A hot debate among bodybuilders is whether to use Primobolan or Masteron in a steroid cycle. These two drugs have similarities, yet key differences that impact their effectiveness. I closely analyzed a video by fitness expert Vigorous Steve comparing primobolan and masteron to help settle this anabolic battle.
Video Overview
The video explores the muscle-building potential, medical uses, cost, availability, and optimal dosing protocols for primobolan and masteron. A core takeaway is that while masteron is cheaper and lowers estrogen more aggressively, primobolan reportedly provides superior anabolic effects for building lean tissue.
Ultimately, Steve advocates for using pharmaceutical primobolan over masteron whenever possible, at around 400mg/week. But he admits masteron can substitute if primobolan is unavailable or too expensive. Additional anabolics may be needed to compensate for masteron’s weaker muscle-building capacities.
Now let’s dig deeper into the key considerations when choosing one steroid over the other.
Anabolic and Androgenic Effects
First, we must understand how scientists measure a steroid’s potential to build muscle (anabolic) and produce male sex characteristics (androgenic). Standard tests assign each drug an anabolic/androgenic rating based on their effects in male rats.
However, ratings do not always align with real-world results in humans. And individual responses vary based on factors like genetics, diet, training, and cycle design. So these numbers provide limited guidance.
With these caveats in mind, primobolan has an anabolic rating of 88 and androgenic rating of 44-57. Masteron’s ratings are 62-130 for anabolic and 25-40 for androgenic [1]. On paper, it appears masteron carries more muscle-building might. But many bodybuilders swear by primobolan’s superior anabolism.
Why this discrepancy? We must consider how these agents interact with estrogen and androgen receptors in muscle tissues. Masteron powerfully binds to the AR, triggering DNA transcription and protein synthesis necessary for growth [2].
Yet it also actively blocks aromatase enzymes from converting testosterone to estrogen. This can hinder anabolism, since estrogen plays vital roles regulating gene expression, metabolic function, collagen production, and inflammation [3].
In contrast, primobolan has milder AR-mediated effects. But it allows normal estrogen signaling. It raises an interesting question — which is better for hypertrophy: a potent androgen like masteron or an aromatase-friendly compound like primobolan?
According to many experts, the latter option wins. Primobolan purportedly enables higher quality muscle gains, better injury recovery, and joint protection that masteron cannot match [1]. Furthermore, smaller primobolan doses seemingly yield similar or better gains than much larger masteron amounts.
So for pure mass and strength, primobolan looks to be the superior selection. Nonetheless, we cannot ignore masteron’s alluring capacity to harden physiques and amplify vascularity through drying effects. Finding the ideal balance between these two steroids is key.
Medical and Therapeutic Uses
Historically, both agents served therapeutic purposes before becoming popular in fitness circles. Originally called methenolone, primobolan was used to treat muscle wasting, anemia, and osteoporosis. It proved effective at stimulating erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) and increasing nitrogen retention and protein synthesis [4].
Conversely, masteron (drostanolone) was an anti-cancer medication for breast tumors. It slowed disease progression by directly inhibiting estrogen pathways in breast tissues [5]. This mechanism also helps explain its anti-estrogenic effects.
When we consider medical applications, primobolan clearly possesses more anabolic capacities. In fact, masteron’s impacts on muscle and strength were likely accidental findings along the way. This further supports primobolan as the go-to choice for enhancing performance and physique.
Unfortunately, both drugs faced discontinuation over the years in most regions. They are now only available via prescription in select countries or through underground labs. More on this next.
Availability and Cost Considerations
According to Steve, legitimate pharmaceutical primobolan is almost impossible to find today. Some brands still produce it in Europe, Turkey, and India, but counterfeits abound. And if you discover real primobolan ampoules, the cost is exorbitant.
