Dr. Mike Jansen
Dr. Mike JansenCurious about post-cycle therapy?
Then you’re in the perfect place. Inside this ultimate guide, we’ll breakdown exactly what post-cycle therapy (PCT) is and when you should use one.
Hint: After a SARMs or steroid cycle, this is VERY important…
Whether this is your first time running a post-cycle therapy, or you’re an experienced veteran with several cycles under your belt, we’ve gathered all the information on post-cycle therapy so you can make an informed decision.
In addition, this article will explore and answer a number of common questions about post-cycle therapy and how it’s used:
- Is post-cycle therapy necessary?
- Is it dangerous?
- How long should I run my post-cycle therapy for?
- Does it matter which product I use for my post-cycle therapy?
…And so much more!
Our team has checked all of the most important studies to give you science-based answers to all of your most important questions.
After reading this comprehensive guide, you will know why a post-cycle therapy is SO important after a SARMS or steroid cycle, and exactly how to perform one for optimal results.
Now let’s get started!
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What is Post-Cycle Therapy?
Post-cycle therapy is a specific protocol that bodybuilders and other athletes use after they stop using anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs.
Some of the most popular post-cycle therapy products include nolvadex, clomid, and HCG injections. However, many users are reporting excellent results from some of the newer post-cycle therapy products, such as Rebirth from Huge Supplements.
So why is a good post-cycle therapy so important for anyone who uses testosterone, SARMs or other performance enhancing drugs?
The short answer is anabolic steroids may impair your bodies ability to produce testosterone on its own, and a proper post-cycle therapy will restore your bodies natural testosterone production to normal levels.
However, to truly understand the importance of a good post-cycle therapy product, we need to talk about the benefits and side effects of anabolic steroids.
Anabolic steroids are sometimes used by bodybuilders and other athletes to improve their athletic performance.
Research shows that steroids are very effective at building muscle mass and strength, burning body fat, and even improving your cardiovascular endurance [1, 2]. In fact, research shows that as much as 6.4% of all men in the world have used anabolic steroids at some point in their lives [3].
The main reason steroids work is they raise your testosterone to super-physiological levels.
In other words, they raise your testosterone above and beyond what your body can produce on its own. Anabolic steroids are very effective for improving athletic performance, but they also have some serious side effects.
Research shows that long-term steroid use is associated with damage to the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys [4, 5].
However, one of the biggest side effects of anabolic steroids is they can limit, or even shut down your bodies’ own natural testosterone production.
We know from research that the average male produces anywhere from 21-70 mg of testosterone per week. Just compare this to competitive bodybuilders who are known to use 500-1,000 mg of exogenous testosterone per week, in addition to other anabolic steroids!
This supra-physiological concentration of testosterone in the blood creates a negative-feedback loop where the body shuts down its own natural testosterone production in the testes.
Indeed, numerous research studies have shown that anabolic steroids and high levels of exogenous testosterone result in decreased natural testosterone production and/or fertility issues [6, 7].
This is ok when you are on a cycle. However, it has the potential to create serious problems when someone takes a break from anabolic steroid use and must rely on their body’s own natural testosterone production.
And this is where post-cycle therapy comes into play.
A good post-cycle therapy will restart your bodies natural testosterone production following a cycle of anabolic steroids.
As any experienced steroid user will tell you, these periodic breaks where you stop using steroids are essential to minimize side effects and maintain good overall health.
Research shows that a proper post-cycle therapy is essential even after using more mild anabolic steroids, such as Anavar [8].
SARMs are also known to impair natural testosterone production in the body, so anyone using SARMS will also require a proper post-cycle therapy after finishing their cycle [9, 10, 11, 12].
Best Post-Cycle Therapy | 2020 Guide
There are many different post-cycle therapy products that you can choose from. Some of the most popular and effective products include Rebirth PCT, Nolvadex, Clomid and HCG.
Each of these products have the same goals: to re-start your bodies natural testosterone production following a steroid cycle and to minimize any side effects that you experienced during your cycle.
