentical hormone, meaning the two hormones feature significant differences. For starters, testosterone’s anabolic action primarily entails building muscle while Anavar packs muscle while simultaneously cutting fat. Consequently, the anabolic steroid preserves feminine features as opposed to the overly masculine testosterone effects.
Additionally, Anavar has a surprisingly high bioavailability for an oral drug. The anabolic steroid bypasses the liverβs biotransformation (the process by which the liver breaks down chemical substances, altering their chemical composition. Therefore, Anavar gets to the site of action with high potency.
Finally, unlike testosterone, Anavar does notΒ aromatize; the breaking down of testosterone into estrogen facilitates homeostasis or a state of equilibrium in the body. Estrogen is notorious for causingΒ water weightΒ or chubby-like swelling in the abdomen and extremities due to electrolyte imbalances.
How Does Anavar Work?
Anavarβs mechanism in building muscle and trimming excess body fat is twofold. First, the androgenic hormone features anti-glucocorticoid effects.Β GlucocorticoidsΒ are anti-inflammation hormones that dial down aggressive immune responses to prevent adverse occurrences like autoimmune diseases.
While glucocorticoids are vital to maintaining a healthy body, they have a catabolic effect (opposite of anabolic). For starters, they stimulate appetite, which causes weight gain and, in some cases, water weight and also causes muscle weakness, which is counterproductive for fitness. Besides its anti-glucocorticoid effect, Anavar improves insulin sensitivity. Insulin is a regulatory hormone that helps maintain optimum blood sugar levels in the blood plasma. The hormone also facilitates effective blood-sugar utilization for energy, preventing the conversion of sugar into fat.
A researchΒ studyΒ using Anavar as the study specimen for anabolic therapy revealed the drug’s cutting effect on peripheral and abdominal adipose tissue. The study further showed that insulin sensitivity biomarkers in test subjects improved with Anavar’s fat-trimming effect. With how Anavar works out of the way, letβs look at the safest way for women to consume it.
Anavar Cycling and Dosage Considerations for Women
A cross-sectionalΒ studyΒ conducted among resistant trainers in various gyms on anabolic steroid prevalence yielded the following results. The male to female ratio of adult individuals using anabolic steroids within the above demographic is 3:1. However, despite the apparent demand and ready market for female-centric anabolic steroids, the anabolic industry presents this niche market with limited options. Most anabolic steroids feature obscene amounts of testosterone to facilitate a buff physique in men.
Anavar features prominently among the more subtle anabolic steroids ideal for use by women. However, it is still a gender-heterogeneous product and does not cater to the feminine physiqueβs unique needs. Therefore, besides taking lower doses, women need to cycle Anavar to enjoy maximum muscle and strength-building benefits without incurring undesirable side effects.
Although Anavar accentuates the body’s natural capacity to trim fatty tissue and build strong muscles, continuous anabolic steroid usage can cause you to hit a plateau once your body builds tolerance. Therefore, Anavar cycling or rotation helps maintain your body’s response to the drug because it treats it as a new compound each time round.
How Long Does It Last?
Anavar cycles last 8-12 weeks for men, but the ideal cycle for women is half that duration because longer durations increase the risk of virilization in women.Β VirilizationΒ is when females exhibit male physical characteristics like a deep voice and increased hair growth due to androgen male hormone exposure.
While the ideal Anavar cycle for women is four to six weeks, it depends on tolerability, body size, weight, and goals. During this period, women can take between 5mg to 20mg of Anavar twice a day; they can take a standard dose or utilize the ladder method, making 5mg dosage increments every week until you hit the maximum recommended dosage.
Anavar takes an hour to reach peak plasma concentrations, and its effects last up to nine hours, depending on physiological factors. The ideal dosage when takingΒ Anavar products to increase strengthΒ isΒ two to four prescribed doses per day. It is advisable to take the pills simultaneously each day to maintain plasma concentrations and subsequent effects.
While anΒ Anavar-only cycleΒ typicallyΒ does not work for men because of the anabolic steroidβs mild nature, it is the perfect cycle to accentuate feminine features. Women donβt need the amount of testosterone that men need; hence they donβt require testosterone as a base in their cycle to avoid testosterone suppression.
However, aΒ post cycle therapy (PCT)Β session is vital for both genders after an Anavar cycle. PCT is a harm-reduction measure that helps the body maintain accrued anabolic steroid benefits while transitioning to self-dependent hormone production. Failure to undergo this therapeutic healing process for the hormonal system causes severe hormonal imbalance and may also trigger catabolic reactions, reversing Anavarβs efforts.
Although some PCT kits are available over-the-counter, they are typically not potent enough to aid with recovery from anabolic steroids of Anavar’s caliber.
Safety Considerations
Although most females find Anavar tolerable, consumers may experience mild side effects like headaches, nausea, anxiety, mood swings, and sleep issues. Virilization is rare, especially at appropriate doses, but consult your doctor in case of such symptoms.
Conclusion
Anavar is among the few female-friendly anabolic steroids available in the market. However, ensure you cycle it appropriately and take recommended doses to enjoy its full benefits. Finally, always source your Anavar medication from authorized, trustworthy sources.
Resources:
https://medlineplus.gov/anabolicsteroids.html
https://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/what-are-glucocorticoids
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15472177/
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-8004-6
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002339.htm
https://harleystreet-md.co.uk/blog/post-cycle-therapy/