Proviron Cycle

Proviron is the most well known brand name of Mesterolone which is quite a unique steroid with benefits that are specific and different to most other steroids available. Proviron is not really thought of as an anabolic steroid at all, but rather as an oral androgen because it has low anabolic properties.

Proviron is not generally used for bulking and muscle gains as most anabolic steroids are, but it can play a powerful role in steroid cycles and in particular cutting cycles not only directly by its own effects but in the way it interacts with the body to enhance the abilities of other real anabolic steroids you are using.

Being an oral DHT derived compound, Proviron is easy to take and requires no injections. This can make it attractive to new steroid users, but as you will learn this is not a product to just blindly add to a cutting cycle and hope for the best – it has some particular benefits and uses and once you understand these you will be in a prime position to take advantage of everything that Proviron has to offer.

Author’s Note: The following guide is based on my personal experience and does NOT promote the illegal use of steroids (PEDs).

What is Proviron?

Proviron is the brand name of Mesterolone which was developed medically to treat hypogonadism in men which causes low testosterone. Although it is sometimes loosely considered to be an AAS (androgen and anabolic steroid), it contains little anabolic capacity and so has only weak anabolic benefits.

For this reason Proviron is not one of the those compounds that you will use for mass building or bulking, but it can still have some specific purposes for bodybuilders and some benefits that will interest those who make use of other anabolic steroids.

This is an oral product based on dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with some modifications. The weak anabolic effects of Proviron come about because of the way it is broken down and made inactive once it is in the muscle tissue – something that also occurs with DHT itself.

The lack of anabolic effects is why Proviron is sometimes named simply as an androgen rather than an anabolic steroid and is the reason why this isn’t a compound to use for mass gaining; simply increasing the dose and hoping it will deliver muscle gains is not the way to use Proviron but it can be an easy mistake for a beginner to make with any steroid.

That’s why we need to fully understand the purpose of Proviron for bodybuilders and steroid users, so you can best decide where it will fit into your cycles and overall goals.

Proviron Benefits

When you consider the main uses of Proviron you can quickly see how unique this steroid is and also just how potentially powerful it can be in the right hands: firstly, Proviron has a stronger affinity for the aromatase enzyme than testosterone itself does, and testosterone being a steroid that aromatizes brings about a rise in estrogen levels and the associated side effects.

Proviron does the exact opposite to this by strongly binding to the aromatase enzyme so the testosterone or other aromatizing steroids you are using from being affected by that enzyme. This can mitigate the rise in the female estrogen hormone that would otherwise normally happen when you’re using testosterone and other aromatizing steroids in your cycle.

That’s not to say that Proviron can completely replace a dedicated aromatase inhibitor drug, but it can certainly contribute to reducing those estrogenic side effects and in cycles where you’re not taking high doses or including very powerful aromatizing steroids, Proviron might in fact be all you need to control estrogen related side effects or at least reduce them to a manageable level.

In any case, Proviron will contribute to gaining that hard and dry look because of its ability to mitigate water retention – and it’s for this main reason that we see Proviron most often used for the purpose of cutting and contest preparation phases where muscle and physique hardening is a top priority.

Another unique action of Proviron is that it can bind to SHBG which in turn prevents testosterone from binding to the sex hormone binding globulin protein. This frees up more testosterone for use by the body, known as free testosterone So the testosterone steroids you’re using along with Proviron will be more active and more potent and able to more powerfully undertake the important tasks of protein synthesis as more of the testosterone will be circulating and not binding to SHBG while Proviron is present.

Proviron Dosage

Many people make mistakes when planning a Proviron dosage simply because they don’t really understand how it works or what it should be used for. Knowing exactly how Proviron can benefit you when you are using other steroids will make it possible to take the right dose and to get the best results from Proviron.

Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Proviron Dosage

Although Proviron is most commonly used by people who would be classed as advanced users – competitive bodybuilders – some people at the beginner level might still consider adding it to a cycle to evaluate results. There is little risk in doing so and since Proviron is quite effective when used for short periods of time, provides a good introduction on how to use an ancillary compound.

When its used medically as an androgen replacement, Proviron is taken two to three times daily at a 25mg dose each time. This gives us a base dosage to work from when planning to use Proviron for bodybuilding purposes, but unlike many other types of steroids, the dosage rate does not increase dramatically for Proviron when compared to its medical use.

In fact, taking the exact same or similar dose as is medically prescribed for androgenic treatment is still highly effective for bodybuilders. A daily dose of between 50mg per day at a minimum, up to 150mg per day maximum is more than sufficient for the mitigation of estrogen related effects like water retention.

Regardless of experience level, Proviron is included in a cycle mainly to mitigate the estrogenic effects of other steroids. This means that your dosage of Proviron is going to heavily depend on which other compounds you’re using.

