PCT - Post Cycle Therapy1. To reboot your natural hormonal functions suppressed during the cycle, principally to let testosterone return to its normal levels. 2. To maintain the gains achieved from the cycle, this is positively achieved when the first point is catered. In order to fully recover your natural test production, you need some substances for stimulating your hypophysis to restart its activity regularly. These medicinal are subdivided in two families: SERM (Selective estrogen Receptor Modulator) and AI (Aromatase Inhibitor). SERMs: These compounds bind to estrogen receptors and exhibit the good estrogen actions which go with our recovery. They're used for a post-cycle treatment because they stimulate the hypophysis to release more Gonadotropin, thriving to a faster and higher release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Both of these hormones signal the testes to produce more sperm and testosterone , letting the body to return to the standard production values. AIs: They are different than SERMs, being not estrogen. They act preventing the conversion of androgens into estrogens. After ending a cycle the body don't get exogenous hormone anymore and its natural hormone production has been in part suppressed. Here comes the risk of any estrogen-related side effect, like fat and water gains, gynecomastia, low libido and all the others mentioned before. Using an AI to inhibit estrogen receptors will suppress any temptative of these issues to come out. For this reason they are often used during a cycle, to prevent test aromatization to estrogen through the aromatase enzyme. Most used SERMs are: Nolvadex (Tamoxiphene Citrate) and clomid (Clomiphene Citrate). Most used AIs are: Letrozole (Femara), Arimidex (Anastrozole), Aromasin (Exemestane) and Liquidex. Proviron is also used being an androgen with high anti-E properties. When have I to start my post-cycle cure? This is a good read where to learn the various start times according to the drugs used for the cycle: What is HCG and when I use it? HCG, respectively Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is advised when the sperm production in your body needs to be quickly fixed. Practically, when the boys are shrinking and they need to be refilled up! Sometimes people find useful to run it even during the last weeks of a long cycle, at 500IU twice per week. Do not EVER run it alone without a SERM, because it replace natural LH function over a certain period and it need to be reboosted once HCG intake is done. That's why I usually suggest it only in case of necessity. Example of PCT for a standard 10/12 weeks AAS cycle Weeks 1-2 : Nolvadex @ 40mg/day Weeks 3-5 : Nolvadex @ 20mg/day Weeks 1-4 : Aromasin @ 25mg/day Eating during PCT Don't make the error to lower the calories while on PCT thinking that your body's not at the high anabolic state like when it's juiced (wow, I can't believe this is just the first time I use this word). You have to maintain what you gained and PCT drugs don't do miracles themselves, same like AAS, so keep them high to maintain what you gained and change the diet along with your goals. |