Clomiphene Citrate Structure

 

Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) is in the class of drugs called Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM). It has anti-estrogen effects and was originally developed as a fertility medication for women who do not ovulate normally.

 

 

Two of the most dreaded estrogen caused side effects that anabolic steroid users want to avoid are water retention and gynecomastia (gyno). Clomid is useful for tackling both of these adverse effects which, if left to advance, can both lead to some serious negative implications.

 

Excess water retention can not only ruin your physique and mask your gains, but also lead to high blood pressure. While gyno can become untreatable if left too long, with surgery the only option. So it goes without saying that Clomid is a hugely powerful tool in the arsenal of any anabolic steroid user.

 

Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) is a powerfully effective anti-estrogen officially classified as a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM). In many ways, it is very similar to another popular SERM in Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate). Clomid first gained worldwide attention in the early 1970’s as a strong fertility aid and is still used for that purpose today. It is also one of the most commonly used SERM’s by anabolic steroid users. No, it is not an anabolic steroid but can be used to combat estrogenic side effects sometimes caused by anabolic steroids. It can also be used as a Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) medication in order to stimulate suppressed testosterone production due to anabolic steroid use. PCT use of Clomid is the most common purpose and most beneficial point of use for the anabolic steroid user.

 

Clomiphene Citrate is a SERM that is specifically used as a fertility aid due to its ability to enhance the release of gonadotropins. By increasing gonadotropin release, this can lead to the egg being released, thereby increasing the chance of conception.

 

Clomid also carries strong anti-estrogen properties that could be used therapeutically, but its anti-estrogen properties are most commonly associated with anabolic steroid use. Testosterone and many testosterone derived steroids have the ability to convert to estrogen through testosterone’s interaction with the aromatase enzyme. As estrogen levels rise, this can lead to gynecomastia and excess water retention. Heavy water retention can also promote high blood pressure. By supplementing with Clomid during anabolic steroid use, the SERM will bind to the estrogen receptors, therefore inhibiting the estrogen hormone from binding. This can be very useful in combating gynecomastia, as when Clomid binds to the receptor it prevents estrogen from stimulating the mammary tissue. It can also have a positive impact on water retention, but as it won’t actively reduce serum estrogen levels it’s sometimes not enough.

 

 

 

 

Along with water retention, gyno is the worst things that can happen to your physique as a result of using steroids. If left for too long, gyno can keep developing until you reach a point where it’s no longer treatable by medication – and here, surgery is the only option you’ll have to get rid of that breast tissue.

 

So needless to say, you will want to completely avoid gyno rearing its head while you’re on steroids, but if it does start up then getting on top of it with Clomid and other drugs can ensure that all symptoms will disappear.

 

 

Water retention is the other main estrogen related side effect we dread with steroid use. New steroid users can make the mistake in thinking that SERMs can also effectively eliminate water retention, but this is not the case.

 

Clomid and other SERMs more actively target the breast tissue and while Clomid might have some slight benefit in reducing water retention, it is rarely enough to not warrant the use of other drugs to target that specific problem.

 

 

 

 

Clomid is beneficial when included in a post cycle therapy plan after a steroid cycle when testosterone levels will have been suppressed to a very low or even non-existent level because of the way that many anabolic steroids signal to the body to cease testosterone production when synthetic testosterone is being used.

 

 

Depending how heavy your steroid use is, it can take many weeks or even several months to recover your normal testosterone function and restore levels to what they were before your steroid cycle. Clomid then is one powerful, but not necessarily the only tool in the box when it comes to effective post cycle therapy.

 

The dose you take of Clomid will depend on when you’re using it and for what purpose: most notably, during a cycle and after a steroid cycle during PCT.

 

Clomid is usually used at a low dose during an anabolic steroid cycle with the purpose of protecting you from estrogenic effects. Most men will find that 25mg per day is sufficient to combat these side effects for the duration of the cycle. Some will increase this to 50mg per day if adverse effects are rearing their head, but taking the dosage of Clomid any higher is not considered effective and 25mg per day is thought to be enough to mitigate undesirable effects; in the event where it is not, a different SERM like Nolvadex or Toremifene may be required or in some cases, turning to an aromatase inhibitor drug instead.

 

As Clomid was originally developed as a fertility aid for women, the dosage for this purpose is generally set at 50mg per day with the occasional increase to 100mg for some women. We can see that this is an identical dosage to that which is recommended for men to use Clomid during a steroid cycle. This indicates that 50mg or 100mg maximum is considered to be the maximum effective dose of Clomid, with higher dosages having no benefit. When it comes to females who use steroids, the use of Clomid is not necessary as neither estrogenic side effects nor testosterone suppression are a concern for females.

