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The importance of PCT

d2r2ddd

AnaSCI VET
Apr 27, 2013
2,611
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www.anasci.org
April 6, 2016 By John Doe

Out of anything that people could ask me, the topic I get asked about the most is PCT.

PCT = post cycle therapy.

Questions on this topic are usually the hardest for me to answer because PCT all depends on 3 factors…

Age and genetics
Length of cycle and your individual recovery ability
What you used and how much you’ve used

It’s extremely difficult to give one generalized recovery protocol for everybody, but there are certain guidelines that are best to follow when going into recovery mode, and if you stay within these parameters you’ll most likely be fine.

The first thing I will address here is age and number of cycles.

A guy in his late teens of early-mid 20’s who has never cycled before will usually recover very fast. This is where it’s better to use post cycle therapy but not get crazy with 3-4 different compounds for recovery.
What I’ve found is the recovery agents themselves tend to cause more problems than the actual PCT products cause.

Some of the depression, lethargy, lack of concentration and ill feelings during recovery are actually from the recovery drugs more so than low testosterone!!

So I’ve always lived by the rule of JUST ENOUGH TO HELP RECOVER BUT NOT OVERKILL!!

The reality of things is that back in the Golden era of bodybuilding nobody knew about PCT and it virtually didn’t exist!!

Guys relied on genetics and their own bodies recovery ability alone to recover from steroid cycles. They used moderate amounts of the drugs and gynocomastia (aka “bitch tits”) was not as prevalent as it is today.

With that being said, I’m not here to tell you we haven’t made advances in recovery and proactive measures to combat side effects on cycle, I’m simply stating that guys didn’t know about PCT back then and still used steroid cycles effectively.

But just because things were the way they were back in the day doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea to take a more proactive measure to recover nowadays.

It’s also a good idea to be proactive DURING cycle so recovery is easier and side effects are kept at bay or from ever occurring in the first place.

The second topic I will talk about is length of cycles and individual recovery ability.

Guys are cycling more now and cycles are lasting longer and longer.

So where one guy who ran testosterone alone for just 8 weeks could be fine with just clomid and/or nolvadex, another guy who ran a 15 week cycle may need a more aggressive recovery, such as but not limited to HCG, arimadex, aromasyn, nolvadex, prami, letrozole, cabergoline, clomid, or the newer version of arimadex “arimistane”

In my 20 years of bodybuilding I have never needed to use prami, letrozole, or cabergoline, so I don’t have experience with them. Therefore I do not talk about those because I personally do not have experience with them.

What I am proficient in would be clomid, HCG, nolvadex, aromasyn, arimadex, and most recently arimistane.

Now, I have found the best method of cycling for me is to keep it to the “under 1,000 mg per week total rule.” This is a good approach that will help keep you safer and will certainly make recovery easier.
If I was not on testosterone replacement therapy then I’d limit cycles to 10-12 weeks long MAX.

First off, there is no point in staying on cycle when gains begin to diminish after the first 6-8 wks anyways, and second off why make recovery harder on yourself than it needs to be?
CLOMID FOR PCT

The first compound to include in any recovery for someone who wants to stay off cycle in order to get their testosterone levels back to normal would be clomid.

Clomid works to restore testicular function and testosterone production because it’s a female hormone. When the male body detects an exogenous source of testosterone it sends the signal to the testes to stop producing their own testosterone.

Likewise, when discontinuing cycle and introducing clomid it sends the male body the signal to begin producing it’s own testosterone again. For a guy planning to come off and recover clomid is always a wise idea to use.
HCG FOR PCT

The second compound for recovery would be HCG.

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) works to restore the testicular axis and is the fastest way to do so. However this product is injectable and sometimes hard for people to come by.

In the event you do not use HCG then the next best option would be clomid combined with an aromitase inhibitor such as arimadex OR aromasyn OR arimistane.

Depending on how much you’ve used and how long the cycle was, I would consider using nolvadex along with one of the aromatase inhibitors for recovery.

