PCT - Post Cycle Therapy

Pro-hormones and PCT

Testosterone and other androgenic anabolic hormones are essential to the building of muscle, high strength levels, sex drive and fat loss. In order to enhance these effects many people use pro-hormones, Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids or other legal anabolics to create an environment in the body that cannot be achieved by normal hormone levels. When using these substances the hormonal balance in the body is drastically altered into a powerful growth mode and muscle tissue is rapidly acquired along with a host of other hormonal side affects, some good, some bad depending on the substances used.

Unfortunately the body’s HPTA (Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis) is disrupted during the cycle of pro hormones or steroids. The HPTA represents the three primary co-ordinators and manufacturers of natural testosterone in the body, the Hypothalamus, the Pituitary Gland and the Testes. The human body is based around a series of natural feedback loops to ensure that normal function is maintained. Essentially when this axis senses the presence of exogenous (hormones from a source outside the body) it down-regulates the natural production of testosterone to compensate, assuming that the natural testosterone is not needed in this state.

For both health and effectiveness reasons we cannot exist on pro-hormones or steroids indefinitely and they need to be cycled in and out in well planned phases to ensure maximum results and minimum impact on long term health. Unfortunately once these cycles come to an end the HPTA can remain disrupted and the body, now devoid of artificial hormones sources also finds itself with suppressed natural testosterone production as well. This is commonly referred to as ‘shutdown’ or ‘suppression’.

All being well eventually the body will slowly regain its ability to resignal testosterone production and return to its natural baseline level. Unfortunately this can take weeks if not months and in some cases of pro-hormone or steroid abuse this may even take years or may never occur at all. Even assuming the cycle was well-planned and executed and excessive abuse did not occur we now find our bodies in the perilous position of having no pro-hormone or steroid advantage and also pre-pubescent levels of natural testosterone.

This suppressed state means our bodies are perilously close to losing hard earned muscle as cortisol and other stress hormones outweigh anabolic androgens and we may find fat is more easily deposited in this state. Sex drive can be horribly reduced and general feelings of exhaustion and even depression can be seen.

Time for Post Cycle Therapy

The chief goal of Post Cycle Therapy is to stimulate the HPTA more rapidly into producing normal or better levels of testosterone and reduce the levels of Estrogen (the female sex hormone) which can cause significant side affects such as female fat deposits, Gynecomastia (female breast tissue) lower strength, lower sex drive etc.

Performing Post Cycle Therapy

Generally PCT protocols should begin the day you complete your pro-hormone or steroid cycle and should continue for a well planned amount of time. The only exception to this would be for slow-release injectable steroids which are suspended in an oil solution and therefore continue to release for up to several weeks (in these cases you should consult a reference guide to steroids to work out exactly when to begin PCT) You should plan and if possible purchase all your PCT items before even considering the actual pro-hormone or steroid cycle. PCT is absolutely not a choice. If you are unwilling to use PCT you really should avoid any type of pro-hormone or steroid cycle. PCT is as much a part of the overall plan and will make the difference between a wasted cycle with horrible weeks or months of vanishing results and a successful cycle with results you can realistically hold onto and build upon further.

As a general guideline Post Cycle Therapy should continue for AT LEAST the same amount of time as the PH (pro-hormone) or AAS (Anabolic Androgenic Steroid) cycle was performed. So for instance a 2 week on cycle means AT LEAST 2 weeks of PCT and a 4 week on cycle means AT LEAST 4 weeks of PCT. Many people will find however that PCT may need to be longer than this depending on both the type of PH or AAS used on the cycle (also if multiple items are stacked together) and also some individuals may suffer more suppression than others.

Without getting regular baseline androgen blood sample tests done it is virtually impossible to know exactly when normal function has been fully restored. Unless you have access to regular testing with a clinic or hospital or are willing to pay for these kinds of blood tests you will likely have to base your conclusions on several factors. These will include whether strength and mass remain more or less intact following a cycle; whether sexual function returns to your ‘normal’ level; whether you feel motivated during training or suffer from exhaustion and lack of focus and by keeping a close eye on fat levels. For these reasons it is generally best to err on the side of caution and plan on a longer PCT than may be necessary to ensure your normal testosterone function is restored and maintained.