All experience levels from beginners right up to advanced users will want to stay within the same dosage range for Proviron, with 50mg daily being the minimum dose and 150mg daily as the maximum.

Even though Proviron is considered quite safe up to 250mg per day, going beyond 150mg each day comes with little to no increased benefits but a higher risk of negative side effects and such high doses are only considered by the most advanced and competitive of users.

Proper Proviron Administration and Timing

Proviron comes in 25mg tablets so your daily dosage is made up of 25mg increments. If taking 3 tablets daily for a 75mg dose, it’s recommended to spread the administration out throughout the day and not to take all three tablets at once because the compound has an active life of just 8 to 12 hours so regular administration is needed to maintain optimal blood levels.

The manufacturer of the original Proviron states that the tablets can be taken either with or without food, but that it is most ideal to take the tablets as close to the same time each day as possible so your circulating levels of Proviron are maintained as efficiently as possible.

The timing of your Proviron administration will completely depend on the purpose of your use: do you want to use it throughout a steroid cycle for estrogen mitigation as a mild aromatase inhibitor compound, or are you looking for some hardcore physique hardening effects at the pre-contest stage?

It’s very common for competitive bodybuilders to use Proviron at higher doses of 150mg and sometimes more at the stage of being close to a contest. This allows androgens to quickly increase and a very hard, solid and dry look can be achieved in this final stage, especially if lower androgenic cutting steroids like Anavar and Winstrol have been used to get you lean and cut combined with a serious calorie controlled diet.

Those who are not already very lean near the end of a cutting cycle will see less benefits from Proviron. Body fat should be considerably low at this point, allowing Proviron to take hold to exert its fluid removal and hardening effects. Without a very lean and cut physique, these effects will be difficult to notice.

Female Proviron Dosage

Even though the risks of females using Proviron are well known, some women still choose to use it to gain physical enhancements. In these cases, a low dose and limited cycle length are critical to minimize virilization side effects. Females should not exceed 25mg daily of Proviron with a cycle length of no more than 5 weeks.

Many females will find virilization is still an issue at this low level of Proviron usage simply because it is a strong androgen and a DHT derived compound whose androgenic side effects can not be mitigated through the use of any anti-androgenic drugs.

Proviron Cycles

Proviron is rarely used as a regular steroid in a cycle because it does not have strong anabolic effects that can contribute to either gaining muscle or fat loss. Where it is mostly used is as a type of helper compound during a steroid cycle where other steroids are being used as the main anabolic agents.

Proviron’s anti-estrogen ability helps mitigates some of the estrogenic activity of other steroids while contributing to goals like gaining a hardened physique, once again because of the anti-estrogen qualities that help reduce water retention. Below are some of the example cycles where Proviron can be included for great benefits:

Beginner Proviron Cycle

Beginner steroid users will almost always be starting with a testosterone compound and this is where you will include Proviron for added benefit. In any case, using Proviron alone is never recommended nor beneficial, due to its suppressive effects and its lack of ability to deliver truly desirable results as a standalone compound.

So as a beginner you can safely add Proviron to your existing testosterone cycle at 50mg daily and expect to see some impressive hardening effects, as well as an increase in the effectiveness and results from the testosterone itself as more of it is freed up while Proviron binds to the SHBG protein.

As Proviron is generally very liver safe despite being an oral, you can use it for a full testosterone cycle although many people will select to only use it for a short period towards the end of the cycle.

Intermediate Proviron Cycle

Any level of user will see good results even at the 50mg daily level with Proviron and for many intermediate users this can be as far as you want to take it. However it will largely depend on what steroids are being used in your cycle and whether your main goal is for maximum muscle hardness or to use Proviron mainly to mitigate estrogenic side effects.

Stacking with your regular testosterone cycle will provide highly beneficial for the intermediate user as you will gain the great benefit of increased testosterone being available in the bloodstream while Proviron binds to SHBG. If your goal with Proviron is to inhibit aromatization then it’s safe to use this compound for a 12 week cycle if desired.

Advanced Proviron Cycle

The most advanced steroid users should still not exceed 150mg daily of Proviron. Most advanced users will likely be aiming to use Proviron to provide a last minute hardening boost near the end of an intense cutting cycle or as pre-contest preparation.

The advanced user will already be significantly lean and cut, will have controlled water retention well during a cutting phase that makes use of compounds like Clenbuterol, Testosterone, Winstrol, and Anavar. In this scenario, the advanced user will benefit greatly from Proviron’s additional reduction in fluid build up towards the end of the cycle.

Stacking Proviron

Proviron is able to be stacked with just about any anabolic steroid but its best use is when you combine it with other steroids commonly used in a cutting cycle. These include Masteron, Anavar, Trenbolone and Winstrol.

