Primobol is a mild oral anabolic with extremely low androgenic activity, meaning that there is only a minimal chance of typical steroid side-effects. It does not convert to estrogen and, therefore, estrogen-caused water retention and fat deposition will not occur from using it. Methenolone increases the conversion of protein to lean muscle tissue through its anabolic activity. Because primobol has virtually no androgen (i.e., masculinizing) effects, it can generally be used safely by women.

This section refers to the oral Primobolan preparation, which contains the drug methenolone acetate. It is very similar in action to the injectable Primobolan Depot (methenolone enanthate), but obviously here the drug is designed for oral administration. Methenolone regardless of the ester is a very mild anabolic steroid. The androgenic activity of this compound is considerably low, as are its anabolic properties. One should not expect to achieve great gains in muscle mass with this drug. Instead, Primobol is utilized when the athlete has a specific need for a mild anabolic agent, most notably in cutting phases of training. It is also a drug of choice when side effects are a concern. Primobol will also not aromatize, so estrogen related side effects are of no concern. And of course without excess estrogen there is little chance of the athlete developing gynecomastia. Likewise there should never be a need for antiestrogen use with this steroid.

All else being equal, methenolone acetate is an excellent oral steroid drug. Unlike most other orals, it is not 17-alkylated and does not have liver toxicity problems. It is perhaps only half as potent by the oral route as by injection, so dosages need to be high, at least 100 and preferably 200-300 mg per day, but if that can be afforded it is an excellent drug. It is unusual among oral steroids as being Class I, binding well to the androgen receptor.The claim, however, that methenolone acetate tablets help burn fat, as a result of being acetate esters, is purely a myth. The compound has the same LBM-sparing properties when dieting as does injected primo tabs, which is to say, it is quite useful if dosage is sufficient.