How much HCG for PCT????

[dirtyluke1]

my cycle was d-bol/deca/test 4weeks/10weeks/14weeks I got 3 weeks of test ehtnate left before the end of cycle then i will start clomid 2 weeks after last test injection but i want to run some HCG before i start the clomid to help speed up my recovery how much and how offten should i run the hcg?????

[hitmansb]

I like to take a 500iu shot of HCG every day for 10 days before starting Clomid. I run 20mg of Nolva with the HCG, and continue to run 20mg of Nolva per day through the end of PCT.

[Stout1]

Nick and Bigfella - MuscleTalk.co.uk moderators

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.

[house1]

nice read bro--

to many people use hcg for pct all it does is prolong your recovery-

best to be used during cycle

[mattlke]

Given this article and the whole theory on the hypothalamus-pituitary-testes axis, it seems quite obvious that administrating small doses more frequently is better than 5000UI every 4 days, for example. As is said in this article, many BBers are actually taking high doses every 4 or 5 days. Despite what many media want us to believe, BBers are not stupid and it's quite probable that this "rule of thumb" actually works. So what ? Is there any failure in the theory or it's simply that these bodybuilders don't choose the best way, if a more convenient way -less frequent injections- and sufficient for the reactivation of the Leydig cells despite all ?

[BENCH355ANIMAL]

I would start running the HCG now @ 500 I.U.'s on mOndays and Thursdays, then stop once Clomid therapy begins.

B355A

[coolk]

Also, I have read that you need to stop HCG at least 5 days, probably a week before starting Clomid. I think it is to not overstimulate the LH process or something.

[New_Mass]

I agree that hcg should be ran along with the cycle, but since this cycle was not that long you should be ok, i would do like bench said start now bro..