So which product should you choose?
The truth is all of these products have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Rebirth PCT and HCG may be a good option for individuals coming off cycles with more moderate dosages of testosterone. These products are ideal for kick-starting your bodies natural testosterone production, while minimizing any unwanted side effects.
Rebirth PCT is a very popular option with individuals new to anabolic steroids, as it uses many natural ingredients that work synergistically to raise your bodies’ testosterone levels, while HCG has strong benefits for reproductive health.
Other prescription medications such as Nolvadex and Clomid are also commonly used for post-cycle therapy purposes.
Nolvadex and Clomid are significantly stronger than Rebirth PCT and HCG, and are more appropriate following more advanced steroid cycles with larger dosages.
These products also have more side effects, so they should be used with caution.
Rebirth PCT
Rebirth PCT is our top recommendation for anyone interested in a post-cycle therapy product. Rebirth PCT contains 11 different ingredients that work synergistically to kick-start your bodies natural testosterone production following a cycle of performance enhancing drugs.
It also works to minimize any of the other side effects that you may experience after you come off your cycle.
So what makes Rebirth PCT so effective as a post-cycle therapy product?
One of the biggest reasons is that it contains many powerful testosterone-boosting plant compounds, including safed musli, tribulus terrestis, and ashwagandha root.
All three of these natural plant substances have been clinically proven to raise men’s testosterone levels, even if they already have testosterone levels in the healthy, normal range [13, 14, 15, 16].
Rebirth PCT also contains different testosterone boosting minerals, such as zinc and magnesium, to give your body all the raw materials it needs to maximize its own natural testosterone production.
Studies have shown that supplementing with zinc and magnesium can increase free testosterone levels by as much as 33% [17]!
Rebirth PCT also includes many other ingredients, such as D-aspartic acid, which has been shown in studies to boost total testosterone levels, and bioperene, which increases the absorption of all other ingredients [18, 19, 20].
One of the main benefits of Rebirth PCT is that it has minimal side effects.
In fact, many users find that it reduces some of the side effects that they experience during and after a cycle of performance enhancing drugs.
It’s important to note that Rebirth PCT is designed to be used after more mild steroid cycles. For example, it may be an appropriate choice following a cycle of Anavar, SARMs, or even after a low-dose cycle of testosterone.
This isn’t just our opinion, though: research shows that more mild post-cycle therapy products such as Rebirth PCT are extremely effective at restoring natural testosterone production following more moderate steroid cycles [21, 22].
If you are a more experienced steroid user and are coming off a more “aggressive” steroid cycle, then you may want to consider using one of the stronger PCT products available, such as Nolvadex or Clomid.
Nolvadex PCT
Nolvadex is one of the oldest and most popular post-cycle therapy products.
It has been used sense 1962 as a treatment option for different cancers, including breast cancer [23]. However, it is commonly used by bodybuilders and other athletes after more aggressive steroid cycles, such as ones involving large dosages of testosterone, trenbolone, primobolan, or other powerful substances.
Most steroid users find that their natural testosterone levels drop while they are on cycle.
Many users also find that their estrogen levels are elevated while on cycle, as some of their exogenous testosterone is being converted into estrogen by a process called aromatization.
Nolvadex works by addressing both of these problems: it raises your bodies natural testosterone production following a steroid cycle, and it lowers your estrogen levels.
Nolvadex is technically a SERM, or a selective estrogen receptor modulator. It works by actively inhibiting estrogen production in the body.
Estrogen is not a “bad” hormone, as it plays a critical role in men’s overall health.
However, having too much estrogen following a steroid cycle can result in many unwanted side effects, such as the development of gyno, or male breast tissue.
Nolvadex can be used to bring estrogen levels back into the healthy, normal range following a steroid cycle. However, Nolvadex also works by increasing your body’s natural testosterone production.
The science is a little complicated, but when your body senses decreased estrogen levels, it immediately starts producing more luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone.
And these two hormones signal your testes to start producing more testosterone.
