PCT HCG Dosage – The Complete Guide
It was noted a lot of times in Internet articles and your friends in the gym – the most important part of each steroid cycle is post cycle therapy. You can pick any of thousands of options, it is only your choice, but today we are going to talk about PCT HCG dosage, what it is, how you should use it and much more.
What is HCG
It may sound really gross but HCG or human chorionic gonadotropin is extracted from the urine of pregnant women. HCG is not an anabolic steroid. More precisely, it is a protein hormone that is produced in the placenta (uterus) of pregnant women. HCG is formed in the female body in the first 6-8 weeks of pregnancy and makes possible the subsequent production of estrogens and progestogens in the corpus luteum. As a result, the production of these hormones begins in the placenta itself. HCG enters the kidneys from the bloodstream and then excreted with the urine.
When we use testosterone or its derivatives or ethers, we disrupt the work of the chain Hypothalamus – Pituitary gland – Testicles (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis). The hypothalamus notices an increase in the level of androgens in the blood, which we create artificially and stops sending signals to the pituitary gland for the production of the above hormones – FSH and LH, consequently, testosterone in Leydig cells is not produced, because it is already in excess. Prolonged inactivity of Leydig cells leads to their atrophy. This is one of the main dangers of using anabolic steroids.
There are two main purposes for which HCG is used in sports: during a long cycle to maintain the performance of the testicles, and during the PCT to accelerate the “start” of the production of your own testosterone. But what exactly can HCG give to you? It can save you from hypogonadism. It is when your testicles begin to resemble raisins and not the first freshness. When HCG enters the bloodstream it makes your glands work and release testosterone, sending your testicals to their functioning level which you had before starting the course.
As it was noted before there are several reasons to use HCG. You can run it during your main steroids cycle or after cycle during your post cycle therapy. Injectable HCG is a dry substance enclosed in an ampoule (vial). A vial with HCG should be accompanied by an ampoule with a solution. This is usually a sodium chloride solution. The powder dissolves well in solution. The resulting mixture must be introduced into the body. If you did not use all the liquid, then the rest should be placed in the refrigerator. Dry HCG should be stored in a dark place at a temperature not higher than plus 25 degrees Celsius.
If we talk about pct hcg dosage, then we can give only rough recommendations. For example, the notorious Bill Philips advises to take 4000 IU (International Units) per week for two to three weeks. However, there are other recommendations, according to which the intake of HCG should be approached individually, based on how long the steroid cycle was, how high the dosages were and what drugs were used.
Another question concerns how often to inject gonadotropin. One of the favorite models of bodybuilders is the option in which 1000-1500 IU of gonadotropin is injected every second day. On the other hand, according to research by scientists, a single HCG injection of about 1500 IU increases the plasma testosterone level by 250-300% and this lasts for several days (up to five or six). Therefore, it is possible that more infrequent injections, for example every five days, would be more appropriate. If we talk about how long you should be on gonadotropin, then almost all sources are unanimous: no more than three, maximum four weeks.
Otherwise, the testes reaction to HCG injections will be minimal, which can lead to hypofunction of the gonads. At the same time, the pauses between courses of gonadotropin, according to Phillips, should be at least six months, although for a bodybuilder. If you are on steroids for eight to ten months a year, it will be difficult to avoid this condition.
Conclusion
Human chorionic gonadotropin is quite a unique and useful tool each athlete should know about. You can use it during the cycle, after the cycle or even your whole life due to its low toxicity. However, you should still be careful and you should calculate and take into account all the risks which await you during the cycle and after it. If you decided to include HCG in your PCT you should be very attentive to the dosages and gears you used during your main cycle. In this way you will not cause unnecessary consequences and get the best result.