Why is post-cycle therapy necessary?

Exogenous androgens suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. Without intervention, the resulting hypogonadism can persist for months and is associated with low libido, fatigue, mood changes and a loss of the gains made during the cycle. PCT uses SERMs (and sometimes hCG) to restart the natural testosterone signal.

PCT starts after the active drug has cleared the system. For testosterone enanthate or cypionate that is roughly 14 days from the last injection. For testosterone propionate it is 3–4 days. Starting earlier wastes the SERM against still-present exogenous androgens; starting much later prolongs hypogonadism.

Do SARMs require PCT?

Stronger SARMs (RAD-140, LGD-4033) suppress the HPTA in a dose-dependent way and most users follow a 4-week SERM-based PCT after a cycle. Lighter SARMs (Ostarine at low doses) cause measurable but milder suppression — bloodwork before and after the cycle is the only way to know whether PCT is needed for you.

Clomid or Nolvadex — which is better?

Both are SERMs that block estrogen feedback at the hypothalamus and restart LH/FSH. Clomid (clomifene) is more potent on the HPTA but more often associated with mood and visual side effects. Nolvadex (tamoxifen) is generally better tolerated. Many protocols combine a low dose of each for 4 weeks.

Post-cycle therapy (PCT) explained

Updated 2026-04-30 · Reviewed by the DeusPowershop editorial team

Post-cycle therapy is the protocol an athlete runs after a cycle of anabolic-androgenic steroids or suppressive SARMs to restart endogenous testosterone production. It is the single most important determinant of long-term endocrine health for anyone who uses these compounds. For background see the post-cycle therapy article on Wikipedia and the 2015 review of anabolic-steroid-induced hypogonadism (PMC4744102).

What suppression actually means

The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in pulses. GnRH triggers the pituitary to release LH and FSH. LH stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to make testosterone; FSH supports spermatogenesis. Exogenous androgens — and to a lesser extent SARMs — feed back negatively on the hypothalamus, shutting off GnRH. Within a few weeks LH and FSH are at the floor and endogenous testosterone production stops.

The four classes of PCT drug

SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators): Clomid (clomifene) and Nolvadex (tamoxifen). Block estrogenic negative feedback at the hypothalamus → LH and FSH rise → testes restart.
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): mimics LH, stimulating the Leydig cells directly. Used during long cycles or just before SERM-PCT to restore testicular volume; not run alongside SERMs in classical protocols.
AIs (Aromatase Inhibitors): anastrozole, exemestane. Lower estradiol when it is over-converting on cycle. Not a PCT drug — running an AI through PCT crashes estradiol and stalls recovery.
Enclomiphene: the trans-isomer of clomifene with fewer mood/vision side effects. Increasingly used as a Clomid alternative.

A standard 4-week SERM PCT

Start once active compound has cleared (see the timing FAQ above). The most-published protocol:

Week	Clomid	Nolvadex
1	50 mg/day	40 mg/day
2	50 mg/day	40 mg/day
3	25 mg/day	20 mg/day
4	25 mg/day	20 mg/day

For lighter SARM-only cycles a single SERM at half these doses for 4 weeks is usually enough. For long or harsh cycles, hCG 250–500 IU twice weekly for 2–4 weeks before SERM-PCT helps restore Leydig-cell sensitivity.

Bloodwork is not optional

The only honest way to confirm a PCT worked is comparative bloodwork. A minimal panel:

Pre-cycle baseline: total testosterone, free testosterone, LH, FSH, estradiol (sensitive assay), SHBG, prolactin, full lipids, hematocrit, ALT/AST.
End-of-cycle: the same panel, to document where suppression and lipids landed.
4–6 weeks post-PCT: the same panel again. Total testosterone should be back inside its pre-cycle range and LH/FSH should be detectable.

What goes wrong

PCT started too early: SERMs fight a still-present androgen. Wait the half-life-based clearance window.
AI run through PCT: crashes estradiol, suppresses libido, stalls IGF-1 and frequently delays recovery.
Skipping bloodwork: "I feel fine" is not a recovery signal. Free testosterone in the bottom decile of the reference range is not fine.
Stacking back-to-back cycles: the longer the suppression, the lower the chance of full recovery. Allow at least cycle-length-equal time off.

Where to go next

Browse the oral steroids and injectable steroids categories — every product page links to its compound profile.
Read TUDCA and on-cycle liver support if your cycle includes 17α-alkylated orals.
Compare SARMs vs anabolic steroids if you are deciding between the two routes.