 

Higher doses of Clomid are to be used for the purpose of PCT. Normally this will start in the 50mg to 100mg per day range at the start of the PCT cycle. Usually this level of dosage will run for up to two weeks, but it depends on your steroid cycle and for some men, just one week at this higher Clomid dosage can be sufficient.

 

The next one to two week period of PCT will then drop the Clomid dosage back down to 50mg daily, with the last week or two consisting of a 25mg per day or 50mg every other day Clomid dosage. A good PCT cycle will run for at least 4 weeks, and up to 8 weeks, so your Clomid dosage plan should be scheduled according to the length of your PCT.

 

The majority of bodybuilders will not use Clomid alone in PCT, finding that it is not effective enough as a sole drug, but instead used alongside Nolvadex and HCG (and sometimes an aromatase inhibitor as well) to maximize the efficiency that normal testosterone function can be restored. So while Clomid is effective for some people at the above doses for PCT, most will find that Nolvadex is much more effective as a SERM.

 

Another SERM drug that is popularly used for post cycle therapy is Nolvadex. There is still a lot of debate among bodybuilders about which is the better SERM to use between Clomid and Nolvadex.

 

Many experienced bodybuilders will make use of both Clomid and Nolvadex in PCT while also combining these with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) in order to kickstart the natural testosterone production process.

 

Many believe that Nolvadex is simply a better, more effective and more powerful SERM than Clomid, but like all things with anabolic steroid use, it often comes down to the individual and how your body reacts to each drug.

 

Clomid is often thought of as a more effective testosterone booster, while Nolvadex can excel better as an estrogen blocker. They are both anti-estrogens however and both can stimulate the release of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) which leads to an increase in testosterone levels.

 

Regardless of this however, consensus still states that a combination of these drugs is the most ideal way to undertake PCT and get the best possible outcome when it comes to resorting testosterone levels and maintaining the gains you’ve worked hard to build during your cycle.

 

Both Clomid and Nolvadex are effective drugs for PCT for the most important purpose they are intended for, and that is to increase endogenous testosterone levels. Those using very powerful steroids are likely to have a more complex and potent PCT, but for guys who are for example on their first testosterone only 8 weeks steroid cycle then Clomid is likely to be all you need to recover.

 

 

For many men, especially hardcore anabolic steroid users, Clomid is not enough for estrogenic protection. In this case, an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) like Arimidex (Anastrozole) or Femara (Letrozole) will be needed. AI’s actively inhibit the aromatase process and will see serum estrogen levels reduced. By far they are the most effective at combating gynecomastia and will have more success in combating water retention. In fact, SERM’s like Clomid often do very little to combat water retention. 

 

Then we’re left with the effects of Clomid as they pertain to PCT. When we supplement with anabolic steroids, this will suppress natural testosterone production. It will begin again on its own after cycle, but takes time for levels to reach their previous high state. In fact, total recovery can take months. Due to natural testosterone levels being low post cycle, most men are encouraged to implement a PCT program. This will stimulate natural testosterone production greatly and shorten the total recovery time. A solid PCT plan will ensure you have enough testosterone for proper bodily function while your levels continue to naturally rise. 

 

Those who forgo Clomid therapy post cycle or any type of PCT plan and are going to be off cycle for an extended period of time will rest in a low testosterone condition for an extended period of time. Not only is this an extremely unhealthy state, it can come with all the traditional low testosterone symptoms. Many will find cortisol levels greatly increase as testosterone levels are low, and as a result, body fat levels go up and strength and muscle mass decrease. If you’re going to be off cycle for an extended period of time, 8 weeks or more there is no reason for forgoing a PCT program. If you are going to be off cycle for less than 8 weeks or bridging with a low dose of exogenous testosterone(injection of low testosterone), which is very common in hardcore bodybuilding circles, this is the only time a PCT would be counterproductive.

 

Clomid is one of the most well-tolerated SERM’s and anti-estrogens on the market, and this applies to both men and women. While it carries a very high threshold of toleration, side effects of Clomid do exist and are possible. However, “possible” is the key word and a very important one. Anytime anabolic steroids are discussed as well as non-steroidal items used by anabolic steroid users, many seem to enjoy implying side effects are assured. This is not the case; in fact, most should be able to use Clomid side effect free.

 

When it comes to the possible side effects of Clomid, we will find most are fairly rare. 
Other possible side effects of Clomid use include:

The side effects of Clomid are also well noted for including possible visual disturbances. Data shows that approximately 1.5% of all those who use Clomid may experience some type of visual disturbance normally in the form of blurred or hazy vision. If this occurs, use should be discontinued and alternative medications should be examined. In most all cases, once use is discontinued vision will shortly return to normal. 

