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    Understanding Post Cycle Therapy Better....

    Mr.E
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    Post by Mr.E Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:02 am

    Understanding Post Cycle Therapy Better....

    Forgive me if this is a repost but this is a very good article. There is a great deal of bad info out there especially dealing with PCT. If you don’t have a successful PCT you WILL lose a great deal of your gains. I think people need to take PCT a lot more seriously. If things don’t go well your test wont be down for a matter of weeks - we are talking a matter of months. I’m starting to think the standard Clomid/Nolvadex alone is only part of the equation. It’s by William Llewellyn, author of Anabolics. He seems to really know his stuff and backs up what he says better than most people. The URL contains graphs I suggest reading it.

    Understanding Post Cycle “T” Recovery
    by William Llewellyn

    O.K. You have been on an awesome 4-month cycle of Sustanon and Dianabol. You’ve gained a massive 20 lbs, and are extremely pleased with your results. You can’t stop looking in the mirror. But there is a problem now starting to eat away at you. You are going to run out of steroids very soon (you know you need a break anyway), and your testicles are the size of raisins. Your body is producing less testosterone than a 9-year-old girl, and you are scrambling to figure out what to do to avoid a nasty post-cycle crash that could potentially strip away some of your hard-earned muscle. The opinions on how to restore endogenous testosterone production post-cycle seem to be different everywhere you look. What option is best? Without an understanding of exactly what is going on in your body, and why certain compounds help to correct the situation, choosing the right post-cycle program can be quite confusing. In this article I would therefore like to discuss the role of anti-estrogens and HCG during this delicate window of time, while detailing an effective strategy for their use.

    The Axis

    The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis, or HPTA for short, is the thermostat for your body’s natural production of testosterone. Too much testosterone and the furnace will shut off. Not enough, and the heat is turned up, to put it very simply. For the purposes of our discussion here we can look at this regulating process as having three levels. At the top is the hypothalamic region of the brain, which releases the hormone GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) when it senses a need for more testosterone. GnRH sends a signal to the second level of the axis, the pituitary, which releases Luteinizing Hormone in response. LH for short, this hormone stimulates the testes (level three) to secrete testosterone. The same sex steroids (testosterone, estrogen) that are produced serve to counter-balance things, by providing negative feedback signals (primarily to the hypothalamus and pituitary) to lower the secretion of testosterone when too much of this hormone is sensed. Synthetic steroids, of course, suppress testosterone the same way. This quick background of the testosterone-regulating axis is necessary to furthering our discussion, as we need to first look at the underlying mechanisms involved before we can understand why natural recovery of the HPTA post-cycle is a slow process. Only then can we implement an ancillary drug program to effectively deal with it.

    Testicular Desensitization
    Although steroids suppress testosterone production primarily by lowering the level of gonadotropic hormones discussed above, the big roadblock to a restored HPTA after we come off the drugs is surprisingly not the level of LH itself. This problem is made clearly evident in a study published in Acta Endocrinologica back in 1975(1). Here blood parameters, including testosterone and LH levels, were monitored in male subjects whom were given testosterone enanthate injections of 250mg weekly for 21 weeks. Subjects remained under investigation for an additional 18 weeks after the drug was discontinued. At the start of the study, LH levels became suppressed in direct relation to the rise in testosterone, which is to be expected. Things looked very different, however, once the steroids had been withdrawn (see Figure I). LH levels went on the rise quickly (by the 3rd week), while testosterone barely budged for quite some time. In fact, on average it was more than 10 weeks before any noticeable movement started. This lack of correlation makes clear that the problem in getting androgen levels restored is not the level of LH, but in fact testicular atrophy and desensitization to this hormone. After a period of inactivation the testes have apparently lost mass (atrophied), making them unable to perform the workload required by heightened levels of LH.

    Post Cycle Testosterone Levels

    Figure I. LH and Testosterone measurements starting 1 week after the last injection of 250mg of testosterone enanthate (pretreated measures were 5 mU/ml and 4.5 ng/ml respectively). Note that between weeks 1 and 5, as testosterone levels are declining due to the cessation of exogenous androgen administration, LH levels are already rebounding. From weeks 5 to 10 testosterone levels are at or very near baseline, to spite the substantial LH levels by this point. No significant increase in testosterone is noted until after the 10-week mark.

