How Long Do Steroids Stay in Your System?

What Is a Half-Life and What Does It Mean?

A steroids half-life is the amount of time it takes before half of the steroid introduced into your body is gone. This can provide some insight into the amount of time that a particular compound will stay in your system, as well. Different steroids have different half-lives, and the longer the half-life, the longer it will take for the compound to exit your system completely.

Anadrol – 16 hours or less
Andriol (testosterone undecanoate) – 8 hours or less
Dianabol – 6 to 8 hours for oral; 60-72 hours for injectable
Halotestin – 6 to 8 hours
Anavar – 8 to 12 hours
Primobolan (tablets)– 4 to 6 hours
Winstrol (tablets) – 8 hours
Equipoise – 7 to 9 days
Masteron (enanthate) – 8 days
Masteron (propionate) – 2 to 3 days
Primobolan Depot (injectable) – 10 to 14 days
Winstrol Depot (injectable) – 48 hours
Deca Durabolin – 14 to 16 days
Trenbolone – 2 to 3 days

Testosterone Half-Lives

Most athletes pair their anabolic steroids with a testosterone base, and just like steroids, different testosterone esters have different half-lives, as well.

Testosterone acetate – 48 hours
Testosterone propionate – 72 hours
Testosterone cypionate – 16 days
Testosterone enanthate – 8 days
Testosterone suspension – about 24 hours

As such, athletes who are concerned with steroid testing and detection often avoid testosterone esters with longer half-lives, such as testosterone cypionate and testosterone enanthate, and instead stick to those that leave the system much more quickly.

Half-Lives Associated with Common Supplements

In some cases, a steroid test may also look for common supplements used during a steroid cycle or afterward as part of post-cycle therapy.

Arimidex – 4 to 6 hours
Clomid – 8 to 12 hours
HCG – 64 hours
Nolvadex – less than 24 hours
Clenbuterol – as long as 68 hours

Half-Life vs. Detection Times

Of course, to answer the question “how long do steroids stay in your system”, it is important to understand that a compound’s half-life is not the same as its detection time. Remember that a half-life is the length of time at which half of the active compound has left the body. Detection time, on the other hand, describes the length of time between when a substance is introduced into the body and when it could show up on a steroid test. Although there are some very complicated equations that you could use to calculate the detection times associated with just about any exogenous compound you use, it is best to refer to a list compiled by thousands of bodybuilders.

Factors that Influence Detection Times

Before using any list of detection times to determine whether you are “safe” to take a steroid test, it is important to remember that there are a number of factors that could determine how long a steroid remains in your bloodstream. These include things from the length of time you used a particular steroid to the potency of the drug, particularly if you acquired it from a dealer at a gym or in a country where steroids are not bound to strict regulations. What’s more, your own unique tolerance to a steroid, your fluid intake, and your body’s metabolism can all play a role in determining how long it will take before the steroid is no longer detectable in your body.

Detection Times of Popular Steroids

This list represents the average detection times associated with popular anabolic steroids, testosterone esters, and supplements commonly used in bodybuilding or performance enhancement. These are only averages, and you should therefore use the information found here with discretion. Also, keep in mind that these detection times are only true for athletes or bodybuilders who may be subject to urine tests; they do not adequately represent detection times for anyone who may be subject to a blood test. What’s more, hair follicle tests are typically not used for steroid testing.

Anadrol – about 2 months
Andriol – 1 week
Dianabol – 5 weeks
Halotestin – 2 months
Anavar – 3 weeks
Primobolan (tablets or injectable) – 4 to 5 weeks
Winstrol (tablets) – 3 weeks
Equipoise – 4 to 5 months
Masteron (enanthate) – 3 months
Masteron (propionate) – 3 weeks
Winstrol (injectable) – 9 weeks
Deca Durabolin – 18 months
Trenbolone – 5 months

Testosterone acetate – 5 months
Testosterone propionate – 3 weeks
Testosterone cypionate – 3 months
Testosterone enanthate – 5 months
Testosterone suspension – 1 to 2 days (no ester)

Arimidex – 2 weeks
Clomid – up to 8 weeks
HCG – 7 to 10 days
Nolvadex – 2 months
Clenbuterol – 4 to 6 days

Ways to Beat Steroid Tests

The internet is filled with tips and tricks for beating anabolic steroid tests, but for the most part, none of these truly work. In the early- to mid-2000s, a number of “designer” steroids that were supposed to be undetectable showed up on the market, and while they did seem to get by testing for a while, it wasn’t long before the tests themselves became more sophisticated. These days, the only true way to beat a steroid test is to keep half-lives and detection times in mind, then plan your cycle based on your potential test dates.

What About HGH? Is It Truly Undetectable?

There are many rumors circulating the internet and athletic/bodybuilding crowds that HGH is completely undetectable in any standard steroid test. However, this is not the case. In all actuality, there are some highly specialized tests out there that can quantify HGH anywhere from 24 to 36 hours after the last injection. As such, should you choose to supplement with HGH, keep this in mind.

How long do steroids stay in your system? The answer varies based on several different factors, including the steroid you used, the length of time you used it, and your body’s unique chemistry. Although there are no tried-and-true ways to effectively beat a steroid test, you can use information about these compounds’ half-lives and detection times to your advantage.