PCT is a treatment that promotes the recovery of one’s own hormones after the use of steroids ends. It is one of the most difficult topics for steroid users to understand. The confusion is mainly because when to start, what drugs to choose, how long to last and what effects are common questions.
The purpose of doing PCT
The use of anabolic steroids (AAS) will suppress our own testosterone secretion. Testosterone, as the most important male hormone, is extremely important to our health. Most steroid users will add exogenous testosterone to the steroid cycle to a greater or lesser extent.
Testosterone is produced in the testicles. The pituitary gland releases two gonadotropins, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FHS), telling the testicles to secrete testosterone. The use of steroids will reduce the signals that notify the pituitary gland to produce LH and FHS, which will also reduce the secretion of testosterone. After supplementing with exogenous testosterone, the body’s needs are met, and the problem is not serious at this time. However, when we stop using steroids, the signal and testosterone secretion are suppressed, which should be taken seriously. This is also the purpose of introducing PCT, to stimulate the secretion of testosterone and prevent entering a low testosterone state.
Legend about testosterone suppression
People often say that using any steroid will cause the secretion of testosterone to stop completely, but this is bullshit. All steroids will suppress, but to different degrees. Using 100 mg of DECA at a time can stop testosterone secretion 100%. Anavar is not that strong. The degree of suppression of testosterone by milder steroids like Anavar depends on the dose, duration of use and personal genetics. In any case, it is very necessary to use exogenous testosterone during the steroid cycle to prevent testosterone levels from being too low.
Note: No testosterone or PCT is required during the C-cycle of female steroids.
What PCT recovery can bring
The biggest problem with most PCT recovery programs is that people always have realistic expectations. Most PCTs last for 4 to 6 weeks. Many people hope that everything will return to normal after these weeks, and all muscle and strength gains will be maintained (if the PCT program is appropriate and done correctly). Generally speaking, a good PCT can protect and maintain some of the progress you have made.
The primary purpose of PCT is to stimulate your own testosterone secretion, not to control the side effects of estrogen or prolactin. You may lose a small amount of muscle and strength during this period, but it is not the end of the world. You will always do C again. Now you need to focus on your own hormone levels to recover, continue to train, eat well, protect your muscles (i.e., calorie-rich), and don’t get too fat (but control it appropriately).
When not to do PCT recovery
If you are a hardcore steroid user who has been on the drug longer than you stop, PCT will be counterproductive. For example, if you finish a cycle, do PCT, and then immediately or after a short wait, you start doing C again. This is very bad for your body. You stop testosterone secretion, re-stimulate it, and then stop again. Your hormone level is like a roller coaster that never stops, and your body will be severely damaged. For such athletes, it is a better choice to use a low-level testosterone transition of medical doses (i.e. TRT) between C and C. We do not recommend this for most people. For long-term health, you should wait for a while after the PCT, generally rest for at least 4 weeks.
Another situation is patients with low testosterone. They cannot secrete enough testosterone and need additional supplements. If he does C, he can continue the previous testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) after stopping. PCT can only stimulate testosterone secretion, which is not enough, and it is useless for them.
PCT recovery medication
Theoretically, there are many options, but the two main ones are Clomid and Nolvadex. Both belong to Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs). Like other SERMs, Clomid and Nolvadex stimulate the release of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, increasing testosterone secretion. Most PCT only requires these two drugs.
Human Chorionic Gonadatropin (HCG) is also used during PCT. Many people will add low doses of HCG to their steroid use, 1000-1500iu several times a week. HCG simulates luteinizing hormone, so it can make the testicles secrete testosterone in the presence of exogenous testosterone, but it does not stimulate the secretion of true luteinizing hormone. HCG is taken earlier in the steroid cycle, which is to make recovery easier (in theory). HCG is also used in C to prevent testicular atrophy caused by steroids. Testicular atrophy is reversible. When steroids are stopped and testosterone is secreted again, the testicular size will slowly recover.
If HCG is used in C, it can be stopped after the cycle, but some people use it in C for different purposes. HCG can greatly increase estrogen in some men, even when AI is used. AI is usually used to fight feminization problems, but it is best to keep it to a minimum. If there is no HCG in the steroid cycle, it may appear at the beginning of the PCT (discussed below).
AI can stimulate LH and FSH, so it will also appear in the PCT, but the problem is that they will reduce estrogen, sometimes causing estrogen to be too low. An important part of the PCT plan is to restore the body to normal, including maintaining normal estrogen levels. Estrogen is not an evil hormone as many men, especially steroid users, think. It is extremely important for muscle building, sex life, psychology and many other aspects of health. Too high or too low estrogen levels are problematic.
When to start PCT recovery
If you are using a short-chain steroid, such as Test P, Tren A, etc. PCT should be started three to four days after the last injection. And if the steroid ester chain is long, such as Test C, DECA, etc., you should wait at least 14 days before starting PCT, and DECA is best extended to 21 days.
If HCG is used as part of PCT (if used in C, it is generally not recommended), the steroid ester chain is short, and HCG starts about three days after the last steroid injection and lasts for ten days. If the steroid ester chain is long, HCG starts about ten days after the last injection and also lasts for ten days. In both cases, start SERM immediately after HCG ends.
SERM plan
Clomid and Nolvadex both stimulate LH and FSH, Nolvadex stimulates more LH, and Clomid stimulates more FSH. A reliable PCT uses both drugs. Four to six weeks is more effective.
As shown in the figure:
Week 1-2: Clomid 100mg per day
Week 1-2: Nolvadex 40mg per day
Week 3-4: Clomid 50mg per day
Week 3-4: Nolvadex 20mg per day
(Optional) Week 5-6: Nolvadex 20mg per day
When to start the next steroid cycle
For health reasons, the rule is to use and stop medication for the same length of time. If C lasts for ten weeks and PCT is four weeks, you have to wait fourteen weeks before starting the next steroid cycle. A mistake many people make is to think that they can start the next C once the testosterone level has recovered. But at this time, the body has not fully recovered to normal.
Blood test
After PCT, it is recommended to have a blood test to see how the various indicators have recovered, but this is not all. PCT uses SERM to stimulate testosterone secretion, so it is generally necessary to wait 4 to 6 weeks before doing a blood test to confirm the recovery situation.
Blood test items
1.Total testosterone
2.Free testosterone
3.Estrogen
4.Optional, blood cell count
5.Optional, blood nutrient status
6.Cholesterol (total, LDL, HDL)
7.Optional, LH and FSH
Note: If you use 19nor (tren deca), you can also test progesterone and prolactin.
The most common misunderstanding about PCT
The testosterone secreted by the human body itself takes several months to fully recover after the steroid cycle or even after PCT. Many people think that once the PCT is over, everything will be fine if the indicators rise again. As mentioned before, true recovery means that the indicators are normal without any external help.