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Anavar (oxandrolone) and Winstrol (stanozolol) are the two oral steroids most often compared for cutting. Both are derived from DHT, both are 17-alpha-alkylated (the chemical change that lets a steroid survive the liver as a tablet), and neither converts to estrogen, so neither causes estrogen-driven water retention or gynecomastia. People use them for the same job: holding on to muscle and strength while dieting, and looking harder at low body fat. Neither builds much mass on its own.
Where they differ is how well they are tolerated. Winstrol is the harsher of the two. In clinical data it has a strong negative effect on HDL cholesterol, joint pain is a common complaint, and women report virilization more often. Anavar is generally better tolerated and is reported to give more strength for the weight gained. It also costs more, which makes it one of the most counterfeited steroids. Neither is FDA-approved today: the FDA withdrew approval of oxandrolone in 2023, and stanozolol is no longer marketed for human use in the US.
This guide compares the two for cutting, bulking and use by women, with commonly reported doses, side effects and what the research actually shows. It is not a recommendation to use either drug.
Key Takeaways
- Anavar and Winstrol are both oral, DHT-derived, 17-alpha-alkylated steroids that do not convert to estrogen. Both are used to hold muscle in a cut, not to add large amounts of mass.
- Winstrol is harder on cholesterol. In a 1989 JAMA study, just 6mg a day of stanozolol for six weeks cut HDL (“good”) cholesterol by about a third, versus about 9% with 200mg a week of testosterone.
- Commonly reported men’s doses are 20-50mg a day of Anavar and 25-50mg a day of Winstrol, for 6-8 weeks. These figures come from user practice, not clinical trials, and are several times the old medical doses.
- For women, Anavar carries a lower, not absent, risk of virilization. Winstrol causes masculinizing effects more often, and voice changes can be permanent.
- Anavar is not “FDA-approved and safe”: the FDA withdrew approval of all oxandrolone products in 2023, and its label carried boxed warnings for liver problems and harmful lipid changes.
Anavar vs Winstrol at a Glance
The table sums up the main differences. Ratings and use cases are commonly cited figures from bodybuilding literature, not clinical findings.
| Anavar | Winstrol | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Oxandrolone | Stanozolol |
| First marketed | Early 1960s (Searle) | Early 1960s (Winthrop) |
| Forms | Oral tablets | Oral tablets; water-based injectable |
| Converts to estrogen | No | No |
| 17-alpha-alkylated (liver risk) | Yes | Yes |
| Anabolic : androgenic rating (commonly cited) | 322-630 : 24 | 320 : 30 |
| Main use | Cutting, strength, recomposition | Cutting, contest prep, power sports |
| Effect on HDL cholesterol | Lowers it | Lowers it, sharply even at low doses |
| Joint pain | Rarely reported | Commonly reported |
| Virilization risk in women | Lower, still present | Higher |
| US status | Schedule III; FDA approval withdrawn in 2023 | Schedule III; no longer marketed for humans |
| Relative price | High | Low |
What Is Anavar (Oxandrolone)?
Oxandrolone was developed in the early 1960s and sold by Searle under the brand name Anavar. It is a modified form of DHT: an oxygen atom takes the place of a carbon in the steroid’s A-ring, and a methyl group at carbon 17 lets it work as a tablet.
In the US it was approved to help patients regain weight after surgery, chronic infection or severe trauma, to offset the muscle loss caused by long-term corticosteroids, and to relieve bone pain from osteoporosis. It was also studied in severe burns, HIV-related weight loss and, in children, short stature from conditions such as Turner syndrome. These were low doses given under close medical supervision.
That medical history is often quoted as proof that Anavar is safe enough for women and children. It is not. The US label carried a boxed warning for peliosis hepatis (blood-filled cysts in the liver), liver tumors and harmful changes in blood lipids. It also warned that in children, androgens can speed up bone maturation without adding height. In 2023 the FDA withdrew approval of all oxandrolone products in the US, including the Oxandrin brand and its generics.
