Clomid in bodybuilding is one of the common pharmacological agents in the first aid kit of steroid-using bodybuilders. In this article, we will discuss what Clomid is, how a fertility drug for women made its way into bodybuilding, provide instructions for use during a steroid cycle and after it (during PCT), and compare whether tamoxifen or Clomid is better.
Main thoughts:
Clomid has been used in medicine since the 1970s for the treatment of infertility in women
What is Clomid (clomiphene citrate)?
Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is a powerful anti-estrogen, very similar in action to tamoxifen (tamoxifen citrate).
Clomid gained significant popularity in the 1970s in medicine as a drug for treating infertility in women, and today it is still one of its main applications.
In bodybuilding, Clomid is used by athletes during a course of anabolic steroids to eliminate side effects associated with the partial conversion of steroids to estrogen (the female sex hormone), as well as to stimulate the internal production of testosterone after a steroid cycle (during PCT), which is suppressed during steroid use.
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Use of Clomid
1 Use in medicine for infertility
When taking clomiphene citrate, the levels of gonadotropin hormones in the blood increase.
Gonadotropins are a group of hormones (follicle-stimulating, luteinizing) that play an important role in regulating the function of the gonads. Through these hormones, the levels of testosterone and estrogen in the blood are managed, which are known to determine the development and functioning of male and female reproductive organs.
When the levels of gonadotropins increase in a woman’s body, an egg is released (ovulation occurs), and this is why the chance of becoming pregnant increases.
Clomid has been used in medicine since the 1970s to treat infertility in women
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2 The use of Clomid in bodybuilding during steroid cycles
Clomid has strong anti-estrogenic properties, which can be beneficial in medicine and bodybuilding for athletes using steroids.
The fact is that testosterone and some steroids derived from testosterone are partially converted into estrogen.
Increased levels of estrogen lead to the development of gynecomastia (growth of female breast tissue) and excessive water retention in the body – both effects are undesirable in bodybuilding.
Excess fluid increases blood pressure and hides muscle definition. This is why professional bodybuilders take diuretics to eliminate it from subcutaneous layers during cutting.
What Clomid does: when taken during a steroid cycle, it blocks estrogen receptors in the body, preventing its action. Therefore, it can be useful in combating gynecomastia, as female breast growth occurs under the influence of estrogen.
How effective is it for this purpose?
According to information from the website steroid.com 1, whose creators sell sports pharmacology and apparently understand how it works:
“For serious steroid users (those who take steroids regularly and in large doses), Clomid is not effective enough to protect against steroid-related side effects associated with estrogen.
They will need to take aromatase inhibitors, which suppress estrogen synthesis. They are the most effective means to combat gynecomastia and water retention when taking steroids.“
As for water retention in the body: Clomid may somewhat prevent it, but it is not very effective for this purpose, as it does not reduce estrogen levels in the blood, but only “turns off” estrogen receptors.
It is important to understand that in most cases, water retention in the body is more a matter of proper nutrition than pharmacology. An excess of carbohydrates in the diet, for example, contributes to fluid retention in the body, which is further exacerbated by the presence of anabolic steroids in the system.
The use of Clomid during a steroid cycle helps to avoid side effects related to increased estrogen levels (gynecomastia), but it is ineffective in combating fluid retention in the body.
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3 Use in bodybuilding after a steroid cycle during PCT
Most often, Clomid is used by athletes in bodybuilding after a steroid cycle during PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).
Why?
To accelerate the recovery of natural testosterone production, which is almost completely suppressed during the use of anabolic steroids. The degree of suppression significantly depends on the type of steroids and the dosage.
That is why almost all steroid cycles include exogenous testosterone, but are not limited to it alone. This is done to protect against the consequences of low testosterone.
After stopping steroid use, natural testosterone synthesis begins to gradually recover, but full recovery takes a considerable amount of time: from several months to a year.
PCT was specifically developed to accelerate the process of restoring natural testosterone production through pharmacology.
The most popular PCT courses typically include Clomid and tamoxifen, as well as the peptide hormone – chorionic gonadotropin. Tamoxifen is a Clomid analog in terms of anti-estrogenic properties.
What Clomid does: it stimulates the release of gonadotropins, which in turn stimulates natural testosterone production.
– What will happen if PCT is not done after a cycle and Clomid is not taken?
At the very least, one will have to deal with symptoms of low testosterone for an extended period.
