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When it comes to building a massive and ripped physique, the combination of Anavar and Testosterone provides you with a potent combination of compounds! At the same time, it will take your strength gains through the roof.
Both of these have their own host of benefits and side effects, and you need to be aware of both before popping a pill of plunging a needle into your bottom.
Let’s walk through the precautions you need to take and everything else in-between.
Key Takeaways
- Testosterone and Anavar (oxandrolone) are both anabolic-androgenic steroids, so combining them increases overall androgen exposure and potential adverse effects.
- Testosterone is often used as the foundation of bodybuilding steroid regimens, while Anavar is commonly associated with lean-mass and strength goals, particularly during cutting phases.
- Anavar is not risk-free simply because it is often described as “mild.” It can suppress natural testosterone production and adversely affect cholesterol and liver function.
- Testosterone can increase estradiol through aromatization, while Anavar does not aromatize into estrogen. Their different hormonal effects do not make the combination inherently safe.
- Combining two anabolic steroids increases complexity. If an adverse effect occurs, it can be more difficult to determine which compound is responsible.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is the male sexual hormone, important for sexual function, the ability to grow body hair, masculiinity and libido. Natural testosterone gets converted into Estrogen and Dihydrogen Testosterone at a normal rate, however, adding exogenous testosterone increases this conversion, thus if those two get too high we see side effects.
Types of Testosterone Steroids
The main types of testosterone are as follows:
| Type | Half Life | Injection Frequency | Benefits | Detection Period |
| Propionate (Prop) | 108 Hours (4.5 Days) | Every Other Day | Stable Blood Levels | Up to 30 Days |
| Enanthate (E) | 168 – 216 Hours (7 – 9 Days) | Once Per Week (Ideally more) | Less Injections | Up to 90 Days |
| Cypionate (Cyp) | 192 – 240 Hours (8 – 10 Days) | Once Per Week (Ideally more) | Less Injections | Up to 90 Days |
| Sustanon (Sust) | 360 – 432 Hours (15 – 18 Days) | Once Every 3 Weeks (Ideally More) | Much less Injections | Up to 90 Days |
Which of these is best? None of them hold significant benefits over the others, so none of them are ‘better’. However, as a bodybuilder, you might feel the best results on Propionate or Enanthate/Cypionate. Personally, I prefer Cypionate.
How does Testosterone work?
Testosterone is naturally produced by the Leydig Cells in the Testes (or injected exogenously) and will lead to the following cycle:
- Testosterone is converted into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) via the 5-Alpha Reductase
- Testosterone and DHT will both bind to androgen receptors in the muscle, bone, and organ tissue
- Nuclear translocation takes place
- Androgen receptor target gene transcription takes place
Testosterone Benefits
Testosterone is the main anabolic hormone in the body. Taking synthetic testosterone in conjunction with resistance training will result in the following:
- Increased muscular growth
- Increased fat loss (slight)
- Increased libido
- Increased recovery
- Increased Protein Synthesis
Testosterone Side Effects
Administration of exogenous Testosterone that can lead to the following side effects:
- Testicular Shutdown
- Hair Loss
- Prostate Growth
- Gynecomastia
- Cardiovascular Problems
- Aggression (very slight)
What is Anavar?
The scientific name of Anavar is Oxandrolone. This oral steroid is a Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derivative hormone that has been structurally altered.
Anavar (along with all other DHTs) have an inability to convert into estrogen. This means that while gains from Anavar will be quite lean and dry, they will not be as powerful as others, since the process of muscle growth is massively aided by the addition of estrogen.
How Does Anavar Work?
Anavar is a modified form of the DHT hormone, which has used an oxygen atom to replace the 2-carbon and methylation in the 17 position.
This single alteration forces the body to treat DHT like testosterone. The result is an enhanced ability to gain muscle mass, increase strength levels and get stronger.
However, Anavar is not considered an especially potent bulking agent for male bodybuilders and it is far more popular as a cutting agent. Women, however, can get substantial mass enhancement gains with Anavar.
The reason it is significantly more popular with women is because of the fact that there are not a lot of androgenic side effects.
Anavar Benefits
Anavar has a number of benefits for the body. Let’s consider them in order of potency!