How Anavar Works
Oxandrolone binds to the androgen receptor, which raises muscle protein synthesis and helps the body hold on to nitrogen. It also sharply lowers sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). It is not a form of testosterone, and it does not raise testosterone. Like every anabolic steroid, it suppresses the body’s own production.
A popular claim is that Anavar “raises T3” and speeds up the metabolism. What androgens actually do is lower thyroxine-binding globulin, the protein that carries thyroid hormone in the blood. That lowers total thyroid hormone readings, but the oxandrolone label notes that free thyroid hormone levels stay unchanged. There is no good evidence that it works as a thyroid-driven fat burner.
What Is Winstrol (Stanozolol)?
Stanozolol was also developed in the early 1960s and sold by Winthrop as Winstrol. Like oxandrolone, it is a 17-alpha-methylated DHT derivative, but with a pyrazole ring fused to the A-ring. In the US it was used mainly to prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema, a rare inherited swelling disorder, at a few milligrams a day. Stanozolol is no longer marketed for human use in the US. It has also been used in veterinary medicine.
It comes in two forms:
- Oral tablets: The form most people mean by “Winstrol” or “Winny.”
- Injectable stanozolol: Pharmaceutical versions are a water-based suspension, not an oil. Oil-based versions come from underground labs, and there is no good evidence that they are stronger. The injectable still carries the 17-alpha-methyl group, so injecting does not remove the liver risk. It adds injection pain and a risk of abscesses with non-sterile products.
Stanozolol is also one of the steroids most closely tied to doping. Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson lost his 1988 Olympic 100m gold medal after testing positive for it.
Anavar vs Winstrol for Cutting
Cutting is where both drugs are used most. In a calorie deficit, the body breaks down some muscle for fuel, and anabolic steroids blunt that loss. Neither drug burns fat by itself. The fat loss comes from the diet; the drug helps keep muscle and strength while it happens.
What the Research Shows
The better human data is on oxandrolone. In a 12-week randomized trial in healthy men aged 60 to 87, 20mg a day of oxandrolone increased lean body mass and reduced fat mass compared with placebo. It also lowered HDL cholesterol. Trials in burn patients and in people with HIV-related weight loss also found gains in lean mass. These were clinical doses in people who were older or ill, not healthy lifters on a diet.
There is no comparable trial of stanozolol for fat loss or body composition in healthy people, and no study has compared the two drugs head to head. Winstrol’s reputation for cutting comes from bodybuilders, contest prep and athletes, not from research.
How They Differ in Practice
Users describe the two drugs differently. Winstrol is usually described as giving a harder, grainier and sometimes “flat” look, and it is often added in the last weeks before a contest. Anavar is usually described as giving a fuller look. Much of this depends on body fat and diet.
The “dry” look on both comes from low body fat and the absence of estrogen-driven water retention. Winstrol is not a diuretic, despite the common claim that it “flushes out water.”
Anavar is known for strength gains with little weight gain, which is why it is popular in weight-class sports. Winstrol has a similar reputation in sprint and power sports. Both reputations come mostly from user reports.
Anavar vs Winstrol for Bulking
Neither is a bulking steroid. On their own, both add modest amounts of lean tissue, far less than testosterone, nandrolone or Dianabol. When they appear in a bulk, it is usually as an add-on to a testosterone base in a “lean bulk,” where the aim is to limit water and fat gain.
- Anavar with testosterone: One of the most commonly reported combinations. See our test and Anavar cycle guide for what the research shows.
- Winstrol with testosterone: Usually reported as Winstrol for the last 4-8 weeks of a testosterone cycle. Add-on doses of up to 100mg a day are reported, and higher doses add to liver and cholesterol strain.
Because neither drug aromatizes, any water retention or gyno in these stacks comes from the testosterone.
Anavar vs Winstrol for Women
This is the clearest difference between the two. Anavar is often called the “girl steroid” because women report fewer masculinizing effects on it than on almost any other steroid. That is relative, not absent. Winstrol is more androgenic in practice, and women report virilization more often and at lower doses.
