Juiced up Jessika Part 2 – Females on Steroids. Do Females need PCT?

Juiced up Jessika Part 2 – Females on Steroids. Do Females need PCT?

Following up from Part 1, another consideration for a woman thinking about using anabolic steroids. Do females who have been using anabolic and androgenic steroids (AAS) need PCT? The short answer is:

“No, females will not require a PCT the same way that a male would, but there are a few things a woman should do when she decides it is time stop using anabolic steroids.”

Before we get into the version of a woman’s PCT, let us first understand the key differences between men and women in this context. Simply put, men produce testosterone from a signal that begins in a man’s brain, to his balls then to the rest of his body for them sweet gains. A pinch of testosterone is also made by the man’s adrenal glands which are located on top of his kidneys. Women produce testosterone also beginning with signals from the brain, and this is divided between a woman’s ovaries and her adrenal glands. Roughly 50/50 between the ovaries and the adrenals which is distinct from a man who produces only a pinch from his adrenal glands.

“So if men take anabolic steroids, they shut down their natural testosterone production and so it is recommended to take a combination of HCG, Nolvadex and Clomid to bring a man’s natural testosterone production back, right?”

That’s right.

Fun fact: a male’s testosterone produced by his adrenals will not be shut down by the use of AAS which is about 2 nmol/L.

“So then if women take anabolic steroids, they shut down their natural testosterone production and so it is recommended to take a combination of the same medications men would to bring a woman’s natural testosterone production back, right? Does that make sense?”

Well, it sort of does make sense. But that is not what we see clinically and there are some potential negatives if a woman was to use these PCT medications. For women, in contrast to men, tapering down seems to be the best method of PCT. During AAS use in women, a woman’s HPGA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis) is shut down like the HPTA does in a male and these endogenous sex hormones are supressed. FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and perhaps downstream from here also. It would make sense then that some form of PCT would be beneficial for a female then, right? Well, until further notice, no. There are a few reasons why. Firstly, what we see clinically is that the moment a female stops AAS, soon thereafter her menses returns and her HPGA functions again at full capacity within months and often within weeks even. A woman is still creating a number of crucial hormones via her adrenals when her HPGA is shut down and so it is with this idea that a woman does not experience the lows (or at least to the degree) a man does post cycle if his HPTA is not restored. I have been witness to suicides in males who have not returned back to baseline after using anabolic steroids. Usually, this is rare and is only the case when a man neglects proper PCT and the follow up blood work to see if PCT was successful or not. “Post Cycle Blues” I find only the case when the PCT itself was not successful. PCT blues also seem to be experienced in individuals susceptible to changes in mood. On the flip-coin of this equation, I have known for many men who have not recovered that report feeling “fine” as they call it. Ignorance is bliss, to the fool none the wiser! Symptomatic or not, low or sub-optimal hormonal levels is not good for your health or maintenance of skeletal muscle mass. Anyway, I digress. Back to the ladies’ corner.

“So could HCG or clomid be a good idea for a woman anyway though? To speed up recovery?”

In females, these medications act to stimulate oocyte development. Absolutely, we do not want pregnancy taking place (even if it is unlikely on AAS) while there are potential and likely androgens floating around. This will increase chances of virilisation (man sides) and also harm to the foetus. Moreover, as discussed above, the need for these medications is not there because the female will return to baseline without doing much at all. A tapering of the AAS she is using at a sensible interval is the best “PCT” for her. Of course, some studies here would be great. For now, if a woman is sensible with her AAS use and does not use them long term without sufficient time off, she will in almost every case return to normal with little time and effort. Some women can be emotionally sensitive during this time; my prescription for this minority of women is not to use AAS at all if the symptoms are bad enough. I hope this helps clear up any confusion on the topic of a post cycle therapy’s use case in women using AAS.