Let’s compare prices of primobolan versus masteron. One could pay $20 per 100mg of underground primo or $125+ for pharma grade. Masteron is far cheaper, sold for around $3 per 100mg from UGLs. So this is a huge factor steering users towards masteron.
However, Steve argues the price is worthwhile if you can obtain real primobolan. At an average dose of 400mg weekly, it should outperform masteron for muscle gains. This allows lower testosterone doses to limit side effects.
In contrast, masteron often requires high testosterone to achieve growth. And further anabolics like nandrolone or bulking orals are generally added. This not only raises costs but increases health risks.
So in Steve’s view, pharmaceutical primobolan, if found, beats cheaper substitutes for quality and value. Let’s now examine appropriate dosing guidelines.
Primobolan vs. Masteron: Ideal Doses
Recommendations for primobolan dosing normally range from 300-800mg weekly. And it displays high oral bioavailability, meaning both injectable and oral formats work well [4]. Females utilize much lower doses, as little as 50-100mg weekly.
For masteron, male doses span 300-700mg weekly via injection [6]. Oral variants are also available. Since it possesses only mild anabolic abilities, testosterone levels must be adequate to facilitate growth. Thus, high masteron doses combined with 500-1000mg testosterone are common.
Now recall Steve’s stance. He advised running a solo cycle with 415mg primobolan weekly. But he insisted never to use 361mg masteron alone due to inferior effects. This suggests roughly 400mg primobolan has anabolic capabilities similar to 700mg masteron, given no other steroids are present.
Furthermore, bodybuilders often use primobolan in lower doses during cutting phases to preserve muscle. Masteron is generally reserved for bulking stacks alongside compounds like dianabol, anadrol, or deca durabolin. This underscores masteron’s limitations as a standalone agent.
Side Effects and Safety Issues
No steroid is completely safe, but used responsibly, both primobolan and masteron carry relatively low health risks—especially compared to mass builders like trenbolone or superdrol.
Potential primobolan side effects include [4]:
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Oily skin/acne
- Hair loss (genetically predisposed)
- Disrupted cholesterol levels
And for masteron [7]:
- Increased aggression
- Loss of libido
- High blood pressure
- Acne
- Hair loss
The most serious concern with masteron is potential enlargement of the prostate gland. This is due to its strong conversion to dihydromasteron, which carries higher androgenic ratings. Regular PSA tests are recommended.
Many also wrongly believe masteron lacks estrogenic activity. As described earlier, it potently inhibits aromatase and slashes circulating estrogen. Yet it still demonstrates some direct estrogen receptor binding. So while rare in men, gynecomastia can occur.
For those susceptible to male pattern baldness or prostate problems, primobolan offers a much milder option. With proper ancillary drugs and responsible durations, both compounds are relatively safe to use.
Why Choose Primobolan Over Masteron?
We’ve covered a lot of ground so far. So when should you opt for primobolan, and when might masteron suffice? Here are key determining factors:
Go with Primobolan If:
- Pure muscle growth is the priority
- Your budget allows for real pharmaceutical grade
- You want to avoid extra aromatase inhibitors
- Your body better tolerates estrogen signaling
- You are concerned over hair loss or prostate health
When Masteron Stands as a Suitable Alternative:
- Cost savings is necessary
- You want exceptionally lean, hard gains
- You don’t mind using ancillary drugs to control estrogen
- You respond better to highly androgenic compounds
And a final thought on stacking protocols. For cutting cycles, combining 150-300mg primobolan or 400-500mg masteron weekly with testosterone is common. Some include winstrol or oxandrolone for enhanced fat loss and strength.
For bulking, consider adding 400-600mg primo or 700mg masteron to 500mg testosterone, with potentially an oral like dianabol. This provides a tremendous growth stimulus while limiting wet gains and estrogen side effects.
Obviously a licensed physician should carefully oversee any steroid plan. But I hope this breakdown gives you insight into how primobolan and masteron differ. Both can serve a purpose—it just comes down to selecting the tool for your goals.