Clomid Raises Testosterone Levels
By Admin – Steroidal.com
Clomid chemical name – Clomiphene Citrate, is a selective estrogen receptor modulator or SERM. If you have read our Clomid Profile, you’ll know the basics about Clomid, what it is, why it works and why us athletes and bodybuilders use it. Clomid is both an anti-cancer drug given to women and fertility agent. Clomid is in the same group of drugs as other SERMs, such as Nolvadex (Tamoxifen), Toremifene and Rolaxifene. Clomid has been around since the 1970’s when it was brought to the market as a female fertility drug, but after various clinical trials, it was also seen as a male fertility agent as well. Clomid works by blocking steroid hormones in the brain which fools the body into producing more testosterone. Clomid is part of most post cycle therapy (PCT) protocols and is an essential compound to learn about when delving in the anabolic steroid world. Being an anti-estrogen, Clomiphene can also be used to stop gynecomastia as it reduces breast cell differentiation and proliferation, much the same as Tamoxifen does. Today we’re going to look at how effective it is at raising testosterone levels in males, and also its positive effects when used during PCT when we want to recover our endogenous testosterone output.
A recent study in 2012 in Brazil at the Centro de Andrologia e Urologia in Porto Alegre, looked at 125 hypogondal men and what effect a low dose of 25mg per day of Clomid would have [1]. Hypogondal levels in men are when they are considered below average, this is often in the region of 0-300ng/dl. Total testosterone levels like this will mean the user is suffering from low testosterone symptoms. These include, low libido, decreased muscle mass, strength, energy levels, mood and may mean gynecomastia being evident. Men on this study had below average levels around the 300-400ng/dl mark.
Usual treatments for low testosterone include, testosterone gels, creams, sprays, pills and testosterone injections. However, on this trial the 125 men were given 25mg of Clomid per day for 3-6 months.
As you can see in the figure above, the men’ testosterone levels doubled on a modest dose of 25mg per day. Good cholesterol (HDL) went down marginally, whilst triglycerides went down slightly also.
“Our data showed that a daily dose of 25 mg clomiphene citrate was effective in stimulating endogenous T production in a short follow-up”, the Brazilian researchers conclude. “No serious adverse events were recorded during the study period. This medication should be considered a therapeutic option for patients with symptomatic male testosterone deficiency.”
Although Clomid may seem a good idea when you’re suffering from low testosterone, its use has also be linked to mood changes, vision disturbances, and acne whilst Clomiphene is a known carcinogen. If these side effects arise, stop use and consult a physician.
The second piece of data we’re going to look at is applicable to using Clomid after a course of anabolic steroids that have inhibited our own natural testosterone production.
An older study done in 1995 at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, and published in the Western Journal of Medicine looked at Clomids effects after using anabolic steroids in particular.
A single 29-year-old bodybuilder and steroid user, admitted to using 1,500-1,800mg per week of Testosterone Cypionate and Anavar at 80mg per day for eight months. The dose of Testosterone Cypionate is a large one, whilst using steroids for an 8-month period is also pretty long. Of course, abusing steroid dosages like this and not taking time off had a significant effect on his body, mostly his testosterone and sperm production, making him impotent. Impotent at 29 years old because of steroid abuse is not what anyone wants, so he started a four week course of HCG. Unfortunately, this had no effect and he remained impotent for a further year.
The male 29-year-old bodybuilder went to seek a physician’s guidance and was found to have low levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) so was prescribed 50mg per day of Clomid. No changes were seen, except from AM erection, so the Clomid dosage was increased to 100mg per day. This did have an effect and double the men’s testosterone level, as seen in the other above study.
As discussed, Clomid is the first choice of drugs, as are anti-estrogens, to try to normalise a suppressed testosterone level. If this fails, successive courses may be warranted. Recovering testosterone output after a steroid stack can take weeks and months, and is not an easy period for bodybuilders. If these PCTs fail to normalize testosterone, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be the next stage of recovery, because low testosterone levels are not healthy for males long term.
Source:
[1]. Int Braz J Urol. 2012 Jul;38(4):512-8.
[2]. West J Med. 1995 February; 162(2): 158–160.