    The Role of Anti-estrogens

    It is important to understand that anti-estrogens alone do not do much to restore endogenous testosterone release after a cycle. Normally they only foster LH by blocking the negative feedback of estrogens, and we now see that LH rebounds quickly without help anyway. Plus, post cycle there is not an elevated level of estrogen for anti-estrogens to block, as testosterone (now suppressed) is a major substrate used for the synthesis of estrogens in men. Serum estrogen levels will actually be lower here as a result, not higher. Any estrogen rebound that occurs post-cycle likewise happens concurrently with a rebound in testosterone levels, not prior to it (note there is an imbalance in the ratio post cycle, but this is another topic altogether). We are seeing no mechanism in which anti-estrogenic drugs can really help here. We can see why this fact would not be difficult to overlook, however. The medical literature is filled with references showing anti-estrogenic drugs like Clomid and Nolvadex to increase LH and testosterone levels, and in normal situations these drugs do indeed increase endogenous androgen production by blocking the negative feedback of estrogens. Combine this with the fact that just as many studies can be found to show that steroid use lowers LH levels when suppressing testosterone, and we can see how easy it would be to jump to the conclusion that post-cycle we need to focus on restoring LH. We would miss the true problem of testicular desensitization unless we were really looking into the actual recovery rates of the hormones involved. When we do, we immediately see little value in using anti-estrogenic drugs.

    HCG

    So we now see, contrary to the dominating opinion of the times, that anti-estrogens alone will do little to raise testosterone levels in the early weeks of the post-cycle window. This leaves us to focus on a very different level of the HPTA in order to hasten recovery: the testes. For this we will need the injectable drug HCG. If you are not familiar with it, HCG, or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is a prescription fertility agent that mimics the bodies own natural LH. Although the testes are equally desensitized to this drug as LH (they both work through the same mechanism), we are administering it as a measured drug and are therefore not constrained by the limits of our own LH production. We similarly can use HCG to provide a bolus dose of LH (of our choosing), which works only to augment the recovering LH levels we already have in the body. In essence we are looking to shock them with an overwhelmingly high level of LH activity, coming from both endogenous and exogenous sources. We want it to reach a level far above what our body, even when supported by anti-estrogens, could possibly do on its own. The result can be a rapid restoration of original testicular mass and functioning, which would allow normal levels of testosterone to be output much sooner than without such an ancillary program. What we are looking at now is HCG actually being the pivotal post-cycle drug, while anti-estrogens are relegated to a supportive role at best.

    Finalizing the Program

    An ideal post-cycle recovery program will focus on two things really. The first is hitting the testes hard with HCG. It is important, however, not to overuse this drug. Taken for too long, or at too high a dosage, the LH receptor will actually become desensitized to LH(2) , which may further exacerbate our post-cycle problem instead of helping it (this is why I am not in favor of regular HCG use on-cycle). My experience with HCG has led me to feel comfortable using it for a course of three weeks, at a dosage of maybe 5000-7500IU weekly. Often the last week I limit the dose to 2,500IU, unless the cycle has been particularly long or potent. This is timed so at least half of the total administered drug dosage will be given when there is still exogenous steroid in the body. On our graph above this would be at about the 3-week mark after the last injection of testosterone. This will give the testes some time to get back into shape before the baseline is actually hit with T levels. Secondly, Anti-estrogens are used to play a supportive role at the same time, so 20mg of Nolvadex or 50-100mg of Clomid would typically be added (my last article for Mind and Muscle discusses the comparative differences with these two agents). This is to combat the suppressive effects of estrogen as testosterone levels start to go back up, as well as potential side effects (HCG has been shown to increase testicular aromatase activity as well (3)). Although in the first couple of weeks the anti-estrogen does little, it may indeed be helpful when testosterone levels actually start to get back up near normal. To further stimulate the HPTA, and support continuingly high LH levels, the anti-estrogen remains to be used for 2 to 3 weeks after the HCG therapy has been stopped. A sample program, as it would be instituted in our sample post-cycle window, is provided below.



