Everything you need to know about the PCT Recovery Plan

After a course of treatment anabolic steroids, It is essential to restore your HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis) to normal. In simpler terms, this means "weaning" your body off the excess hormones absorbed during your cycle. This is known as Post Cycle Therapy or restarting your cycle.

This helps to maintain good hormonal function and also to maximize the retention of gains after your treatment.

How does PCT work?

Hypothalamic neurons secrete GnRH* (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone), which activates the release of FSH* (Follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH* (Luteinizing hormone) by the gonadotropic cells of the adenohypophysis*.

These two hormones, by acting on the Liedyg* cells present in the testicles, help to maintain a constant level of plasma testosterone concentration, and thus male sexual characteristics.

During a course of anabolic steroids, your body receives a hormonal surplus. It will therefore react in a safe way by stopping this mechanism in an attempt to restore normal levels.

It is therefore important to "restart the machine" after the treatment.

This is what's called Post Cycle Therapy or PCT. The principle of PCT, even if it may seem restrictive, is actually very simple, and there are different protocols that will facilitate your restart.

The use of SERM

The most common protocol is the use of NOLVADEX and of the CLOMID after the treatment. These are two SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptior Modulator) complementary. SERMs work by binding to estrogen receptors, thereby signaling the body to release sufficient amounts of FSH and LH. See our section on protective measures.

The most common protocols are:

Or in the case of a major treatment:

Another protocol widely used in the United States:

Gonadotropin HCG

Gonadotropin, also known as hCG, is medically used as a fertilizing agent in women (to aid ovulation) and in some young children to help with testicular descent. Athletes became interested in it after realizing it was a hormonal stimulant that could be very useful after a cycle of anabolic steroids.

HCG allows for the artificial activation of LH and the maintenance of normal testosterone production.

It should be noted, however, that in the long term, testicular insensitivity to hCG can develop. This product should therefore be used with caution.

There are many different protocols. From our perspective, hCG should only be used during the initial cycle to maintain normal natural hormone production before starting PCT, or taken in conjunction with SERMs to support post-cycle therapy (PCT). Using it alone for PCT is not recommended.

• Use during treatment: 250 IU every two days is sufficient.
• Use during PCT: 5,000 IU per week in a single injection (In addition to the SERM protocol above for 3 weeks).

The perfect time to start your recovery

It is important to begin the post-cycle therapy (PCT) only after the steroids have finished taking effect. Therefore, the half-lives of the products must be taken into account to start the PCT protocol at the right time:

For example, in the case of a Sustanon/Equipoise treatment, you will start the recovery phase after 21 days.

You must take into account the longest half-life of the molecules used during the treatment to know when to start your restart.

Tips and tricks

• The addition of peptides, such as IGF1-LR3, GHRP-6 + CJC1295 combos can also prove very useful for a good PCT.
• The use of vitamin E will also enhance the effect of hCG. The recommended dose is 1,000 IU/day.

Lexicon :

• Liedyg cells: present in the testicles, they produce 95% of testosterone and ensure the maintenance of male sexual characteristics.
• Gonadotropic cells: Gonadotropins are the cells of the anterior pituitary gland that produce the two gonadotropins, follistatins, and luteinizing hormone.
• Adenohypophysis: Endocrine part or anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
• GnRH: peptide hormone responsible for the synthesis and secretion of FSH and LH by the anterior pituitary gland.
• LH: Luteinizing hormone (LH), also called interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH) in males, is a hormone produced by the gonadotropic cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It is one of the two gonadotropins, the other being follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). An LH deficiency leads to a lack of sex hormones.
• FSH: Its secretion is stimulated by GnRH. It has a structure similar to that of LH; this hormone is essential for spermiogenesis.