If you are using HCG then you definitely want to use an aromatase inhibitor DURING HCG use because HCG itself can cause gyno to those prone to it.
NOLVADEX FOR PCT

Nolvadex is what is known as an estogen receptor modulator.

What this means is that nolva works to prevent estrogen from binding to receptor sites in the breast site but IT DOES NOT PREVENT FORMATION OF ESTROGEN.

An aromatase inhibitor is needed to prevent formation of excessive estrogen to begin with. However, from my own research it’s shown that nolvadex works very well at stimulating the HPTA axis during recovery.

So basically nolva is a thing of the past during cycle but still highly effective for recovery post cycle.

This is why some guys will use nolvadex for PCT, either ran alongside clomid or by itself.

Some guys do not like the way clomid makes them feel (or do not have access to it) so they’ll just use nolvadex or a combination of nolvadex with an aromatase inhibitor during PCT.
AROMATASE INHIBITORS FOR PCT

Aromasyn, Arimadex, and Arimistane are all considered aromatase inhibitors, which means that these products are beneficial to use at the right amounts during certain cycles and also during recovery to keep estrogen rebound from happening.

“Estrogen rebound” is when testosterone levels begin to drop and estrogen levels want to rise.

The aromatase inhibitors will do two things #1- keep estrogen at bay during cycle #2- prevent estrogen from rising too high post cycle (when you want the bodies own test levels to rise up in the right ratio against estrogen).

Recovery isn’t limited to just steroid cycles, but also prohormone cycles and Ostarine (SARMS)cycles.

However out of all 3 compounds Ostarine cycles are what you’ll most likely recover the quickest from.

Often times prohormone cycle recovery can be harsher than steroid cycle recovery.

While steroid cycles and prohormone cycles may take a longer time to recover from or a more aggressive approach to recovery, Ostarine cycles will not require as aggressive of an approach unless higher amounts were used, and I see no reason to ever go beyond 50mg/day of Ostarine.

In 90% of case scenarios, an aromatase inhibitor is all that’s needed for recovery from an Ostarine cycle that was run 8 weeks or less.

Learn more about Ostarine here: OSTA-RED: The Next Best Supplement to Steroids!!
BEST PCT FOR OSTARINE CYCLE

You can use either aromasyn, arimadex, or arimistane on it’s own for recovery from an Ostarine run.

I used to use aromasyn and arimadex but I’ve since discovered that Arimistane is just as effective.

The reason I know it’s highly effective is because I was taking it at the same time I was using arimadex and it literally knocked my estrogen levels into the dirt within a few days!!

From that point I discontinued arimadex and stayed on arimistane to see if the results would be the same as arimadex and they were the same!!

Using arimistane feels no different to me than arimadex or aromasyn.

You can pick whatever one you want, I’m just telling you that they all work but arimistane is over the counter and easily accessible.

>>You can buy arimistane here, also know as RED-PCT.

IT’S BEST TO KNOW WHAT YOUR TESTOSTERONE LEVELS ARE AT BEFORE CYCLING AGAIN!!

I’d be a liar to come on here and tell you that I’ve always had bloodwork done, but the truth of the matter is I never had a hormone panel done until I knew I needed testosterone replacement therapy.

I had cycled steroids on and off for 9 years before I ever had a hormone panel done. But just because this was the road I walked doesn’t mean it’s the smartest move.

If you have a way to get bloodwork done before running any sort of cycle that increases or decreases your own bodies testosterone levels then I’d highly recommend it. I’d especially recommend it for guys who want to have children one day.

I was still able to have kids after cycling on and off for 9 years, but it took coming off everything for about 6 months to get my wife pregnant. So just because you’ve ran some cycles here and there doesn’t mean you’re down and out forever.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has 4 children if that provides any sort of hope for you!!

If you have no other means to bloodwork then go here:

Get bloodwork at Private MD labs.