Building a PCT Protocol

PCT products can be divided into 4 main categories. These are not all always essential but can be usefully employed after any cycle.

1. Anti-Estrogens
2. Pro-Testosterone boosters
3. Natural Muscle aids and fat loss supplements
4. Natural detoxification and health aids

1. Anti-Estrogens

Estrogen, the female sex hormone, can often rise as a side product of the cycle. It is essential to minimize the effect of this hormone in the male body as swiftly as possible.

Anti-Estrogens come in 3 primary forms, all of which reduce or control Estrogen in different ways.

SERM’S – (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators.) SERM’S work by blocking the effect of Estrogen in binding to its receptors in various tissues throughout the body. This does not reduce the existence of Estrogen but does modify its ability to perform various functions.

Medical prescription SERM’S include Tamoxifen Citrate (commonly called Nolvadex), Clomiphene Citrate (commonly called Clomid) and Toremifene Citrate.

Nolvadex has a long history of use in the treatment of breast cancer as it often reduces Estrogens affect in breast tissue. Clomid has regularly been prescribed as a fertility drug as it shows some ability to enhance the hormone release for pregnancy. These compounds are not available through supplement stores and are considered controlled medications in many countries.

Natural SERM’S include Resveratrol – a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-toxin which is found in grapes and red wine amongst other natural sources and has been shown to increase life-span as well as helping to modulate Estrogenic overload.

Other legal compounds are sometimes touted as natural SERM’S and evidence is mounting in some cases.

Legalised versions of SERM’S are also becoming available so it is worth keeping up to date with these products over the coming years.

NOTE: Some users who suffer regular bouts of gyno (bitch tits) and other noticeable Estrogen related issues often find run a SERM such as Nolvadex alongside the cycle rather than waiting for PCT to ensure these problems are ameliorated. Some people believe this can reduce overall gains but given that gyno can become permanent it may be worth slight loss of overall gains to ensure these problems are avoided in the first place.

AI’s – (Aromatase Inhibitors) AI’s work by blocking the action of the Aromatase enzyme which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to estradiol and androstenendione to estrone. This effectively shuts down the over-production of Estrogen which can often be converted from excess male androgens used during the cycle.

Medical AI’s include the drugs anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara) and exemestane (Aromasin).

Supplemental AI’s that are commonly sold legally include 4-etioallocholen-3,6,17-trione (6-OXO), Chrysin and high levels of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid).

ATD - 1, 4, 6-androstatriene-3, 17-dione is an andro derived product that is relatively new compared to the other Anti-Estrogen regulars. This compound is legally available and seems to work in a similar way to steroidal anti-estrogens which actively cause a natural rise in testosterone conversion and a concurrent drop in Estrogen levels.

Where possible it may be advisable to use a combination of all 3 forms of anti-estrogens following a heavy cycle.

2. Pro-Testosterone Boosters

During PCT the goal should be to get testosterone back to normal as rapidly as possible. This minimizes the time you spend in the unpleasant muscle wasting suppressed mode. There are a large variety of herbal and non-drug testosterone boosters available. These are generally available in natural test booster formulas that can be taken without pro-hormones or steroids to enhance natural testosterone levels. Although they will not raise testosterone to the levels found in a cycle they can lift it significantly above even your base rate and more importantly they do this quickly too. The faster you get your natural test levels activated and coursing through your system, the more likely you are to be able to keep hold of the muscle gains made during the cycle. You are also less likely to add fat or water bloat. A return to normal hormone function will also generally mean a higher and more stable sex drive which may have been disrupted by fluctuating hormone ratios.

Popular Testosterone boosters include the herbs Tribulus Terrestris, Maca Gold, Eurycoma Longifolia and Fenugreek extract. As these are herbal compounds it is important to look out for the highest quality standardized extracts where possible. This ensures that the formula contains the useful, active part of the herb and not useless filler. You can find many of these compounds as separate items or sometimes in combined test-booster formulas.