In summary, Nolvadex decreases estrogen production and increases testosterone production in your body. This is extremely important for anyone wanting to keep their gains and minimize side effects following a steroid cycle.
Unfortunately, users often report a greater number of side effects when using Nolvadex as a post-cycle therapy. Some of the most common side effects include nausea and headaches.
Studies show that Nolvadex may also cause cancer in about 1 in 500 individuals [24].
Advanced steroid users may consider using nolvadex, as it has a greater capacity to raise endogenous testosterone levels and control estrogen levels than a product using natural ingredients, such as Rebirth PCT.
Clomid PCT
Clomid, or clomiphine citrate, is another extremely popular post-cycle therapy product.
Clomid is a synthetic hormone that was originally used to treat women who were having difficulty ovulating. However, many men find that clomid is an ideal choice for a post-cycle therapy.
Clomid is another selective estrogen receptor modulator, or SERM. It works by decreasing your body’s natural estrogen production and increasing your natural testosterone production.
One of the things we like about clomid is it’s one of the most research-backed PCT products available anywhere in the world.
A recent menta-analysis found that a low dose of clomid was effective in raising testosterone levels and improving the testosterone / estrogen ratio in men suffering from hypogonadism, or low testosterone levels [25].
Another study showed that 75% of men who used clomid had an improvement in their sexual function, while 100% of men had a significant increase in both luteinizing hormone and free testosterone levels [26].
Of course, there are some downsides to using clomid as your PCT. Clomid is a prescription medication and can only be obtained with the consent of a doctor.
Clomid also has more significant side effects than something like Rebirth PCT.
For this reason, many experienced steroid users prefer to use clomid after a longer or more aggressive steroid cycle.
If you are a good candidate for clomid, then your doctor may prescribe you a dose between 50-100 mg.
HCG PCT
HCG, or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is another popular product that can be used to raise your natural testosterone production following a steroid cycle.
HCG is different from something like Clomid or Nolvadex because it does not impact your estrogen levels. Instead, it acts like luteinizing hormone in the body and directly stimulates your testes to produce more testosterone.
Many steroid users find that they are able to completely restore their bodies natural testosterone production just by using HCG as a post-cycle therapy.
This is good news, as steroid cycles are known for temporarily lowering your bodies natural testosterone production. Fortunately, there are a large number of studies supporting the use of HCG as a post-cycle therapy product.
One recent study found that men who used HCG for 6 months were able to significantly improve their natural testosterone production [27].
HCG is a great choice for men who are coming off from mild steroid cycles, as it does not have as many side effects as other prescription medications, such as Nolvadex or Clomid.
Another benefit of HCG is it can be a great choice for anyone using testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT. Research shows that men who use testosterone replacement therapy have a drop in their natural testosterone production by as much as 94%.
This makes sense, as the body sees little need to produce testosterone on its own when you are providing it with an exogenous source of the hormone.
However, research shows men who take HCG alongside their TRT dose may experience an increase in natural testosterone production by as much as 26% [28]!
This means that if you ever decide to take a break from testosterone therapy in the future, you will experience far fewer initial side effects, as your bodies natural testosterone production will be unchanged.
Overall, HCG can be a great choice for a PCT following a more mild steroid cycle.
It is also appropriate to use as part of a TRT protocol to maintain your bodies natural testosterone production.
When to Start Post-Cycle Therapy?
Post cycle therapy should be performed for 4-8 weeks immediately after you finish your cycle of performance enhancing drugs, such as steroids, prohormones, or SARMs.
Performing a post-cycle therapy right after your steroid cycle is so important because steroids are known to lower your bodies own natural testosterone production. In fact, research shows that anabolic steroid users have significantly lower natural testosterone production than non-steroid users [6].
This can cause many short-term side effects, including sexual dysfunction and fertility issues [7].
Beginners who are using more mild steroid cycles can start their post-cycle therapy one day after taking their last injection (or one day after the last oral dosage, in the case of some SARMs and prohormones).