Whichever compounds you’re using, Proviron will provide the greatest benefit alongside them at the 100-150mg daily range. There are two main ways to include Proviron in your cutting cycle: for a very short time near the end of the cycle to promote increased hardening, or for a longer duration of 8 weeks during the cycle, with a maximum of 12 weeks still considered effective.

Proviron Results

Anyone considering using Proviron should know that this is not a bulking steroid. Not all steroids are beneficial for gaining mass and this is one that falls into another category in terms of its usefulness.

In fact this is a steroid that is rarely used to give you direct results itself, but instead to work with the other compounds you’re using in what is known as an ancillary compound.

So the results from Proviron, when combined with other steroids, are focused on:

Minimizing and combating the effects of estrogen

As a result of rising estrogen levels through the use of other aromatizing steroids like testosterone, Proviron can help slow or even halt these other steroids from aromatizing which prevents conversion to estrogen.

This is achievable even at a low dose of 50mg each day which can greatly help reduce or hold off the gynecomastia and fluid retention caused by other aromatizing steroids.

The result is a physique that is noticeably harder and drier – exactly what is required in a cutting and contest preparation phase.

Enhances the effects of other steroids

By binding with SHBG your levels of free and available testosterone are increased which in turn boosts the effects of other steroids being used. The level of hardness you can achieve with other cutting steroids is also enhanced with Proviron, particularly with compounds like Winstrol, Anavar and Masteron.

PCT Compound

Another potential use for Proviron is as a PCT compound but it is generally not recommended and can be a common mistake made by beginners in selecting this compound for PCT because of its known anti-estrogen qualities.

While that is desirable, the downside is that Proviron still causes some testosterone suppression and no matter how mild, this is exactly the opposite of what we need during PCT.

So your expected results if using Proviron for PCT is not going to be anywhere as impressive and effective as you’ll see when using the standard PCT drugs of choice like Nolvadex or Clomid which are often combined with hCG.

Proviron Side Effects

Proviron is not an aromatizing steroid so doesn’t come with estrogenic side effects. More than that, it does have the ability to affect the aromatase enzyme in a way that can actually bind to it and inhibit its activity, giving Proviron some measure of aromatase inhibition or anti-estrogen effect.

While this isn’t anywhere near as powerful as a true aromatase inhibitor, it is a welcome attribute of a steroid when so many other steroids display the very opposite effects. However while estrogen related side effects aren’t an issue with Proviron itself, there are other potential side effects to be aware of.

Androgenic side effects: Proviron has some strong androgenic effects, after all it was originally made to medically treat deficiencies in androgen. It is based on DHT which itself is an androgen so it should come as no surprise that you can expect to see activity in this area and these side effects cover issues that most steroid users will be familiar with, including potential acne and hair loss or male pattern baldness.

The occurrence and severity of these particular side effects are highly individual and some people may experience very little or none at all, while others will see quite severe flare ups of acne. When it comes to hair loss, if you’re genetically predisposed to baldness then Proviron can stimulate this to happen much earlier than it might otherwise have done so. Guys without any genetic links to hair loss won’t have to worry about this androgenic side effect.

The high androgenic activity in Proviron makes it unsuitable for use by females as it’s almost certain to cause an onset of masculine features like a deeper voice and body hair growth. Proviron is an even higher risk for females when it comes to these side effects compared with some other steroids and therefore Proviron is not recommended to be used by females.

Another area that raises concerns with Proviron use is that of cholesterol and compared with many other steroids which themselves can cause some serious impacts on cholesterol, Proviron is considered one of the more harsh ones in this regard and one that comes with high risk to cholesterol health.

For this reason anyone with existing high cholesterol issues is always advised to avoid using Proviron at all. Even those with normal cholesterol levels will need to remain alert to what effect Proviron is having on your cholesterol throughout your cycle.

There’s no doubt that Proviron can have very strong impact on your good cholesterol levels, potentially reducing them by almost a third in some cases. At the same time it can be raising your bad cholesterol levels by a significant amount.

Without sustained cholesterol friendly diet habits and cardio exercise while you’re using Proviron, it does pose a very high risk in this area so anyone wanting to use Proviron absolutely must formulate a plan to help maintain healthy cholesterol for the duration of the cycle.

As you might expect, Proviron also comes with the side effect of testosterone suppression but its impact is quite minimal when compared to almost any other steroid. At the dose that most guys will be using Proviron it is unlikely to cause any noticeable testosterone suppression related side effects and therefore it is one of the very few steroids you can use in most cases without the need for adding a testosterone steroid.