Non-herbal formulas such as 6-Bromo and DHEA have shown some major value in promoting extremely high natural levels of testosterone production and you may find these in some of the latest supplement formulas. DHEA is a natural precursor compound essential in the human body although its effect taken as a supplement is still up for debate. 6-Bromo is a close cousin of the 6-OXO AI compound but it has shown through its various isomers an ability to raise androgen levels and block Estrogen. This compound is now very popular as a stand alone alternative to some pro-hormones but it may have a very useful place in PCT protocols.

Pro-Testosterone boosters can be used throughout the whole of a PCT and it is still feasible to take them during natural training to offer an alternative to pro-hormones or steroids for a certain amount of the time. However, generally speaking, for PCT purposes it is very advisable to use one for the first two weeks of a PCT at least, especially if you have suffered a severe drop in libido (sex drive) and want it to return as quickly as possible.

3. Natural Muscle Aids and Fat Loss Supplements

Although pro-hormones and steroids are not addictive substances at all some people enjoy the easy gains and enhanced strength and performance that they can provide and end up wanting more and more cycles, risking both health and long term gains and ignoring the benefits of proper PCT. It can be dispiriting to return to natural training after the massive benefits of using pro-hormones or steroids and not see the huge gains or to watch strength and peak mass slip away slightly. During PCT it can often be helpful to deploy certain natural muscle aids or fat loss supplements to avoid some of the drop in performance you may expect. During the post cycle period your body is unlikely to be working at peak efficiency and is likely to be open to stress related muscle loss and fat gain. Ideally you want to keep as much of the gains made on cycle.

Natural anti-catabolic supplements such as HMB (beta-hydroxy betamethylbutyrate) and BCAA’s (Branched-Chain-Amino-Acids) are anti-wasting compounds and can help reduce the stress-induced cortisol down-sides during PCT. Creatine may also have a useful part to play ensuring that strength levels can stay high and training can continue at a quality level.

Specialised bridging compounds such as specific Forskolin extracts and pSARMS (phyto-selective-Androgen-Receptor-Modulators)can offer a mild pro-hormone like effect without downgrading the return of natural testosterone and may be useful to help ‘bridge’ the phase between a cycle and completely natural training. Using these compounds may even allow further gains to be made, even during PCT protocols.

Fat loss supplements such as Ephedra related stacks, 7-Keto-DHEA and other metabolism and thyroid boosters can be useful if your body responds to the stress of post cycle environment by adding unwanted body fat. Those with stimulant effects can also help if you feel tired and lethargic after a cycle and help you keep up your training which is essential to maintain those gains you made.

Of course a good protein supplement and post-workout recovery drink should be used at all times, whether training naturally, during a cycle or during PCT. Without the basic ingredients you cannot expect to maintain gains, let alone make new ones.

4. Natural Detoxification and Health Aids

During the PH or AAS cycle you will be training at an enhanced level. Unfortunately all exercise is a double edged sword, you require the stress of training to build a bigger, faster, stronger body and reduce dangerous body fat, however exercise also creates a lot of oxidative damage inside your body and for long term health reasons it is best to counter this damage as much as possible with a high quality, nutrient rich diet and, where necessary, extra anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and other co-factors.

In order to pass through the liver into the bloodstream, some pro-hormones and AAS can place extra stress on the liver which processes them. To help protect the liver it is often useful to use a detoxifying herb extract such as milk thistle which reduces the strain on this important organ. During PCT it can be useful to continue this compound for some weeks to ensure the liver is detoxified and returns to full working capacity.

The overall effect of pro-hormones is usually good however altering hormone levels in the body can produce a range of toxic by-products and unwanted inflammation, which is the route cause of certain diseases and poor health. In order to ensure your body can make a full recovery and maintain the impressive gains from a cycle you can make extra use of anti-oxidants and other vitamin and mineral blends.

Some of these such as Alpha-Lipoic-Acid, Vitamin C and Zinc/Magnesium blends (ZMA) are well known even away from PCT protocols but alongside you may find specific PCT blends and other herbal detoxification stacks add an extra layer of safety and protection. It is also wise to ensure you have an Omega-3/6/9 oil blend, either as capsules or as liquids. These oils are natural anti-inflammatories and can be used long term but are especially welcome during the PCT phase.