Post-cycle therapy (PCT) is one of the most confusing and controversial topics for steroid users. Not only do many bodybuilders disagree on what post-cycles people should be taking, but some even argue whether or not post-cycles are necessary at all! Here’s our guide to why a post-cycle therapy is needed after steroids.

What Is Post-Cycle Therapy?

Post-cycle therapy is a supplement regimen with the purpose of helping regulate your body’s estrogen levels and help keep your body’s hormonal levels normal after a cycle of prohormones or steroids.

Failing to take a good PCT can result in some serious side effects like gynecomastia (commonly known in the steroid-community as man-boobs), high blood pressure, and the loss of almost all the weight/strength gains you may have made while on-cycle.

Is A PCT Needed?

Do you need to a PCT after taking either steroids or prohormones? Well, in short, yes. Those who say otherwise a severely misinformed. You need a post-cycle therapy because when you take steroids or prohormones you suppress your natural testosterone production

Testosterone, which is created by the body in the testicles, is critical to muscular development as well as many other male-functions. In order to produce testosterone in men, the pituitary gland releases two gonadotropins. One of which is called a Luteinizing Hormone, the other, a Follicle Stimulating Hormone. These two work together to “tell” the testicles to make testosterone.

The problem that arises when taking steroids or prohormones is that the signal which tells the pituitary gland to produce LH and FSH is severely reduced and therefore less testosterone is produced. If you are supplementing testosterone along with your steroid or prohormone cycle, this isn’t a problem because you’re giving your body all the testosterone it needs artificially (i.e. it doesn’t need to produce any naturally).

However, once you stop using steroids the issue of suppressed signals must be dealt with. That’s where post-cycle therapy comes in. The purpose of PCT is to jumpstart your body’s testosterone production so that it recognizes that it is no longer being provided with testosterone artificially and must, therefore, begin producing it again naturally.

What To Know About PCT

Okay, so I need to take a PCT. What else do I need to know about my post-cycle therapy?

Your Choice Of Steroids/Prohormones Matters

Some steroids are more severe on the body than others. So, the more aggressive your cycle, the more powerful your post-cycle. Some people will claim that any steroid or prohormone will result in the complete suppression of your testosterone production. This isn’t entirely true. While all anabolic steroids will suppress natural testosterone production, the rate at which they do so varies. Dbol, for example, suppresses your testosterone production to a much greater extent than anavar. Winstrol is also a major testosterone suppressor. (Pro tip: try a legal Winstrol alternative)

With that said, you still need a PCT even if your particular steroid or prohormone cycle does not technically cause full suppression. Even low-level testosterone can have very harmful side-effects and it’s all but sure to rob you of your gains.

You Need To Consider The Length Of Your Cycle When Planning A PCT

It’s important to remember the longer you expose your body to steroids, the longer your natural hormone production will be suppressed. This could lead to an increased risk of permanent damage. You can’t stay on steroids or prohormones indefinitely and you certainly shouldn’t try to. That’s why it’s called “cycling,” you cycle on, and you cycle off. And when you cycle off you must take a PCT to help your body bridge the gap. The longer your cycle, the longer your PCT should be and the longer your time off should be.

A good rule of thumb is that your PCT should be half the time of your cycle and your off time should be equal to that of your cycle. So, you would follow a 10-week cycle of steroids or prohormones with a 5 week PCT and then take, at least, 10-additional weeks off after that before starting your next cycle.

There you have it, our guide to why a post-cycle therapy is needed after steroids. Now that you know what to do afterward, how about starting your next cycle today! Check out our great, completely-legal prohormone cycle selection at Legal Steroids to start building your best body today!