The Best Anabolic Steroids for Bodybuilding

Some female bodybuilders stack Anavar with EQ, Primo, or Turinabol for their off-season bulk. It’s an option, though this approach can lead to increased androgen exposure and virilization (voice deepening, clitoris enlargement, facial hair growth, hormonal imbalance).

Female bodybuilders can consider using more potent compounds, assuming they’ve accepted the virilization risks. If you’re looking for a more advanced option, you should check out our post on the best steroid cycles for women in 2025.

The best steroid contest prep cycle in 2025

Keep in mind that if you’re not planning to compete in more than one event, you should start PCT after the cycle.

To find out more about the best PCT protocols in 2025, you can check our latest post ― here.

Does it look like a mess? Yes. We know it does. 

Is it a calculated mess, though, tested by the community and proven to bring stage-worthy results? Also, yes. 

Please note that Primo here is primarily for estrogen control. You should stop Masteron administration 2-3 days before the competition. If you’d like to include Clenbuterol in your protocol, you can add it at 25-80 mcg/day (“2 weeks on, 2 weeks off” or “2 days on, 2 days off”), 7-8 weeks out. And don’t forget to use Ketotifen.

HGH injections may (and should) be performed throughout the cycle. The recommended dosage is 4-6 IU/day.

The Holy Trinity: a simple contest prep stack

The Holy Trinity ― a combination of Testosterone, Trenbolone, and Masteron ― is considered one of the most effective contest prep stacks in 2025. 

You can keep it simple and use those three compounds only, or add Anavar and Clen as a finishing touch.

To avoid frequent pinning, you can go for pre-mixed steroid blends:

• Rip Stack by NovoPharm: featuring Testosterone Acetate, Testosterone Propionate, Trenbolone Acetate, and Masteron Propionate;
• Cut Mix by Apoxar: the Holy Trinity in one vial.

You can add Anavar five weeks before the competition at 50-75 mg/day, or opt for Winstrol (30-50 mg/day). You can run these oral compounds up to your peak day. We should note, though, that it’s not recommended to stack Anavar and Winstrol together, as it can be really bad for your liver.

You can check out our post on the best steroid cycles in 2025 to see other protocols for contest prep. 

The best contest prep cycle for women

Anavar and Clen stack is the least virilizing stack there is ― Anavar is the safest anabolic steroid for women, and Clenbuterol isn’t a steroid at all, it’s a fat burner.

To increase muscle definition further, you can do water loading, carb depletion, and start diuretics 2-3 days before the competition. 

We recommend using Spironolactone, as it’s a safer potassium-sparing diuretic. The recommended dosage for Spironolactone is 50-100 mg/day for 1-3 days (5 days is a maximal cycle length).

How to prepare for a bodybuilding contest

Participating in a bodybuilding contest means that you need to:

• Watch your diet: if you’re building muscle mass, you should be in a calorie surplus (clean bulking is preferable). When you've got just 2-3 months before the contest ― you need to get rid of those extra pounds you’ve put on, so you need to be in a calorie deficit;
• Monitor your macronutrients' intake: it’s especially important during a cutting phase. You don’t want to lose the muscle mass you’ve gained, so you should eat enough protein, around 0,5-1,2 g/lb;
• Increase the training frequency: resistance training 6-7 days a week, adding cardio during contest prep (6-7 days a week as well);
• Implement progressive overload: if you can lift your “working” weight for more than 8 reps, it’s not working for you. You can push harder;
• Choose form over weights: you’re not training for strength, you’re training to increase your muscle mass. To avoid injuries and increase the efficiency of your workout, you should focus on form;
• Include isolation exercises: judges evaluate a bodybuilder based on their body’s symmetry and proportions, so if you have any muscle disbalance ― go for isolation exercises and correct it;
• Practice your posing routine: a posing routine can change everything, so make sure it showcases your best angles.

Yes, contest preparation cycles are the hardest ones. They’re complex, they feature the most potent compounds, and you should know how to manage side effects before starting one. 

Do not choose cycles with compounds you haven’t used before, it can undermine all your work. You want results — not surprises.

Conclusion

Anabolic steroids’ choice isn’t the only factor in winning or losing in a bodybuilding contest. Training, nutrition, discipline, and genetics matter too. But we firmly believe that the cycle’s design and the quality of the gear can greatly impact your results.

Always order your steroids (and other PEDs) from verified vendors. If you’re looking for one ― check out our store. 

Muscle Gear has been supplying national-level (and a few quite well-known international) bodybuilding contest winners for more than 15 years: we’ve got the reputation, the experience, and 50,000+ regular customers. Join the ranks!

Best steroids for bodybuilding FAQ

Are steroids for bodybuilding legal?

Bodybuilders can use anabolic steroids if their federation doesn’t directly prohibit the use of performance-enhancing substances. In bodybuilding, doping control isn’t as common as in other competitive sports, but some federations host events only for natural bodybuilders. For example, WNBF asks its members to undergo a polygraph test and urinalysis.

Can a doctor prescribe steroids for bodybuilding?

No, a doctor can’t prescribe you steroids for bodybuilding, it’s illegal. However, you can buy anabolic steroids in Canada without a prescription and ask our IFBB Pro about the best way to prepare (check the Telegram chat for it).

Are steroids necessary for bodybuilding?

Anabolic steroids are essential for professional bodybuilders. Anabolic steroids boost protein synthesis, promote nitrogen and glycogen retention. They help to pack on size and preserve lean muscle mass while cutting. Steroids have become a tool in competitive bodybuilding.

All bodybuilders use them (some even talk about it openly), so if you’re not even considering gear ― you don’t have a shot.