Posted by Heather Vesely
on September 15, 2026
If you are a woman looking to build more muscle, increase strength, or take your results in the gym to the next level, you may have wondered if you can take a prohormone. We get this question from women pretty often, and while there are prohormones that may be considered milder than others, we generally don't recommend prohormones for women.
As a woman myself, I understand why the question comes up. We want to build muscle and get stronger too, and when you see how popular prohormones are with men, it's easy to wonder if there is an option for us. The problem is that prohormones affect hormones in the body, and women have different hormone levels than men. This means some of the effects that men are looking for from a prohormone can come with unwanted effects for women.
So, can women take prohormones? Let's dive into it.
Why Don't We Recommend Prohormones for Women?
Prohormones are typically taken by men looking to build muscle, increase strength, and support performance in the gym. While those goals aren't exclusive to men, the way these products affect the body is an important reason why we don't normally recommend them for women.
Many prohormones can increase androgenic activity, which can potentially cause unwanted masculine effects in women. This is really the biggest thing I want women to understand. It's not that women can't want the same muscle-building results as men. It is that the potential side effects can be very different.
What are the Potential Side Effects of Prohormones for Women?
This is where you really need to weigh your goals against the potential risks. Potential side effects women may experience from androgenic or hormone-active compounds can include:
- Deepening or changes in your voice
- Mood changes
- Acne
- Hair loss
- Chances to your menstrual cycle
- Other masculine or virilizing effects
This is why I wouldn't look at a prohormone the same way you would look at something like protein, creatine, or a regular sports nutrition supplement. You're dealing with a product that can affect hormone activity.
So, Can Women Take Prohormones?
This is where "Can I" and "Should I" are two different questions. Yes, there are women who use prohormones. However, for most women who ask us what they should take to build muscle, a prohormone isn't going to be the first thing we recommend. There are other products women can take to support their muscle-building goals without immediately jumping into a hormonal product.
With that being said, there are women out there who have done their research and want to try a prohormone. If that is you, there is one type you're probably going to hear more about than others: 19-Nor Andro.
Is 19-Nor Andro a Better Prohormone Option for Women?
When we talk about prohormones for women, 19-Nor Andro prohormones are usually the options that comes up. One example of a 19-Nor prohormone is Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Decabolin. Decabolin contains 19-Nor Andro and is designed for those looking to support lean muscle, strength, and performance. While 19-Nor products are generally the type we discuss when women ask about milder prohormone options, Decabolin is still a hormone-active product and carries the possibility of unwanted side effects. For most women, we recommend exploring non-hormonal muscle building options first.
Watch Our Video: Best Prohormones for Women
What Can Women Take Instead of Prohormones?
Now, let's get to the part that I think will apply to a lot more women. Maybe you're reading everything above and thinking, Okay, I still want to build muscle, but a prohormone doesn't sound like the route I want to go.
That's completely fine because you still have options.
Epicatechin
Epicatechin is a non-hormonal ingredient commonly found in muscle-building supplements. If you're looking for something beyond your basic sports nutrition supplements but don't want to move into prohormones, an epicatechin product can be an option to look into.
Laxogenin
Laxogenin is another ingredient you'll see in a non-hormonal muscle-building products. For women who are mainly interested in building lean muscle and supporting their performance in the gym without intentionally taking a prohormone, this is another category you can explore.
Ecdysterone & Turkesterone
Ecdysterone and turkesterone are also found in non-prohormone muscle-building supplements. These give women another category to look at when the goal is supporting muscle growth and performance without immediately moving into an androgen precursor.
What If I Still Want to Take a Prohormone?
I know there are going to be some women who want to give prohormones a try. Maybe you've been lifting for years. Maybe you're a serious bodybuilder. Or maybe you've already researched prohormones and understand that there are potential side effects.
We do have two muscle-building stacks for women that include a 19-Nor prohormone.
I want to be very clear here, though: the fact that we have these stacks doesn't mean that we are recommending that every woman take them. These are options for women who understand that a prohormone is included and have already done their research into the potential risks.
For most women looking to build muscle, I would still start with the non-hormonal options before considering one of these stacks.
4-Week Women’s Prohormone Stack
$130.99
8 Week Women's Muscle Stack
$189.99
Conclusion: Are Prohormones Worth It for Women?
For most women, I don't think a prohormone needs to be the first place you turn to when you want to build more muscle. You can be a woman and want to build serious muscle, get stronger, improve your performance in the gym but that doesn't mean you have to take the exact same supplements as the guys at the gym.
Get your training, diet, protein intake, and recovery and basic supplements where they need to be first. From there, you can look into non-hormonal muscle-building options like epicatechin, laxogenin, ecdysterone, or turkesterone.
If you've researched all of that and you're still considering a prohormone, understand exactly what you are taking and the potential side effects before making that decision.
