HCG use during cycle???

[HeHateMe]

Was wondering if anyone here has used HCG during cycle...I remember reading an article by Dan Duchaine awhile back where he suggested 500 iu's a day for a couple weeks mid-cycle to keep the balls from shrinking so much...can't remember the exact protocol he suggested...if I were to do a 12 wk cycle of eq & deca (400mg and 300mg/wk respectively) how would i incorporate the HCG use???...my first cycle was deca solo at 450 mg/wk and although i made nice gains, and followed up with clomid therapy it took awhile before the nuts recovered...so i wanted to see if there was anything i could do to try to avoid such a lengthy recovery...any responses are appreciated

[Small]

Personally, considering that your cycle is not really that long, but also that it took you long time to recover from previous one, I would suggest using HCG not in a middle, but at the end of the cycle, 500iu/day for two weeks, starting 5 days before you are going to start Clomid, with Nolvadex 20mg/day, then Clomid for 3 weeks.

[GunzofSteel3]

Small.... Another familiar name from the old 101 board. Whats up bro. I like it midway personally. My nuts shrink like crazy on heavy test cycles. I am a firm believer on doing it midway and at the end. I also kept more gains although that could have been unrleated. They were all slightly different cycles with different training methods, different diets, different levels of commitment.

For me though, always 4-5 weeks in and then again at the end. To each his own I guess.

[iamdwalrus]

Option #1 just try 50mg of clomid/d throughout. Post cycle dosages are different obviously.

Option #2 HCG 500 iu's/day every every quarter mark of your cycle.

[bigchewy]

i read somewhere that someone was talking with a doc and said to use 500iu's saturday and sunday for the duration on the cycle and your balls shouldn't atrophy .i'm going to give it a shot with my next ten weeker of eq and test and we'll see how it go's.

bigchewy

[goliath.jr]

Originally posted by Small
Personally, considering that your cycle is not really that long, but also that it took you long time to recover from previous one, I would suggest using HCG not in a middle, but at the end of the cycle, 500iu/day for two weeks, starting 5 days before you are going to start Clomid, with Nolvadex 20mg/day, then Clomid for 3 weeks.

I thought that HCG should end as clomid begins?

[Small]

Originally posted by goliath.jr
I thought that HCG should end as clomid begins?

It's better to start hcg while some androgens are still present in your body, it will save you time. But, of course, Nolvadex must be used.

[goliath.jr]

Originally posted by Small
It's better to start hcg while some androgens are still present in your body, it will save you time. But, of course, Nolvadex must be used.

Right - but wouldn't running the two together be kinda counter-productive?

[Dimensionx]

No, it gets the balls set to produce test once fully off the juice. It impares LH though and can cause problems with long term use, like over 3-4 weeks straight.

[goliath.jr]

I understand all of that. But what I am saying is that clomid thereapy should begin *AFTER* HCG. Read this:

Clomid and HCG
By Nick and Bigfella - MuscleTalk.co.uk moderators
Nick can be contacted through the Muscletalk forum for any questions or comments.
-------------------------------------------------
One of the most frequently asked questions on MuscleTalk is how to use Clomid and HCG correctly.

(A note to Americans - when I say 'oestrogen' I mean 'estrogen' - we spell it correctly in the UK!)

Why Bodybuilders Use Clomid
Clomid is a generic name for Clomiphene Citrate and is a synthetic oestrogen. It is prescribed medically to aid ovulation in low fertility females. Another generic name is Serophene.

Most anabolic steroids, especially the androgens, cause inhibition of the body's own testosterone production. When a bodybuilder comes off a steroid cycle, natural testosterone production is zero and the levels of the steroids taken in the blood are diminishing. This leaves the ratios of catabolic : anabolic hormones in the blood high, hence the body is in a state of catabolism, and, as a result, much of the muscle tissue that was gained on the cycle is now going to be lost.

