PCT For Women

[Over50]

How does this work for you ladies. Do you taper off and do you use meds to kick start your systems again.

[RDFinders]

this is going to be interesting to see the responses. i didn't think women used pct, but then i have heard of females using estrogen-blockers as part of their offseason and prep regimens.

[Sistersteel]

I usually recommend Clomid to bring levels of estrogen back into alignment as part of a post cycle therapy regimen for the more aggressive female user. Hcg promotes progesterone production and mimics the pituitary glands message to the ovary to release the egg. The use of HCG can be particularly useful when natural progesterone production is affected by androgynous progesterone based compounds. This process can cause some irritability, but hey, nothing is for free. Notice how the use of ancillaries in female PCT is very similar to the men's only serves different purposes. Another supplement that I swear by for reestablishing estrogen balance is an OTC soy product called Estroven. I suggest double the recommended dosing for the first week and then dropping it down to the suggested dosing on the box for the remaining 3 weeks. The effects of the soy product are slow and gentle, and as a result water retention due to sudden resurgence of estrogen is rarely a problem.

For the less experienced user seeking a less drastic alternative to female PCT to promote ovulation and bypass the risks and side-effects of the aforementioned fertility drugs, there are other natural remedies that are worth attempting. Vitamin B6, Evening Primrose Oil, Vitex (Chastetree Berry) to name a few. Natural progesterone cream is another option. The red clover is a very popular remedy and one that I highly recommend. It is high in calcium and magnesium and helps to nourish the uterus. False Unicorn Root and Stinging Nettle both help to restore and regulate hormonal balance as well as ovulation. Royal Jelly is also considered a natural alternative to Clomid, Licorice root possesses estrogenic activity, and is said to be beneficial as a uterine tonic and to induce normal ovulation.
I also find that Tribulus can induce ovulation in women. Tribulus increases the LH hormone (that rises sharply just before ovulation) and also raises FSH hormone.
Tribulus also promotes the development and maturation of the ovarian follicle.

Now some other suggestions when coming off cycle would be a taper which is usually not necessary for the more advanced user. However, many women have experienced less of a rebound with a post cycle taper with the much milder forms of AAS.

Post cycle depressions can be combated with 5HTP, St. Johns wart or valerian root.

If a woman supplements with testosterone without the use of an AI, estrogen levels are raised in an attempt to attain a homeostatic state. Once you discontinue the use of testosterone, the body's natural test production is shut down temporarily causing an immense surge in estrogen which results in the terribly dreaded estrogenic rebound. In this case, Nolvadex post cycle is highly recommended to allow estrogen to slowly level out as the test levels fall until homeostasis is attained once again.

And of course, last but not least, cardio and a clean diet are a staple in any post cycle regimen and necessary to promote health and hormonal balance.

Respect,

SS

[Over50]

Thank you SS and as before you have helped greatly and taught me about all this syuff for women. I kind of thought women would need a PCT just as men because changing hormones is changing hormones no matter what the sex. 1 more question as you know a friend is getting ready to do a deca and T cream cycle for a bulk what would you recommend for a PCT? Also what supplements would be wise to take with this cycle. She plans on using Arimidex at .5 E3D.

[Sistersteel]

How long does she plan on running this cycle?

[Over50]

How long does she plan on running this cycle?

2 months

[Sistersteel]

Its the test cream that I find tricky. I am still very unsettled about the dosing. Its hard for me to recommend proper PCT if I have no idea of how you are dosing the cream. If she had used test inject in the past, why not use it again? Is it the only thing that is at her disposal right now?

If this is a bulker, then controlling estrogen is not much of an issue. I honestly would not even recommend she use any Adex with this cycle. Save the Adex for the cutter with nolvadex. Far more effective.

The only thing I would recommend quite honestly, would be Estroven post cycle.

SS

[Over50]

Its the test cream that I find tricky. I am still very unsettled about the dosing. Its hard for me to recommend proper PCT if I have no idea of how you are dosing the cream. If she had used test inject in the past, why not use it again? Is it the only thing that is at her disposal right now?

If this is a bulker, then controlling estrogen is not much of an issue. I honestly would not even recommend she use any Adex with this cycle. Save the Adex for the cutter with nolvadex. Far more effective.

The only thing I would recommend quite honestly, would be Estroven post cycle.

SS

It is what she can get right now. It would be the same as applying 3/4 of a pack of Androgel a day. Its straight up Testosterone. I also thank you for your honesty its very refreshing to hear that from someone now a days. I am in agreement with you injectable test would be the best for her and not even T-CYP. I told her to get rid of the creams and get some injectables. I also told her about the NPP instead of the deca. she has never heard of it. So I am educating her as i get educated by you. To be honest all this female use interests me greatly because so few know anything about it and it is not the same as men in anyway. There is no reason a FBB shouldn't be safe when cycling as a men would be

[HeavyDutyGuy]

Have there been any studies on PCT for women? It seems like it would be considerably different than for men. HPTA axis not the same at all. I'd also think they'd want to normalize, not minimize estrogen levels post cycle. Not to mention reverse any androgenic side effects.

[Sistersteel]

Have there been any studies on PCT for women? It seems like it would be considerably different than for men. HPTA axis not the same at all. I'd also think they'd want to normalize, not minimize estrogen levels post cycle. Not to mention reverse any androgenic side effects.

We are minimizing the effects of an estrogen rebound with nolvadex which is caused by a surge in estrogen resulting from the use of aromatizing compounds.

There are hardly any studies on the female endocrine system and the use of anabolics let alone studies on PCT.

Most androgenic side effects are irreversible.

[Tatyana]

Have there been any studies on PCT for women? It seems like it would be considerably different than for men. HPTA axis not the same at all. I'd also think they'd want to normalize, not minimize estrogen levels post cycle. Not to mention reverse any androgenic side effects.

The HPA part of the axis is nearly identical (Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal).

It is only the end part of the axis, testicles or ovaries that varies and feedsback accordingly.

[Tre]

Have there been any studies on PCT for women? It seems like it would be considerably different than for men. HPTA axis not the same at all. I'd also think they'd want to normalize, not minimize estrogen levels post cycle. Not to mention reverse any androgenic side effects.
Just my opinion, but the purpose of a cycle is to make gains. And once you come off and enter maintenance mode, estrogen still is not really your friend. Why give up what you worked so hard to build? So, it stands to reason that one would *not* want the estrogen levels going back to normal too quickly post-cycle.

[Mandla]

Have there been any studies on PCT for women? It seems like it would be considerably different than for men. HPTA axis not the same at all. I'd also think they'd want to normalize, not minimize estrogen levels post cycle. Not to mention reverse any androgenic side effects.

I would agree with Tatyana. The HPA pathway should not differ with respects to gender. The communication is still hypo>pit>adrenals. The resulting hormonal levels will differ.