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It is important to keep in mind that with low testosterone, the level of the catabolic hormone cortisol increases, under the influence of which it is easier to gain fat mass and muscle mass begins to actively break down.
PCT is recommended in cases where steroid use is discontinued for more than 8 weeks. If the break between cycles (bridge) is less than 8 weeks or small doses of exogenous testosterone are introduced during it, as is common among hardcore athletes, then PCT may not be necessary.
Clomiphene citrate is taken after a steroid cycle for PCT to accelerate the recovery of natural testosterone levels
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How effective is Clomid for testosterone recovery? Scientific studies
Scientific studies confirm that clomiphene citrate is indeed effective in increasing testosterone levels.
The intake of clomiphene over 2 weeks by men aged 18-55 resulted in a roughly 2-fold increase in testosterone levels for most of them; however, some participants experienced a sharp paradoxical decrease in testosterone after 2 weeks and a month 10.
A study involving 125 men with low testosterone (less than 400 ng/dl) and reduced sexual desire, who took Clomid for 3 months, showed that testosterone levels increased approximately twofold (from 309 ng/dl to 642 ng/dl). There were no changes in blood cholesterol levels, and no side effects were reported by any of the participants 11.
In another study 12, researchers investigated the long-term effects of Clomid use in men with low testosterone levels. Initially, the average testosterone level was 228 ng/dl. After one year of use, it was 612 ng/dl; after two years, 562 ng/dl; and after three years, 582 ng/dl. Bone density significantly increased. No side effects were reported.
Clomid significantly improves sexual function in men with hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction 2.
Scientific studies confirm the effectiveness of Clomid in increasing testosterone levels on average by 2 times both in short-term use (over 2 weeks) and in long-term use (over several years)
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Side effects of Clomid in bodybuilding
Clomid is considered one of the most well-tolerated anti-estrogens in sports pharmacology and does not lead to serious side effects in either men or women. This is supported by scientific studies 11,12.
However, some side effects are possible.
Women who take clomiphene citrate for the treatment of infertility report at least one of the following side effects: irritability, mood swings, depression, water retention in the body 7.
Other possible side effects:
- headaches;
- nausea;
- hot flashes (sudden increase in temperature);
- uterine bleeding;
- discomfort in the breasts;
- vision problems;
- acne (pimples).
When using clomid, vision impairment may occur in the form of blurriness and cloudiness. This is mentioned on the same website of the sports pharmacology store steroids.com 1. It is also recommended in this case to “stop its use and then vision will recover… in most cases. There are known cases where this did not happen, most likely due to clomid being taken for a very long time in very high doses.“
In rats, clomid injections during pregnancy lead to multiple reproductive system disorders in offspring and mothers 8.
There is a possibility that taking clomiphene may lead to decreased bone density 9.
– Does clomid cause cancer?
Scientific studies do not confirm a link between the use of clomiphene citrate and the risk of cancer (breast, uterus, and other forms) 4,5, including with long-term use 6. It is important to understand that almost all available studies were conducted on women taking clomiphene for infertility treatment. There are no studies on athletes involved in pharmacology.
Clomid is considered a relatively safe anti-estrogen in bodybuilding. Its use may lead to vision impairment and decreased bone density. Long-term use does not increase the risk of cancer.
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Clomid: Instructions for Use
How to take clomid during a steroid cycle
For athletes on a steroid cycle to protect against estrogenic side effects, it is recommended to take 50 mg of clomid per day throughout the entire cycle. If this does not help, it is unlikely that higher doses will be effective.
– Which is better, clomid or tamoxifen during a steroid cycle?
According to information from the same steroid.com, “many athletes note greater effectiveness of tamoxifen for protection against gynecomastia during a steroid cycle. But in some cases, it may not be possible to do without aromatase inhibitors.”
How to take clomid after a steroid cycle during PCT
After a steroid cycle during PCT, clomid is taken as follows:
- week 1-2: dose 100-150 mg per day;
- week 3-4: dose 50-100 mg per day;
- week 5-6: dose 50 mg per day.
The total duration of Clomid intake during PCT is 4-6 weeks. In most cases, tamoxifen and chorionic gonadotropin will be more effective.
To check the effectiveness of clomiphene citrate during the PCT course, you can take a blood test and ensure that testosterone levels have recovered.
Many athletes note the greater effectiveness of tamoxifen compared to Clomid during and after a steroid cycle
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