Muscle Sport Magazine » Clomiphene

CLOMID (Clomiphene Citrate)

Leigh Penman — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:42:39 +0000

By Leigh Penman

Clomid is not an anabolic steroid but a prescription drug dispensed to women as a fertility aid. It achieves this effect by stimulating ovulation, which is accomplished by blocking/minimizing the effects of estrogen in the body. It is this ability to block estrogen that leads to its use in post cycle therapy by bodybuilders.

Chemically speaking, Clomid is a synthetic estrogen with both agonist and antagonist properties. In certain target tissues it can block the ability of estrogen to bind with its corresponding receptor. By opposing the negative feedback of estrogens on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis it enhances the release of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). This action leads to a triggering of ovulation in women.

Now at this point you may be asking what on earth a substance like this could do for male athletes. Well, the fact is that in men elevations in FSH and LH actually cause an increase in natural testosterone production. When used at the end of a steroid cycle (when natural testosterone levels are depressed) Clomid can actually prevent the dramatic loss of strength and size often experienced. This loss of strength and size is due to the fact that when testosterone levels fall, cortisol becomes the dominant hormone. Cortisol induces a catabolic state in which muscle is broken down and therefore it is extremely important that we prevent it becoming a dominant force in our post cycle metabolism.

In the case of female athletes, Clomid is sometimes used near contest time to manage endogenous estrogen levels thus leading to a reduction in body fat in ‘problem areas’ (e.g. hips, thighs). However, since women are more sensitive to estrogen manipulation it is not recommended.

DOSAGE

Male users find that 50-100mg/day for a period of four to six weeks is enough to restore natural testosterone production. Some prefer to start with 100mg, and after about ten days, reduce the dose to 50mg. Either way it should normalize testosterone levels within two weeks and should not be used for more than 4-6 weeks.

For an immediate boost in testosterone levels Clomid is often combined with HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) for the first 2 weeks. The HCG helps to restore the normal ability of the testes to respond to endogenous LH. HCG should be used for no more than 2-3 weeks in this respect and then Clomid should be continued alone for the remainder of the period of use.

It is also important to point out that when using a post cycle therapy such as Clomid one must take into account the long active life some steroids have in the system. Therefore a period of 2-3 weeks should elapse after ending use of most injectable drugs before instigating Clomid use. This allows androgen levels to diminish to a point where the body is primed to restore natural testosterone production.

SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects can include hot flashes, nausea, dizziness, headaches and temporary blurred vision. These effects are usually more pronounced in females who use this drug.

IMPORTANT NOTE

There has been a question regarding the use of Clomid during a cycle in order to reduce the formation of excess estrogen – which can lead to gynecomastia.

However, although Clomid has reportedly been used in this manner its estrogen blocking effects are considered to be weaker than Nolvadex so, with this in mind, it is probably best reserved for post cycle use.

N.B. Both Clomid and HCG (along with other estrogen management products) can be obtained from www.maximedicine.com.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com.

PROVIRON (mesterolone)

Leigh Penman — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:02:48 +0000

By Leigh Penman

Proviron is the Schering brand name for the oral androgen mesterolone. It is a strong androgen, which is not capable of aromatizing into estrogen. It is also not progestenic.
In fact, Proviron is the closest thing we have to orally active Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Physicians normally prescribe this compound to treat various types of sexual dysfunction since it can usually reverse impotency and sexual disinterest. It can also increase sperm count although it does not actually stimulate testosterone production.

In bodybuilding circles, Proviron is used primarily as an anti-estrogen since it is believed to block the action of the aromatase enzyme (which is responsible for converting testosterone to estrogen). For this reason it is a popular pre-contest drug since it assists in hardening up the physique.

Whilst Proviron is considered too weak for muscle building purposes it may actually boost the anabolic effect of other substances when it is added to a standard cycle. This is due to the fact that it binds to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), which is the transport hormone responsible for reducing the amount of free testosterone in your body. In addition to this, Proviron also binds to the Anabolic Receptor more effectively than any other oral steroid. So, not only does Proviron reduce levels of circulating estrogen, it can possibly make other steroids more effective through its ability to inhibit the actions of SHBG. It is also worth pointing out that even at levels of 100-150mg/day it has no depressing effect on low to normal FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) levels. In fact it has been suggested that it may even raise LH, which can in turn lead to a rise in testosterone levels.

DOSAGE

The typical dosage for men is one to four 25mg tablets per day. This is considered to be a sufficient amount to avoid the occurrence of gynecomastia. It may also be combined with Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) or Clomid (clomiphene citrate) when substances with high estrogenic conversion rates are being taken (e.g. Dianabol, Testosterone). In this instance, taking 50mg of Proviron along with 20mg Nolvadex per day has been proven effective.

In the case of women considering using Proviron it has to be noted that it does have an extremely high androgen content. With this in mind care should be taken when it comes to assessing dosages. Women usually find 25mg per day is enough to effectively shift the androgen/estrogen level, which can have a significant impact on the physique. Also, in order to avoid virilization symptoms (e.g. voice deepening, menstrual irregularities, skin texture changes, clitoral enlargement) use should be limited to a period of four or five weeks.

Once again, a combination of 25mg Proviron and 10-20mg Nolvadex can be very efficient when it comes to muscle hardening and ridding the body of extra body fat on hips and thighs.

SAFETY ISSUES

The risk of liver toxicity with this compound is generally not an issue since Proviron is not a c17 alpha alkylated compound (the alteration responsible for liver toxicity in commonly used anabolics). It is therefore considered to be a ‘safe’ oral.

However, that does not mean that is comes without side effects. In the case of male athletes using this drug in amounts above 100mg a day side effects connected with an excessively high androgen level can present themselves. These include oily skin, acne, body/facial hair growth, and male pattern baldness. Extreme heightening of the male libido is also likely.

As previously mentioned, women should be careful when using this substance and stick to 25mg a day for short periods of time to avoid virilization symptoms.

In addition, since Proviron is a very effective ‘drying agent’ it can also have a significant impact on the condition of your hair and skin. It is therefore recommended that an essential fatty acid supplement be used with this product, which supplies the omega 3 fats necessary to maintain healthy skin and hair. Also, as a DHT derivative thinning hair may be a problem in susceptible individuals. In this instance some have found the use of Nizoral shampoo to be of assistance.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Having also studied pharmacology in relation to sports performance, her writing began taking her in that direction until the present day which sees her embarking on a return to the magazine world, as well as extending her web-related work in the bodybuilding and fitness field.

Leigh has been working out for close to thirty years so she is clearly a writer who ‘walks her talk.’
She can be contacted personally at zeal2heal@yahoo.com or you can also check her out at New York’s favorite metaphysical store www.stickstoneandbone.com.