 

For the anabolic steroid user, standard Clomid doses for on cycle estrogenic protection will normally be 50mg per day throughout the duration of the cycle. If this doesn’t do the trick it’s unlikely any amount of Clomid will work. If this does not provide the protection you need, keep in mind many have reported greater success with the SERM Nolvadex for on cycle protection. However, you may very well need an AI like Arimidex.

 

Standard PCT Clomid doses will normally start at 100-150mg per day for 1-2 weeks. From here the dose will drop to 50-100mg per day for 1-2 weeks and finish with 1-2 weeks at 50mg per day. Total Clomid therapy should last 4-6 weeks, so dosing should be based and considered on that total schedule. Most will also be far more successful in their PCT recovery by including Nolvadex and HCG. Timing is also important when planning your Clomid PCT use, and this timing factor will vary depending on the inclusion of HCG:

 

The steroid laws of the U.S. are some of the harshest the world over. There are countries that carry laws that are similarly strict but there are numerous that are far more lenient. China and some other countries are heavens for anabolic steroids and other performence-enhancing products. It is imperative you understand the law as it pertains to where you live before you buy any anabolic steroids. Due to the steroid laws of the U.S. and other parts of the world, if you are looking for high quality anabolics or SARMs you are encouraged to visit www.ultrapandaroids.com, which has 3 warehouses located in USA, Hong Kong, and Italy. Ultrapandaroids.com can legally provide you high quality anabolics without a prescription.

 

Clomid is an excellent SERM and for years there has been an ongoing debate among anabolic steroid users as to which SERM is better, Clomid or Nolvadex. For the purpose of on cycle gynecomastia protection either one can work. Some have reported that Nolvadex tends to do a better job, but you may need to try both at different times to make an accurate assessment. Then we have PCT use, and both are equally effective and important.  Learn and understand the SERM’s and various items before you use them. Understand proper dosing protocols and you’ll get the most out of Clomid and any SERM you use.

 

 

 

Following your steroid cycle, a PCT cycle using Clomid should run for at least 4 weeks. A 4-8 week post cycle therapy is considered standard with 8 weeks mainly considered by those bodybuilders who are using the most powerful steroids. For most people, 4 weeks of PCT is normally enough to stimulate testosterone function.

 

Your dosage will differ depending on the steroid cycle you were on with stronger cycles requiring stronger Clomid doses. Additionally, if you’re using other drugs during PCT you’ll need to adjust the dosages accordingly.

 

In men with low testosterone, studies have shown that a low dose of Clomid is effective at raising levels of serum testosterone and bringing about positive improvements in the ratio of testosterone to estrogen. These results in a medical study correlate to the purpose of using Clomid in post cycle therapy in order to boost testosterone production, as men who have been using steroids with resulting testosterone suppression, are also suffering from low testosterone which must be rectified to avoid severe negatives changes to both physical and mental health.

 

Clomid is a prescription medication in most countries where it’s available. Despite this, most bodybuilders in the loop find that Clomid is not difficult to find and that it’s an affordable drug.

Some men choose to get diagnosed by their doctor for low testosterone and then gain a prescription to Clomid or other SERM’s legally. When it comes to doping, the World Anti-Doping Agency lists Clomiphene as an illegal substance so if competing you will want to avoid having this drug in your system at drug testing times.

 

Clomid is not a muscle building drug. It does not on its own stimulate muscle growth. It does bring about a stimulation increase in natural testosterone and since testosterone is such a vital ingredient for strength and muscle growth, we could say that Clomid indirectly contributes to muscle gains; or for the use of bodybuilders, it helps to maintain the gains you’ve made during your steroid cycle so these are not lost afterwards because of low testosterone.

 

They are the same thing: clomiphene Citrate is the chemical or generic name of the compound and Clomid is the brand name of the drug. Clomid is also often called just Clomiphene for short. Its chemical formula is C26 H28 Cl NO. There are dozens of other brand names of Clomiphene around the world but Clomid is by far the most widely used and recognized.

 

Due to its wide availability and use as a prescription medication, Clomid is one of the more affordable drugs we will look to purchase as steroid users. Costs will greatly depend on which country you live in and where and how you can source Clomid.

Generic forms of Clomid be as low as under $3 per pill, and in countries where pharmaceuticals are subsidized and you are able to obtain a prescription for low testosterone, your financial outlay for Clomid will be extremely low and pale in comparison to the cost you are likely to be spending on steroids.