Anyone who is considering steroids should know what the potential side effects are first. The number of Winstrol side effects are rather mild when compared to other steroids; however, users may still encounter one or more of the following.

Serious Side Effects

Some Winstrol side effects are more serious than others, and may include:

• Liver toxicity, which is characterized by yellowing of the eyes and skin, nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdominal region and light colored stools. The odds of liver toxicity increases when higher than normal doses are taken or when cycles are extended longer than the recommended amount of time
• Changes in cholesterol level. Winstrol is known to increase Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol levels, while also decreasing High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol levels. As such, those who take Winstrol for an extended period should have regular blood tests performed to monitor their cholesterol levels.
• Decreased glucose tolerance

The odds of developing serious side effects increases whenever certain medications are taken. Use caution when taking coagulants, which are medications that thin the blood, or oral diabetes medications.

Mild Side Effects

Men and women may both suffer some rather mild Winstrol side effects, with the most common ones being:

• Acne
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Breast tenderness
• Pattern baldness/thinning hair

These symptoms are usually not problematic, and typically subside once a Winstrol cycle is over with.

Female Side Effects

Women may suffer virilization, or the development of male characteristics when taking Winstrol, even though the odds of it are much lower than with other steroids. Female users should be mindful of these Winstrol side effects that could indicate virilization is happening:

• Voice that becomes deeper/more raspy
• Hirustism, which involves having excessive facial and/or body hair
• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Amenorrhea, which is the absence of menstrual cycles
• Changes in genetalia

Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the near future should also avoid taking Winstrol, as this steroid could cause birth defects in a fetus. Scientists are not sure whether Winstrol is excreted in breast milk, so women who are breastfeeding should play it safe and avoid taking it.

Male Side Effects

Some Winstrol side effects may be noticed only by men, including:

• Gynecomastia, which is the development of an excess amount of breast tissue
• Testicular atrophy
• Decreased testicular function
• Decreased libido

These male side effects tend to increase whenever Winstrol is taken for extended periods of time or stacked with other steroids. To reduce the odds of these side effects, men should cycle on and off as directed. Stacking should only be performed after each steroid in the stack has been tried separately with no adverse side effects.

Side effects may occur at any time, even if Winstrol has previously been tolerated well in the past. For this reason, it is important for users to be mindful of the possible side effects each time a new cycle is started. If side effects are noticed, stop taking Winstrol and consult with a medical professional.