If you’re trying to get muscle definition and are taking performance-enhancing drugs, then this article is for you. It’s highly recommended to run a Post Cycle Therapy after finishing a cycle of any performance-enhancing drugs, like anabolic steroids.
What is Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)? Good question. Keep reading this guide to find out what it, how to use it, and why it’s so important for weightlifting and bodybuilding.
What is Post Cycle Therapy?
There are plenty of bodybuilders, weightlifters, and athletes that go through cycles of performance-enhancing supplements (e.g., anabolic steroids cycle, prohormones, or SARMs) to increase muscle mass and strength.
A PCT is what you would use after such a cycle.
It’s essentially another cycle of one or more supplements, usually taken for 3-8 weeks, to help restore the balance of your natural hormones by reducing estrogen and increasing testosterone. This ensures that you minimize any side effects of taking performance-enhancing drugs and maximize the gains you worked one in the past weeks.
In the past, PCT supplements and drugs did not exist so athletes and bodybuilders tapered supplements up and down rather than using proper cycling. This was pretty inefficient and it’s barely done nowadays.
If you’d like to dive deeper into PCT, you can check out this info.
What Type Should You Use?
Although there are various types of PCT (with varying strengths), there is no one type that fits all situations. Typically, a SARS or prohormone cycle are both considered to be less suppressive and therefore, a mild PCT should be enough to balance your hormones. On the other hand, an anabolic steroid cycle would require a stronger approach with a different set of pills.
Why Should You Use PCT?
When you take supplements to improve your performance, you’re boosting your hormones artificially. Your body registers this artificial boost and stops its natural production of hormones in response.
When you stop taking the supplements, it takes a while for your body to recognize that it needs to start producing them on its own again. It may take weeks or months for your hormone levels to return to normal.
During that time, without a PCT, you’ll lose precious muscle mass. So, you’re using PCT to kick start the body back into a normal hormone-producing rhythm as fast as possible.
Do You Have to Use PCT?
In this article, we’ve answered: what is post cycle therapy? But some of you might still be asking: do I really have to use PCT after taking supplements?
The answer is: if you don’t, you’ll lose the majority of the gains you’ve made. Without a proper PCT, it will take months to recover and you’ll experience lower-than-normal testosterone levels. These hormones are a vital support mechanism for muscle mass, mood, and libido.
In conclusion, using a PCT is highly recommended. And for more information about health in general, head over to our blog for various articles on sports, nutrition, and more!