Clomid stimulates the hypothalamus to, in turn stimulant the anterior pituitary gland (aka hypophysis) to release gonadotrophic hormones. The gonadotrophic hormones are follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH - aka interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH)). FSH stimulates the testes to produce more testosterone, and LH stimulates them to secrete more testosterone. This feedback mechanism is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-testes axis (HPTA), and results in an increase of the body's own testosterone production and blood levels rise, to, in part, compensate for the diminishing levels of exogenous steroids. This is vital to minimise post cycle muscle losses.

Not all steroids do cause shut down of the feedback mechanism. Everyone is different and you must also take into account how long you have been using a certain steroid and at what dose in order to determine if you need Clomid or not.

Clomid also works as an anti-oestrogen. As it's a weak synthetic oestrogen, it binds to oestrogen receptors on cells blocking them to oestrogen in the blood. This minimises the negative effects like gynecomastia and water retention that may be a result of oestrogen that has aromatised from testosterone.

It's effect as an anti-oestrogen are quite weak though, and it should not be relied upon if you are going to be using androgenic steroids that aromatise at a rapid rate, or if you are pre-disposed to gynecomastia. Arimidex and Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) are far more effective anti-oestrogens.

Important note: Clomid does not, as is often thought, stimulate the release of natural testosterone, but rather works at reducing the oestrogenic inhibition caused by the steroid cycle. It does this in a similar manner to the way it and Nolvadex block oestrogen receptors in nipples to combat gyno development, i.e. by blocking the oestrogen receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary thus reducing the inhibition from the elevated oestrogen. This allows LH levels to return to normal, or even above normal levels, and in turn, natural testosterone levels to also normalise.

Inhibition of the HPTA is caused by either elevated androgen, oestrogen or progesterone levels. On cessation of the steroid cycle, androgen levels begin to fall and Clomid dosing is normally commenced according to the half-life of the longest acting drug in the system (see below).

This may also explain the reason individuals often find post-deca recovery more difficult, as the progesterone presence is untouched by the Clomid. We know that Clomid and Nolvadex (being very similar chemically) are both ineffective with regard to reducing progesterone related gyno, so it is reasonable to assume that Clomid has little effect against progesterone levels.

Clomid During A Cycle
When we use anabolic steroids, the level of androgens in the body rises causing the androgen receptors to become more highly activated, and through the HPTA, a signal tells our testes to stop producing testosterone. During a cycle the body has far higher than normal levels of androgens and, as long as this level is high enough, Clomid will not help to keep natural testosterone production up. It will be almost all but completely shut off, in theory.

Some heavy androgen users, however, do advocate a small burst of Clomid mid-cycle, though it must be hard for them to say if it really of any benefit, due to the amount of gear they are using. Therefore, the only purpose of Clomid during a cycle is as an anti-estrogen.


When To Start Clomid
The correct time to commence Clomid depends on the type and cycle of steroids you have been using. Different steroids have different half-lifes (indicates the time a substance diminishes in blood), and Clomid administration should be taken accordingly.

As we have seen above, Clomid taken when androgen levels in our blood are still high will be a waste. It is crucial to wait for androgen levels to fall before implementing our Clomid therapy. However, if taken too late we could possibly lose gains.

The list below determines when you should start Clomid. Select from the list any steroids you've used in your cycle and whichever one has the latest starting point is the time to commence Clomid. For example, if Dianabol, Sustanon and Winstrol were cycled, the time for administering Clomid should be 3 weeks post cycle, as Sustanon remains active in the body for the longest period of time.

Steroid Time after
last administration Length of
Clomid Cycle
Anadrol50/Anapolan50: 8 - 12 hours 3 weeks
Deca durabolan: 3 weeks 4 weeks
Dianabol: 4 - 8 hours 3 weeks
Equipoise: 17 - 21 days 3 weeks
Finajet/Trenbolone: 3 days 3 weeks
Primabolan depot: 10 - 14 days 2 weeks
Sustanon: 3 weeks 3 weeks
Testosterone Cypionate: 2 weeks 3 weeks
Testosterone Enanthate/Testaviron: 2 weeks 3 weeks
Testosterone Propionate: 3 days 3 weeks
Testosterone Suspension: 4 - 8 hours 2-3 weeks
Winstrol 8 - 12 hours 2-3 weeks


How To Take Clomid
Clomid has a long half-life (possibly 5 days), so there is no need to split up doses throughout the day. If Sustanon has been used and Clomid is commenced 3 weeks after the last injection, I would estimate that androgen levels are low enough to start sending the correct signals. If androgen levels are still a little high, we need to start at a high enough amount that will work or help, even if androgen levels are still a little high. Try 300mg on day 1; then use 100mg for the next 10 days; followed by 50mg for 10 days.

