Does Winstrol shut down the testes, thus lowering free and total testosterone? I know it will increase SHBG levels, but have heard that it does not affect T levels.
Winstrol will suppress testosterone production if used in high enough doses for a long enough time. However, it is considered a minimally suppressive drug. Any suppression you experience should be fairly mild.
also, after winny is discontinued the body usually recovers natural production quick. this is in part due to the fact that there is no estrogenic suppresion, only winny binding to the AR. as soon as the winny is gone (a few days tops since the halflife is less than a day) the body senses it needs to now produce androgens and will resume production as long as you didn’t overdo it.