So do you know HCG?

[Deacon]

Lately this topic has become interesting to me. So I decided to pick the brains of a few experts and try my own experiment on myself.

I have concluded three things;

1- HCG is very misunderstood and underused.

2- Most of what has been preached is WRONG!

3- HCG is maybe more important than anything else for PCT purposes.

I will go into this deeper in the future but I seriously think we were all depriving ourselves of a major tool that will be more productive than most every other PCT tool you may have ever heard of.

Okay I know alot of you who are very knowledgable are gonna scream over this post - I just invite you vets to try it sometime and then tell me what you think.

Here is what I have concluded;

YES - run HCG during your cycle BUT at 200-250 IU's 2-3 times per week no more no less.

YES - run HCG while on PCT - yes! while on PCT! 200- 250 IU's 2-3 times per week WHILE on clomid and nolva or one or the other alone ( Myself I now believe that running both is the best way to recover - both drugs do very different things to the human body and running just one is really cheating yourself) and I do believe that running HCG while on PCT is very beneficial to you. There happen to be a lot of studies that suggest this right now - and I feel the old HCG protocol is about to change.

I recently ran HCG with clomid and nolva at the same time (2 weeks HCG 2 weeks clomid/nolva after a short test only cycle) and can only tell you it was the best freaking PCT ever!

I am convinced of one thing - using HCG with your PCT certainly won't harm you - in fact it will give you benefits you have never dreamed of!


I await the criticism to this post with open arms. I think there are more arguments for HCG with PCT than against if you start searching.

I know it worked for me - and I would never waste my time posting this if it didnt.

BTW you should IMO run HCG with several weeks of PCT even if you did not run any HCG during your cycle.

[buck]

I agree with you on most of what you wrote. But I would like to see some study or 2 pertaining to hcg during pct.

[freedomfighter]

In those studies the dosages are too high. 250-500ius ed for 2 weeks will get the job done PCT. If you use during the cycle at that dose. The PCT can be even shorter. I've said it may times, Testicular atrophy is the single greatest hindrance to recovery, not a suppressed HPTA .

Freedomfighter

[freedomfighter]

K, I don't understand. Were you partaking in these tests? I just pointed out that an injection of 5000ius will radically raise the Test level and some of that will aromatise as the body seeks homeostasis. Then there will be a partial shutdown of the HPTA. Could be why the LH and other hormones were lower. I'm just questioning the methodology of these doctors. Improper use of HCG could have skewed their results. Its partially because of such that there's so much misinformation about AAS floating about. Bill Roberts has suggested that one shot of 5000ius of hcg could harm the Leydig cells.
So these professionals were helping you through a cycle?

Freedomfighter

[Deacon]

here is another artuicle taken from the HRT PCT protocol search on this site;




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 LH Levels


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 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

[Deacon]

yes Karch - the PM server is being revamped - they should be back up soon I hope.

[freedomfighter]

Not sarcastic. Just trying to clear up my misunderstanding. Now these doctors insist on 5000ius a shot. This is the protocol we should follow? Bill Roberts, even Swale(I'm not saying Swale prescribes aas cycles, but in his HCG therapy he uses much smaller amounts then these doctors did) say otherwise. Plus I know what worked for me. We each have to work out our own salvation.

Freedomfighter

[Deacon]

Originally Posted by freedomfighter

Not sarcastic. Just trying to clear up my misunderstanding. Now these doctors insist on 5000ius a shot. This is the protocol we should follow? Bill Roberts, even Swale(I'm not saying Swale prescribes aas cycles, but in his HCG therapy he uses much smaller amounts then these doctors did) say otherwise. Plus I know what worked for me. We each have to work out our own salvation.

Freedomfighter

regardless of all of these studies you are right - we each have to find what works best for us - my point on this post is to simply disprove the fact that you can't run HCG and clomid together I belive now that you can - and also to try and prove that HCG does more than just bring your nuts back up to size

[freedomfighter]

No, it just shows that they are still acting on old methodologies put forth by the companies that manufacture the HCG. It shows that all studies must be unscrupliously checked out for such errors. Misinformation is what caused the downfall of aas in the first place. Read Rick Collins' Legal Muscle. As a lawyer you'll find it eye opening. Studies can be done by bias scientisits to draw the conclusions desired by those that funded the research. I'm not saying that was done here. But I do believe these doctors were following misinformation(That it is healthy to use high doses of HCG). Ask Swale if he would ever give anyone a 5000iu shot of HCG. Or don't I'm just trying to help.

Freedomfighter




Freedomfighter

[freedomfighter]

You know me by a different handle. Mostly from the old Meso and Gymjunkies(rip). Not a BBer. But used to do HRT. Have studied aas for 6 years. Sorry I have offended you. That was not my intention. Please forgive me.

Freedomfighter

[Texas Ranger]

Good info!!

[freedomfighter]

Thanks for the kind words K. I just noticed where you are located "in a 10 cc bottle" LOL

Freedomfighter