    Sample Post-cycle Plan:


    Week
    Amount

    Week 3:
    5000IU HCG total + 20mg Nolvadex daily

    Week 4:
    5000IU HCG total + 20mg Nolvadex daily

    Week 5:
    2500IU HCG total + 20mg Nolvadex daily

    Week 6:
    20mg Nolvadex daily

    Week 7:
    20mg Nolvadex daily

    Week 8:
    20mg Nolvadex daily

    In Closing

    I hope this article provided a well-needed new look at the mechanisms involved in post-cycle testosterone recovery. Indeed I believe it should debunk a commonly held belief these days, as we seen now that those advocating the sole use of Clomid post cycle are sorely missing the mark. The problem goes much deeper than just getting LH levels back. In fact, we see that LH doesn’t even need much help kicking back into gear, and a drug like Clomid will do very little to help this anyway in the absence of significant estrogen levels anyway. HCG is a drug with undeniable usefulness during the post-cycle window, and many bodybuilders have been much too quick to abandon it. It is truly fundamental to an effective recovery program, and would not consider any dose or combination of anti-estrogens or aromatase inhibitors capable of doing the job without it.


    References:

    1. Effect of long-term testosterone oenanthate administration on male reproductive function: Clinical evaluation, serum FSH, LH, Testosterone and seminal fluid analysis in normal men. J. Mauss, G. Borsch et al. Acta Endocrinol 78 (1975) 373-84

    2. Desensitization to gonadotropins in cultured Leydig tumor cells involves loss of gonadotropin receptors and decreased capacity for steroidogenesis. Freeman DA, Ascoli M Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1981 Oct;78(10):6309-13

    3. Acute stimulation of aromatization in Leydig Cells by Human Chorionic Gonadotropin In-vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 76:4460-3,1079
    BrotherIron
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    Post by BrotherIron Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:49 am

    Def would say this is a GREAT READ, should be a sticky
    dutchtommy
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    Post by dutchtommy Sun Mar 20, 2016 2:10 pm

    What about a low level (80 MG/day primabolan) cycle? Post cycle will nolvadex be enough? And if so how much?
    kwyckemynd00
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    Post by kwyckemynd00 Sun Mar 20, 2016 2:53 pm

    Hey England, the link is dead....but, great read
    sgammons
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    Post by sgammons Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:44 pm

    Good ppost England excellent read.

    later

    sgammons
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    Post by Dr. Steroids Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:33 pm

    Great post. I had some rebound problems from my first aas cycle of test/winny. I used nolvo by itself. I kept a lot of my gains, but it took forever for my libido to come back. Needless to say, hcg will be a part of my pct from now on.
    aporged
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    Post by aporged Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:45 am

    I took 5000iu once a week for three weeks,then clomid 100mgs 2 days and 50mgs every day after.I had a decent recovery,245 down to 235 with 9% body fat.
    coolkat
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    Post by coolkat Tue Mar 22, 2016 5:46 am

    I am currently taking 500iu of HCG every 5th day for a total of 5000iu over 50 days stoping 7-10 days prior to starting Clomid which will also be 14 days since last injection of Test cyp. I decided the "Dr. Swales" perspective makes sense to me.
    I have been on cycle for 14 weeks and am 46 years old. My cycle will end up being about 18 weeks long. I'm up about 20lbs. even after the bloat from D-ball kick start of 30mg per day the first 4 weeks.

    Is that too much HCG over last 10 weeks of cycle???
    There is still the possibility of me fathering a child so..... don't want to screw up the boys ya' know.