Proviron Post Cycle Therapy

While Proviron itself comes with minimal or even no noticeable testosterone suppression at doses that are effective for performance enhancement, almost everyone will use this steroid with other compounds that do suppress natural testosterone production. Therefore a PCT plan will still almost always be required to get your normal testosterone function stimulated again and to avoid falling into a state of low testosterone where muscle loss and fat gain occurs, among other serious symptoms.

Proviron itself is sometimes utilized in PCT since one of its medical uses is to enhance fertility. By using Proviron in PCT to reduce estrogen, the recovery of testosterone might be improved but this needs to be weighed up with Proviron’s tendency to mildly reduce natural testosterone

So while some people might choose to use Proviron during PCT because they can’t access other better PCT drugs like SERMs, it is generally not advisable for best results.

Proviron FAQs

Is Proviron toxic to the liver?

Unlike many other oral steroids, Proviron does not come with the risk of liver toxicity. That’s because Proviron is not a 17 alpha-alkylated anabolic-androgenic steroid (17alpha-AAS) and it is only oral steroids in that category which come with a very high risk of hepatotoxicity and liver damage. But since you will almost certainly be using other steroids in your cycle, some of which might come with their own toxic effects to the liver, this is an issue that should always be considered when using any steroid.

Is Proviron safe?

All steroids come with their own risks, especially when they are misused by using them in very high doses or for extended periods of time. Proviron is considered one of the safest steroids available with relatively mild side effects compared with many more powerful steroids. Even though Proviron is an oral steroid, it does not cause damage to the liver which is another reason this steroid is thought to be one of the least harmful.

Where can I buy Proviron?

Even though Proviron is not one of the most popular steroids out there, locating it for purchase is not that difficult. This includes pharmaceutical grade from the original creator Schering, plus products from underground labs. The lab products need to be bought with caution as fakes do exist as do low quality inferior products.

Clearly if you can get pharmaceutical grade Proviron this is the most ideal option. Even though Proviron is not technically an anabolic steroid, it is still treated as such in most countries and is not legal to purchase or use without a prescription.

Should I take Proviron during my cycle?

Proviron is used for specific purposes during a steroid cycle and only if you understand what it can do and whether you will benefit from it should you then decide whether to include Proviron during your cycle. While it is possible and entirely safe to include Proviron during an entire 8, 10 or even 12 week cycle with other steroids, just doing so without understanding why will bring you no benefits.

For many people, Proviron’s greatest power is in its excellent hardening effects and for many people it might only be necessary to include Proviron in the final couple of weeks of a cycle rather than for the entire cycle. Exactly how and when you use Proviron during your cycle should be a decision made based on your own personal goals and the potency of other steroids being used.

Does Proviron block estrogen?

Proviron acts as a mild aromatase inhibitor so by that nature it has some estrogen block effect. It needs to be known though that you won’t find this estrogen blocking effect as strong as it is with true AI drugs like Arimidex, but it does come with great benefits for steroid users because increased estrogen is the cause of gyno and water retention, so Proviron can greatly help combat these, leading to increased muscle hardness with a low concentration of estrogen in the blood.

Is Proviron used for cutting?

Proviron can play a very beneficial role in cutting phases. It can enhances physique hardness which comes along with mitigating estrogen, as it’s the estrogenic effects of steroids that bring about water retention and that bloated look we all want to avoid.

With its anti-estrogen activity, Proviron is able to offset this and help you retain a much harder, drier look which is why its most often used for cutting purposes. Proviron itself can also contribute to hardening but the most power lies in its ability to amplify the hardening effects that you gain from other steroids and that’s why it’s often included near the end of a cycle rather than used throughout the entire cycle.

Is Proviron suppressive?

Proviron does not have a powerful suppressive effect on natural testosterone function. It can have cause some mild suppression but nowhere near the level of many other steroids which can often shut down testosterone function completely.

At a reasonable dose that does not exceed 150mg daily, the suppressive effects of Proviron are unlikely to be noticed by most users. However since almost everyone will use Proviron with other steroids that do cause much more severe suppression, that will still likely need to be dealt with both during and after your steroid cycle.

My Conclusion and Recommendation

Proviron has a number of very useful functions for bodybuilders and anyone serious about physique enhancement, including for contests. It is able to reduce the fluid build up caused by other steroids because of its anti-estrogen properties. It is able to help free up circulating testosterone by binding to the protein that otherwise has testosterone binding to it.

Proviron is very useful as both a mild and effective aromatase inhibiting compound during a cycle, or to use as a powerful last minute hardener towards the end of a hardcore cutting cycle where fluid retention needs to be at the lowest possible level.

If you enjoyed this guide and would like more real, NO-BS information on cycling steroids, then pick up Straight From the Underground (my recommended underground steroid handbook). Everything in this book is based on first hand experience, not theory.