Clomid in bodybuilding: what you need, instructions for use and side effects

Clomid in bodybuilding is one of the most common pharmacological drugs in the first-aid kit of bodybuilders on steroids. In this article, we will talk about what clomid is, how the infertility drug for women got into bodybuilding, give instructions for use on the course of steroids and after it (on the PCT), and also compare what is better tamoxifen or clomid.

What is clomid (clomiphene citrate)?

Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is a powerful antiestrogen, very similar in its action to tamoxifen (tamoxifen citrate).

Clomid became very popular in the 1970s in medicine as a drug for the treatment of infertility in women and today it is still one of its main applications.

In bodybuilding, clomid is used by athletes on a course of anabolic steroids to eliminate side effects associated with the partial conversion of steroids to estrogen (female sex hormone), as well as to stimulate internal testosterone production after a course of steroids (on PCT), which is suppressed when taking steroids.

The application of clomid

Use in medicine for infertility

When taking clomiphene citrate, the levels of gonadotropin hormones in the blood increase.

Gonadotropins are a number of hormones (follicle-stimulating, luteinizing) that play an important role in regulating the function of the sexual glands. These hormones control the levels of testosterone and estrogen in the blood, which are known to determine the development and functioning of the male and female genitals.

When the level of gonadotropins in a woman’s body increases, the egg is released (ovulation occurs) and that is why the chance of getting pregnant increases.

The use of clomid in bodybuilding on the course of steroids

Clomid has strong anti-estrogenic properties that can be useful in medicine and bodybuilding for athletes using steroids. The fact is that testosterone and some steroids derived from testosterone are partially converted into estrogens.

An increased level of estrogen leads to the development of gynecomastia (female breast growth) and excessive fluid retention in the body – both effects are undesirable in bodybuilding.

Excess fluid increases blood pressure and hides muscle relief. That is why professional bodybuilders take diuretics to remove it from the subcutaneous layers while drying the body.

What clomid does: when it is taken on a course of steroids, it blocks the estrogen receptors in the body, preventing its action. Therefore, it can be useful for fighting gynecomastia, since women’s Breasts grow under the influence of estrogen. How effective is it for this purpose?

According to information from the site steroid.com, whose creators sell sports pharmacology and apparently have a good understanding of how it works:

For serious steroid users (those who take steroids regularly and in high doses), clomid is not effective enough to protect against the side effects of steroids associated with estrogen. They will need to take aromatase inhibitors, which inhibit the synthesis of estrogen. They are the most effective means to combat gynecomastia and water retention when taking steroids.

As for fluid retention in the body: clomid can interfere with it to some extent, but it is not very effective for this, since it does not reduce the level of estrogen in the blood, but only “turns off” the estrogen receptors.

However, it should be understood that in most cases, water retention in the body is more a matter of nutrition than pharmacology. An excess of carbohydrates in the diet, for example, contributes to the retention of fluid in the body, which is further enhanced by the presence of anabolic steroids in the system.

Taking clomid on a course of steroids allows you to avoid side effects associated with increased estrogen levels (gynecomastia), but it is ineffective in fighting fluid retention in the body.

Application in bodybuilding after a course of steroids on PCT

Most often clomid in bodybuilding is used by athletes after a course of steroids on PCT – Post Cycle Therapy – therapy after a course of steroids). What for?

To speed up the recovery of natural testosterone production, which is almost completely suppressed while taking anabolics. The degree of suppression depends significantly on the type of steroids and the dose. That is why almost all courses of steroids include exogenous testosterone, but they are not limited to one. This is done in order to protect against the effects of low testosterone.

After stopping taking steroids, the natural synthesis of testosterone begins to gradually recover, but full recovery takes quite a long time: from a few months to a year. PCT was developed specifically to speed up the process of restoring natural testosterone production with the help of pharmacology. The most popular PCT courses usually include clomid and tamoxifen, as well as the peptide hormone – chorionic gonadotropin. Tamoxifen is a b analog of clomid for its antiestrogenic properties.

What does clomid do: it stimulates the release of gonadotropins, which in turn stimulates the natural production of testosterone. What will happen if you do not do PCT after the course and do not take clomid? At the very least, you will have to deal with the symptoms of low testosterone for a long time. Recommend: How to boost testosterone in natural ways: 7 natural testosterone boosters. It is important to keep in mind that with low testosterone, the level of the catabolic hormone cortisol increases, which makes it easier to gain fat mass and actively begins to destroy muscle.

PCT is recommended if the use of steroids is stopped for more than 8 weeks. If the break between courses (bridge) is less than 8 weeks or small doses of exogenous testosterone are administered during it, as is customary for hardcore athletes, but the PCT can not be done.

Clomiphene citrate is taken after a course of steroids on PCT to speed up the recovery of natural testosterone levels.

How effective is clomid for restoring testosterone? Scientific research

Scientific research confirms that clomiphene citrate is indeed effective in increasing testosterone levels. Taking clomiphene for 2 weeks by men aged 18-55 years led to an increase in testosterone levels of about 2 times in most of them, but some participants after 2 weeks and a month there was a sharp paradoxical decrease in testosterone for scientists. A study on 125 men with low testosterone (less than 400 ng/DL) and reduced sexual desire who took clomid for 3 months showed that the level of testosterone increased approximately twice (from 309 ng/DL to 642 ng/DL). There were no changes in the level of cholesterol in the blood, and no side effects were noted by any of the participants.

And here, scientists have studied the long-term effect of taking clomid in men with low testosterone levels. At the beginning, the average testosterone level was 228 ng / DL. After one year of use – 612 ng/DL, after two years 562 ng/DL, after three years 582 ng / DL. Significantly increased bone density. No side effects were observed. Clomid significantly improves sexual function in men with hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction.

Scientific studies confirm the effectiveness of clomid in increasing testosterone levels by an average of 2 times both with short-term administration (for 2 weeks) and with long-term (for several years).

Side effects of clomid in bodybuilding

Clomid is considered one of the most well-tolerated antiestrogens in sports pharmacology and does not lead to serious side effects in either men or women. This is confirmed by scientific research. However, some side effects are possible.

Women who take clomiphene citrate for infertility treatment note at least one of the following side effects: irritability, mood swings, depression, water retention in the body. And here are other possible side effects:

• headache;
• nausea;
• tides (a sharp increase in temperature);
• uterine bleeding;
• discomfort in the chest;
• eye problem;
• acne (pimples).

When using clomid, vision may be impaired in the form of blurring and blurring. This is stated on the same website of the sports pharmacology store steroids.com 1. it is also recommended That in this case “stop using it and then vision will be restored… in most cases. There are several cases where this did not happen, most likely because clomid was taken for a very long time in very high doses.”