    What say somebody to this?
    toni ttttt
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    Post by toni ttttt Tue Mar 22, 2016 6:27 am

    How many injections a day? And how often? Thanks
    John_Bobbit's_Unit
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    Post by John_Bobbit's_Unit Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:25 am

    If testicular desensitation is the main problem in terms of returning natural test production to it's normal level, why not run a very low dose of hcg throughout the cycle (except at the very start if using long esters) to approximate the natural LH level? This would avoid desensitation, and, if the dose were low it should not cause problems in terms of the LH receptors becoming saturated, etc. Post cycle, once the natural LH levels jump up, the overload of hcg to kick start the boys shouldn't be needed. Has anyone heard of anything like this?
    maverik
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    Post by maverik Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:54 am

    so, is it ok to take chlomid and hcg together then?
    carguy007007
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    Post by carguy007007 Tue Mar 22, 2016 8:47 am

    Still oh so confused...... Alright, I can see the logic in this post and the suggested dosages. I was convinced to use HCG in this manner... Then I read that damn Swales report and it says:

    "I want my patients to stop taking HCG within a week after the end of the cycle. The testosterone production it induces will further inhibit recovery, as will using Androgel, or any other testosterone preparation, while in recovery. There is no escaping this, as there is no such thing as a ?bridge?. Just because you are not inhibiting the HPTA for the entire 24 hours does not mean you are not suppressing it at all. IOW, you can?t ?fool? the body?it is smarter than you are."

    So......what the heck??? Take it during in mini-cycles, during the entire cycle, or after the cycle as suggested above?

    Thanks and sorry for the hassle...

    J
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    Post by fatman Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:21 am

    I started 500 iu did it three days in a row blew my b/p threw the roof 150/100 had to stop only one day and still up there. Couldn't sleep last night lower back hurts hope its not my kidneys. can you any info to help me out?
    Kalika
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    Post by Kalika Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:22 am

    I am starting week 9 on monday of 500mgs of test. I am running it for 10 weeks. After last shot of test e., I was told to wait a week and start hcg along with my 4 weeks of prop and winny. I am ending this cycle with 100mgs of prop eod and 50mgs of winny ed.

    I have clomid and nolva on hand to start right after prop and winny. Probably use the nolva at 40,30,20,20.

    any recommendations welcomed.
    Kalika
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    Post by Kalika Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:59 am

    carguy007007 wrote:Still oh so confused...... Alright, I can see the logic in this post and the suggested dosages. I was convinced to use HCG in this manner... Then I read that damn Swales report and it says:

    "I want my patients to stop taking HCG within a week after the end of the cycle. The testosterone production it induces will further inhibit recovery, as will using Androgel, or any other testosterone preparation, while in recovery. There is no escaping this, as there is no such thing as a ?bridge?. Just because you are not inhibiting the HPTA for the entire 24 hours does not mean you are not suppressing it at all. IOW, you can?t ?fool? the body?it is smarter than you are."

    So......what the heck??? Take it during in mini-cycles, during the entire cycle, or after the cycle as suggested above?

    Thanks and sorry for the hassle...

    J

    I am a bit confused as well.
    4thAD
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    Post by 4thAD Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:47 am

    read this whole thread Kailka! It will explain PCT recommendations as well as HCG!  


    http://www.steroidslive.com/pct-post-cycle-therapy
    Kalika
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    Post by Kalika Tue Mar 22, 2016 12:37 pm

    4thAD wrote:


    i did and it says start at beginning of the cycle. I will re read it. thanks man.
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    Post by dennisfl Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:27 pm

    Hey there,

    I like your posting very much and I would like to ask about cycle and PCT.

    I have never know well how to do steroids cycles and have red alot about PCT but still not sure what do order and how to take it.

    I have got from Axiolabs:
    Sustaplex 325 (3 x 10 ml vial) and the Stanoplex 10 (3 X 100 caps of 10mg)
    1- How should I combine them?

    2- what should I get for the PCT and how should I take it and when to start taking?

    BTW I am a 44 years old male, 5"9', 170 Lb, who wants to gain some muscle but stay lean.

    I really appreciate your help and attention, and once again, thanks for the posting.

    Thanks
    Dennis Rosembloom
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    Post by mmixon58 Tue Mar 22, 2016 2:21 pm

    Hello, this is the 1st time I have used the forum & I have a question about the post-cycle therapy.
    MCSS13
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    Post by MCSS13 Tue Mar 22, 2016 3:01 pm

    mmixon58 wrote:Hello, this is the 1st time I have used the forum & I have a question about the post-cycle therapy.

    wuts ur question bro

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