Using HCG
It is our opinion that HCG is probably one of the most misunderstood and misused compounds in bodybuilding. Hopefully this information will go some way towards rectifying that for the members of MuscleTalk. HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin and is not a steroid, but a natural peptide hormone which develops in the placenta of pregnant women during pregnancy to controls the mother's hormones. (Incidentally, this is the reason you may hear of people testing for growth hormone (HGH) with a pregnancy testing kit - If their HGH shows 'pregnant', they've been ripped-off with cheaper HCG - but we digress slightly).

Its action in the male body is like that of LH, stimulating the Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone even in the absence of endogenous LH. HCG is therefore used during longer or heavier steroid cycles to maintain testicular size and condition, or to bring atrophied (shrunken) testicles back up to their original condition in preparation for post-cycle Clomid therapy. This process is necessary because atrophied testicles produce reduced levels of natural testosterone, this situation should be rectified prior to post-cycle Clomid therapy.

HCG administration post-cycle is common practice among bodybuilders in the belief that it will aid the natural testosterone recovery, but this theory is unfounded and also counterproductive. The rapid rise in both testosterone, and thus oestrogen due to aromatisation, from the administration of HCG causes further inhibition of the HPTA (Hypothalamic/Pituitary/Testicular Axis - feedback loop discussed above); this actually worsens the recovery situation. HCG does not restore the natural testosterone production.

The typically observed dosing of 2000 to 5000IU every 4 to 5 days causes such an increase in oestrogen levels via aromatisation of the natural testosterone that this has been responsible for many cases of gynecomastia.

From the above discussion it is clear that HCG is best used during a cycle, either to:

1) Avoid testicular atrophy, or
2) Rectify the problem of an existing testicular atrophy.

Doses of HCG
Smaller doses, more frequently during a cycle will give best overall results with least unwanted side effects. Somewhere between 500iu and 1000iu per day would be best over about a two-week period. These doses are sufficient to avoid/rectify testicular atrophy without increasing oestrogen levels too dramatically and risking gynecomastia. This dosing schedule also avoids the risk of permanently down-regulating the LH receptors in the testes.

Presentation and Administration of HCG
Synthetic HCG is often known as Pregnyl (generic name) and is available in 2500iu and 5000iu (not ideal for the above doses!). Administration of the compound is either by intra-muscular or subcutaneous injection. It comes as a powder which needs to be mixed with the sterile water. The powder is temperature-sensitive prior to mixing and should not be exposed to direct heat. After mixing, it should be kept refrigerated and used within a few weeks - though there are sterility issues which need to be considered after mixing.

Summary and Price of Clomid and HCG
Clomid is more effective than HCG post cycle, but some long-term users like to use HCG during a cycle, or to prepare the testes for Clomid therapy.

[Saint7]

For long cycles where the ole gonads start to shink It is best to use 500iu/ed. I have found the with the 5000iu's you could use a sterile vial, 1cc/1ml of bac water, and break it down to 10 shots with an insulin pin. On the insulin pin use 1/10 of a cc and that will give you 500iu's. Use nolva during to fight gyno and clomid post cycle. Hope that helps. your brother in the iron game, Saint7

[goliath.jr]

^bump

[goliath.jr]

I'd like to hear the argument as to why HCG and clomid should be run together. I'm about to start HCG, so I'd like to hear all sides so I can best determine how I want to run it.

[jack hust]

i run it the sat and sunday way now myself works good for me

[goliath.jr]

What I have planned so far is:

fina - weeks 12-14
test week 12
HCG - weeks 14-15
Clomid begins at the end of week 15, 3 weeks after my last shot of sust.