- Fat Loss (extremely potent as a fat loss agent, combined with a fat loss lifestyle)
- Strength Gain (DHTs are known to increase force production more so than pure Testosterone)
- Muscle Gain
Anavar Side Effects
Some of the major side effects of Anavar include:
- Increase in blood pressure
- Gynecomastia (to some)
- Acne
- Kidney damage
Test and Anavar Cycle
Stacking anabolics is quite commonplace in the bodybuilding world, however, it comes with a few rules. First off, never use more than one compound for a first cycle! If you react badly, how do you know which one messed you up?
The second thing to consider is that taking multiple drugs mean multiple side effects, meaning if these sides overlap you’re in trouble.
Lastly, more isn’t always better.
So, is Test and Anavar a good cycle? It can be, if you do it right.
Benefits of Test and Anavar Cycle
- Testosterone would ensure you have ample estrogen in your body to allow for normal male function and hypertrophy
- Anavar will allow for some increased fat loss, but will also allow for more strength thanks to its DHT nature
- While some like to deny it, more drugs usually mean more gains
Drawbacks of a Testosterone and Anavar Cycle
This cycle will mostly be used for cutting. You’ll more often than not you’ll see bodybuilders use this in the last few weeks before a show, or females looking to build muscle. Other side effects of this combination include:
Hair Loss
Due to Testosterone and Anavar causing DHT levels to rise, you may experience some thinning of the hair on your scalp. How much thinning will depend on your genetics and how sensitive you are to anabolic steroids.
However, after your cycle, your hair is likely to thicken again once your hormones regulate back to normal.
If you’re anxious about losing any hair on Anavar/Testosterone – you can supplement with a DHT-blocking supplement such as Finasteride or Saw Palmetto. These block the conversion of Testosterone into DHT. Or you can use a caffeine shampoo, which has proven to increase the lifespan of hair follicles on your scalp.
Increase in Blood Pressure
Anavar is a mild compound, thus it’s uncommon for users to notice any major side effects (when used in moderate doses for short periods of time).
Testosterone is a compound you have to be more careful when taking, as it can cause an increase in blood pressure. Moreover, just having more body mass (as a result of these drugs) will have a larger impact on Blood Pressure. Here are a few recommendations that may help lower Blood Pressure:
- Cardio
- Increasing Water Intake and Reducing Sodium in your diet
- Losing weight
If you plan on taking Anavar/Testosterone, it’s important to get regular checkups with your doctor so they can monitor your BP. There are also blood pressure kits you can buy online, enabling you to monitor your levels even more frequently.
Cholesterol
Testosterone is a compound you have to be more careful when taking, as it will cause your cholesterol levels to shift in a negative way (LDL levels increasing). Certain supplements can help lower your LDL cholesterol levels, or bring your blood pressure back down to normal.
Here are a few that may help:
- Omega Fatty Acids
- Psyllium Husk
- Citrus Bergamot
- Grape Seed Extract
- Celery Seed Extract
There are some studies to show that Anavar will bring about a lowering of total Cholesterol levels, however in combination with Testosterone, blood lipids will still be out of range.
Kidney Damage
As we stated, blood pressure will have quite an impact on your kidneys – they are filters after all. Now, another factor that will also make your kidneys ‘oof’ is the fact that Anavar is mostly digested by the kidneys.
Thus, if you get too heavy, your blood pressure rises too high, your diet gets too poor, your hydration gets whack, or you use too much Anavar, goodbye kidneys.
If your kidneys give up, your entire lifting career is done. If your kidneys give up, you will never be able to eat a lot of protein, nor will you even be able to take Creatine.
Take great care.
The Bottom Line
Testosterone and Anavar can produce substantial anabolic effects, but combining them also increases hormonal and cardiovascular risk, making the pairing difficult to justify as a “beginner” or inherently safe cycle.
- The combination is popular in bodybuilding because testosterone can support substantial increases in lean mass and strength, while Anavar is often favored for its effects on strength and a leaner appearance.
- Both compounds can suppress natural hormone production, while testosterone can affect estradiol and Anavar can adversely affect cholesterol and liver health. Combining them creates additional exposure without eliminating the risks associated with either compound.
- There is no universally safe dose, cycle length, or PCT protocol for recreational use. Anyone using prescription testosterone for a legitimate medical indication should follow their clinician’s treatment plan rather than applying bodybuilding cycle advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer
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