In this article on our Steroids Blog, we’ll be discussing a topic that’s in high demand but also quite sensitive: post-cycle therapy, or PCT. Unfortunately, this is a very specific and detailed subject, and a single blog post certainly isn’t enough to cover every aspect, but we’ll try to explain the main points in a simple yet effective way.
PCT – post-cycle therapy: is it mandatory?
To understand the importance of PCT, we need to understand the effect that steroids have on our bodies.
For example, if we take exogenous testosterone enanthate, our receptors will signal to the brain that there is a high level of testosterone in our plasma, and the brain will then tell our body to stop producing endogenous (internally produced) testosterone. In fact, as long as testosterone levels (and this applies to many other hormones in our body) are high in our metabolism (due to external intake), our body will no longer produce natural testosterone. Once external (or exogenous) intake is stopped, our body will still be “in a state of shutdown”; our natural testosterone will struggle to be produced while the externally administered testosterone will quickly leave our body, resulting in very low testosterone levels in our plasma… and all the negative consequences that follow.
To prevent this period of low testosterone from lasting too long, we must necessarily resort to PCT or Post Cycle Therapy, which is nothing more than the targeted intake of certain types of drugs that promote the natural production of testosterone or any other hormone. In PCT, we also tend to take drugs to improve the overall health of our metabolism and to improve the functioning of receptors that have been "clogged" by weeks of cycling.
So if you don’t want to risk having extremely low testosterone levels for a long time (or, depending on the cycles, for the rest of your life) and feeling miserable and tired for months on end, I’d say that PCT after ANY cycleis highly recommended. Every steroid (including Deca Durabolin, EQ, but also simple orals like Anavar) has its own shutdown level (the mechanism that blocks natural testosterone production), so PCT is always the ideal solution regardless.
Blast and Cruise: is PCT necessary?
For those who don’t know, “Blast and Cruise” is a very specific way of taking steroids (it’s almost a philosophy) that ONLY some high-level competitive athletes follow. Basically, when they’re preparing for a competition, they use very heavy and complex cycles, and between cycles they simply take lower doses of testosterone and often other anabolic agents as well. In essence, they never actually come off a full cycle. This is a lifestyle choice: in fact, for those who do Blast and Cruise for many years, it becomes a problem—PCT is no longer enough, and their bodies effectively stop (practically for life) producing testosterone, making it necessary to undergo TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) for the rest of their lives. If you are not extremely experienced athletes, and if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, DO NOT DO BLAST AND CRUISE; stick to standard cycles and PCT.
How to structure a PCT
“Bro Science” (theories passed down from one generation of gym-goers to the next, and from gym to gym—sometimes effective, sometimes nothing more than myths) states that PCT should be started X days after the last injection of the cycle, where X is the half-life of the longest-acting ester used in the cycle. For example, if your cycle was based on Testosterone Enanthate, which has a half-life of 7–8 days, you should start PCT after 7–8 days.
What does the PCT consist of?
“Bro Science” also claims that it is necessary to take Nolvadex (tamoxifen) and Clomid (clomiphene), and if the cycle has been very long or particularly intense, it is also advisable to take HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Now, even if not everything in "bro science" is rubbish... let's leave it aside for a moment and take small steps.
First and foremost, it is important to have blood tests done at the end of the cycle. It is important to check blood count values and hormone levels. Many values will be completely off, some values (such as testosterone) will be sky-high at the end of the cycle but will soon plummet, and generally many things will need to be fixed, while many will probably fix themselves simply with a little time.
HCGis VERY important after a cycle for the following reason: HCG (or gonadotropin) is a typically female hormone and is typically present in pregnant women. Exogenous HCG intake causes the brain to perceive an imbalance (in males) towards female hormones and, to compensate, directly and effectively stimulates the natural production of testosterone by the testicles. Exogenous HCG in men has no side effects other than stimulating testosterone. At the end of a cycle, constant intake of HCG can literally restart our male hormonal system.
The amount of HCG to be taken depends on many factors, but mainly on how much your plasma testosterone level drops, as detected by constant monitoring of blood tests.
Medicines such as Nolvadex and Clomidalso play a role. Nolvadex (or tamoxifen) occupies the same receptors in the hypothalamus as aromatization (the conversion of testosterone into estrogen hormones), which consequently leads to the production of hormones such as LH and FSH, which are precursors of testosterone. In addition, Nolvadex increases the density and quality of seminal fluid, which is greatly reduced and weakened during a cycle. (source: Wikipedia)
Clomiphene (Clomid) works in a very similar way and is a drug that is commonly used in medicine to treat both female and male infertility.
Avoid using natural products such as Testosterone Boosters or similar items, as you will only be wasting your money.
However, a steroid cycle does not only cause hormonal changes: there is a real possibility that your blood pressure will rise, your red blood cell count will increase, your cholesterol will rise, and many other values will not be quite right. Once you come off the cycle, these values tend to return to normal, but it is a good idea to keep them under control and support them with a healthy and balanced diet, even more so now than when you were on the cycle. If you have serious blood pressure problems, it is a good idea to consult your doctor about temporarily introducing specific medications. In general, medications such as TELMISARTANare very helpful in regulating the cardiovascular system and, consequently, the kidneys and liver. If your cycle has also caused high blood sugar levels, it is not a bad idea to use medications such as METFORMINto bring the values back down. Telmisartan and Metformin should ALSO be used during your cycle to prevent these problems.
How long does the PCT last?
The duration varies from person to person, from cycle to cycle, and from historical moment to historical moment, even for the same person. Only by monitoring your levels with blood tests will you know when your hormones have returned to normal and when your health is "in the clear." We do not recommend starting another cycle before all your values are back to normal naturally.
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