———–

I hope this article helps explain PCT in a little more detail. This is a common topic in bodybuilding and the most commonly questioned topic I receive from readers.

Take time to educate yourself on anything you use before starting it, and if you landed on this website then you’re already off to a great start!! Train hard!!- JD
 
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squatster

AnaSCI VIP
Mar 27, 2014
3,620
22
38
Cool article
Me my self I have never done PCT at all
Clomids get me sick as hell and just never had a problem with recovery after a cycle???
Just me
 

Sully

AnaSCI VET / Donating Member
Dec 3, 2012
3,324
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36
I never have either. I did blast and cruise for the longest time, with the cruise being low level TRT dose Test (125mg/wk) and when I finally decided to come off and completely clean out I just stopped the TRT. Granted, that's not really comparable to coming off of a cycle. But, I was on high dose Tren for over a year straight just before I came off completely. Only ran TRT about 3-4 weeks, and when I stopped everything I didn't notice any problems. Could be genetic. Hard to say.
 

AR-15

Registered User
Jan 10, 2016
566
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I can't say I totally agree with that statement but that's just me. I think its great that you guys can cycle and come off and everything goes right back to normal. I am curious however if you all have had blood work done to prove that or you just assumed all was well because everything seemed right.

I will say that the biggest mistake I've seen is young guys taking poor advice and doing rediculous amounts of certain things that probably do more harm than good. I'm a poster boy for this type of mistake.

I still feel though that for me at least PCT is a fact of life and as I get older it seems to be more important. Just my two cc's though....AR....
 

mass3000

New member
Aug 6, 2013
13
0
0
california
I've known many that claim they don't use or need ancillaries but for me I have the best results when following a old school method of 20,30,45! About two weeks after last injection I start 2000iu hcg (EOD) X 20days, while taking 20mg of tamoxifen am/pm (total of 40mg) X 45days, and lastly I take 50mg clomid am/pm X 30days. All of this is stacked, this is certainly for a advanced cycle regimen recovery!!!
I also use proviron/hcg/arimadex while on cycle depending on the dose and stacks put together...
Everybody is unique in our own way and just as diet, exercise and physique, you will also have to find out what works best for you....
When I first started running gear in 2003, I could go into GNC and grab a bottle of 6-OX0 and my shit was good to go man... Things change as we do ourselves!
 

MilburnCreek

Registered User
Oct 28, 2012
627
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0
Chester, VT
Intriguing post.

I blast and cruise, generally at 700 on/ 200 off cycle.

I have never run PCT, although I use HCG throughout. I've also never experienced a hint of gyno...and am curious at what level of test most guys begin to run into trouble.
 

Magnus82

Banned
Oct 29, 2012
4,827
0
0
Out in the boondocks
Intriguing post.

I blast and cruise, generally at 700 on/ 200 off cycle.

I have never run PCT, although I use HCG throughout. I've also never experienced a hint of gyno...and am curious at what level of test most guys begin to run into trouble.

No on cycle ai? I can go to about 600mg of a long ester test without trouble
 

Sully

AnaSCI VET / Donating Member
Dec 3, 2012
3,324
0
36
Intriguing post.

I blast and cruise, generally at 700 on/ 200 off cycle.

I have never run PCT, although I use HCG throughout. I've also never experienced a hint of gyno...and am curious at what level of test most guys begin to run into trouble.

Gyno is hyper individualized. Anything over 200mg/wk of any Test and an AI is absolutely mandatory for me. That's part of the reason I limit Test to TRT levels in my cycles from now on. Sometimes I feel like I should use an AI during TRT, and even when off cycle. Other compounds don't bother me at all.
 

mass3000

New member
Aug 6, 2013
13
0
0
california
Single ester sups (cyp,enanth) don't give me any issues until I pass 1gm every 6 days. But npp, tren,sus,tprop all present issues after 6-8week mark and then I will run proviron or hcg and sometimes together if dose is higher.