Commonly Reported Female Doses
Women most often report 5-10mg a day of Anavar for 4-6 weeks. Some report 5mg a day or less of oral Winstrol for short runs, but many who try it report voice or skin changes early. These are user-reported figures, not doses tested for this purpose. Our Anavar for women guide covers the female side in more depth.
Virilization Signs
- Deepening of the voice
- Facial or body hair growth
- Clitoral enlargement
- Acne and oily skin
- Menstrual changes
- Thinning scalp hair
Voice deepening and clitoral enlargement may not reverse after stopping. Counterfeits add to the risk: a product sold as Anavar that actually contains a stronger androgen can cause the very effects a woman chose Anavar to avoid.
Commonly Reported Doses and Cycle Lengths
The table below describes how these drugs are commonly run, based on user reports and coaching literature. These are not clinical doses and not recommendations. For comparison, the old US label for oxandrolone gave an adult dose of 2.5-20mg a day, and stanozolol for hereditary angioedema was used at about 2-6mg a day. Bodybuilding doses are often several times higher.
| Group | Anavar (oral) | Winstrol (oral) | Reported cycle length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men, common reports | 20-50mg/day | 25-50mg/day | 6-8 weeks |
| Men, higher-dose reports | Up to 80mg/day | Up to 100mg/day | 4-6 weeks |
| Women | 5-10mg/day | 5mg/day or less (virilization often reported) | 4-6 weeks |
Injectable Winstrol is commonly reported at 50mg every day or every other day. Longer cycles and higher doses are reported to push liver enzymes and cholesterol further in the wrong direction, which is why most user guides keep 17-alpha-alkylated orals to 6-8 weeks.
Anavar vs Winstrol Side Effects
Both are 17-alpha-alkylated oral steroids, so they share the same types of risk. Winstrol is usually worse on the ones that matter most.
| Side effect | Anavar | Winstrol |
|---|---|---|
| Lower HDL cholesterol | Yes | Yes, often larger |
| Liver strain | Yes | Yes |
| Natural testosterone suppressed | Yes | Yes |
| Joint pain | Rarely reported | Commonly reported |
| Acne and hair loss | Possible | More often reported |
| Virilization in women | Lower risk | Higher risk |
| Gyno or water retention | No (does not aromatize) | No (does not aromatize) |
Cholesterol and Heart Risk
This is the difference with the most data behind it. In a small 1989 study published in JAMA, men took either stanozolol at 6mg a day or testosterone enanthate at 200mg a week for six weeks. Stanozolol cut HDL cholesterol by about a third and raised LDL, while testosterone lowered HDL by about 9%. That was a low clinical dose of stanozolol; reported bodybuilding doses are many times higher.
Oxandrolone lowers HDL too, which is why its label carried a boxed warning on blood lipid changes. Lower HDL and higher LDL speed up artery disease, and long-term anabolic steroid use is also linked to heart muscle damage. People with high blood pressure or heart disease are at higher risk on either drug.
Liver
Both drugs carry the 17-alpha-methyl group that makes oral steroids hard on the liver. Raised liver enzymes are common. Rarer but serious problems include cholestasis (blocked bile flow, which causes jaundice), peliosis hepatis and liver tumors, and published case reports link stanozolol to cholestatic liver injury.
Anavar is often described as milder on the liver because much of it leaves the body unchanged in the urine. Its label still carried the same boxed liver warnings. Alcohol, existing liver disease and stacking orals all add to the risk. Some users take TUDCA as liver support, but no trial has shown that it prevents steroid-related liver injury.
Testosterone Suppression and Fertility
Both drugs suppress the body’s own testosterone and sperm production. Anavar is often described as less suppressive at low doses, but at bodybuilding doses both shut down natural production for the length of the cycle, and recovery can take months. Men who run either one alone often report low-testosterone symptoms such as low libido, fatigue and low mood, which is one reason both are usually stacked with testosterone.
Joints
Joint aches are one of the most common complaints on Winstrol and are rarely reported on Anavar. The cause is not established. The popular explanation that Winstrol “dries out the joints” has not been shown in studies.