More advanced users who are coming off a more aggressive cycle may want to wait 2-4 days before starting their post-cycle therapy.
For example, someone who is using an injectable steroid 2 times per week may want to wait 3-4 days before starting their post-cycle therapy, as it will take a few days for the physiological effects of the steroid to decrease.
Most individuals choose to run their post-cycle therapy for 4-8 weeks after finishing their steroid cycle.
This is long enough to restore your bodies natural testosterone production, and to minimize any potential side effects following the steroid cycle.
As a general rule of thumb, longer post-cycle therapy periods are recommended for individuals performing longer, or more aggressive steroid cycles.
Post-Cycle Therapy For SARMS
SARMs were first developed by researchers in the 1990s.
Sense then there has been an explosion of interest in these research chemicals. SARMs, or selective androgen receptor modulators, are chemicals that have been shown to improve muscle mass and strength as well as many anabolic steroids.
The thing that makes SARMs unique is they only bind to the androgen receptors in humans. This means that they may have fewer side effects than more traditional anabolic steroids.
Indeed, numerous research studies have shown that SARMs are highly effective for boosting muscle mass and strength in human subjects [11].
The research is very clear that human subjects should perform a post-cycle therapy after using SARMs.
Studies show that SARMs shut down the natural testosterone production in human subjects, and the higher the dose, the more testosterone production is suppressed [12].
A proper post-cycle therapy is essential for restoring the subject’s natural testosterone production following the SARMs cycle.
Subjects may find that an over the counter product, such as Rebirth PCT or ECG is appropriate for use as a post-cycle therapy, rather than the more powerful prescription medications like Nolvadex and Clomid.
This is good news for researchers who want to minimize any unwanted side effects in their research subjects following a SARMs cycle.
Post-Cycle Therapy For Steroids
Anyone who chooses to use anabolic steroids MUST perform a post-cycle therapy lasting at least 4-8 weeks after their cycle.
This will help the user maintain the gains they made while on-cycle, as well as minimize the number of side effects that they experience after cycling off.
Anabolic steroids are more powerful than SARMs and prohormones. Therefore, they usually require a stronger post-cycle therapy product to restore the bodies natural testosterone production.
The best post-cycle therapy for steroid users would be a prescription medication such as Nolvadex or Clomid.
Both of these products have been shown to control excess estrogen levels and raise the bodies’ natural testosterone production following a steroid cycle.
Other products can be used for beginner users who are running very short steroid cycles with low doses. However, experienced users will find that Nolvadex or Clomid are more appropriate for longer and more aggressive cycles.
Please note that Nolvadex and Clomid are prescription medications, and can only be administered by a medical doctor.
Buy Post-Cycle Therapy Supplements Online
Post-cycle therapy is one of the most important parts of a steroids or SARMs cycle.
It will help you keep your hard-earned gains, while reducing the number of side-effects you experience after you finish your cycle.
Our top recommendation for a post-cycle therapy product is Rebirth PCT by Huge Supplements.
Rebirth PCT uses 11 natural ingredients which work synergistically to raise your bodies’ natural testosterone production.
Unlike other prescription medications like Clomid or Nolvadex, Rebirth PCT can be purchased online without the need to talk to your doctor.
The Best PCT For You | Verdict
Post-cycle therapy is a protocol that is performed for the first 4-8 weeks after you finish your steroid cycle.
Post-cycle therapy has a simple goal: to restore your body’s natural testosterone production, and to minimize the side affects you experience after you finish your cycle.
There are many post-cycle therapy products that you can choose from.
Prescription medications like Clomid and Nolvadex are appropriate for advanced steroid users who are running longer, or more aggressive steroid cycles. ECG is also an appropriate option for many individuals, including people who are on testosterone replacement therapy.
If you are looking for an over-the-counter product with natural ingredients, then its hard to beat Rebirth PCT by Huge Supplements.
Regardless of which product you use, it’s important to run your post-cycle therapy for a full 4-8 weeks.
That is the only way to keep as much muscle mass as possible after completing your cycle.