Skin, Hair and Mood
Both are DHT derivatives, so both can trigger acne, oily skin and male pattern hair loss in men who are prone to it. Users report these more often on Winstrol. Finasteride does not reduce the effect of either drug on the scalp, because neither depends on the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. Irritability and mood changes are reported with both.
PCT and Recovery
After a cycle of either drug, the body’s own testosterone production has to restart. Many users run post-cycle therapy (PCT) with tamoxifen or clomiphene, neither of which is approved for this use. Because both oral drugs clear the body quickly, PCT is usually reported to start within a few days of the last dose, and later after injectable Winstrol.
SERMs & AIs
Overview
- Form: Oral capsules (25 mg each, 60 capsules)
- Researched Dosage: 25 mg to 50 mg daily for PCT
- Typical Cycle: 4-6 weeks
- Cost: $69.95
- Stacking Options: Tamoxifen, HCG, Enclomiphene
Pros
- A SERM that blocks estrogen at the hypothalamus, prompting the body to make more LH, FSH and its own testosterone.
- Studies in men with low testosterone found it raised testosterone while preserving sperm production, unlike TRT.
- It is oral, inexpensive and has been in medical use since 1967, so its effects are well documented.
Cons
- About a third of each dose is zuclomiphene, a long-lasting isomer linked to mood swings, irritability and low mood.
- Blurred vision, floaters and light sensitivity have been reported; visual symptoms are a reason to stop.
- It is FDA-approved only for female infertility, so use in men is off-label, and this product is sold for research use only.
The evidence on recovery is less reassuring than most cycle guides suggest. In a 2023 UK study of 641 men who had stopped anabolic steroids, only about half had fully recovered their hormone levels, and men who had used more compounds were less likely to recover. Blood work before and after a cycle is the only way to know where recovery stands. Our guide to PCT for testosterone covers the evidence in more depth.
Legality, Drug Testing and Fakes
United States: Oxandrolone and stanozolol are Schedule III controlled substances. With oxandrolone’s approval withdrawn and stanozolol no longer marketed for humans, there is no current US prescription route for either. Possessing them without a prescription is a federal offense.
United Kingdom: Anabolic steroids are Class C drugs. Possession for personal use is not an offense, but supply and importing by post or courier are illegal.
Sport: Both are on the WADA Prohibited List at all times, in and out of competition. Stanozolol is one of the most frequently detected steroids in doping tests, and its metabolites can be found in urine long after the last dose.
Fakes: Black-market steroids are often not what the label says. A 2022 meta-analysis of black-market steroid samples found that 36% were counterfeit and a further 37% substandard. Anavar sells for much more than Winstrol, which makes it a prime target for counterfeiters.
Verdict: Anavar or Winstrol?
- Cutting (men): Results are reported to be similar, since both help hold muscle in a deficit. Anavar is generally better tolerated. Winstrol is harsher on cholesterol and joints.
- Bulking: Neither. Both are add-ons to a testosterone base at most.
- Women: Anavar carries the lower virilization risk. Winstrol is the riskier choice. Neither is risk-free.
- Cost: Winstrol is much cheaper, which is why it is sometimes called the “poor man’s Anavar.” The saving comes with more side effects.
The common claim that Winstrol is clearly “more powerful” is not backed by any comparative study. What the data does show is that stanozolol hits HDL cholesterol hard even at low doses, and that both drugs strain the liver and shut down natural testosterone.
The Bottom Line
Anavar and Winstrol do the same job, holding muscle and strength in a cut, and neither builds much mass. Winstrol does it with more side effects; Anavar costs more and is faked more often.
- Both are 17-alpha-alkylated orals that strain the liver, lower HDL cholesterol and suppress natural testosterone. Stanozolol cut HDL by about a third at just 6mg a day in a JAMA study.
- For women, Anavar carries a lower but real risk of virilization, and voice changes can be permanent. Winstrol is more likely to cause them.
- Neither is FDA-approved in the US anymore. Both are Schedule III, banned in sport, and often counterfeit on the black market.
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