Do You Need a PCT for LGD 4033? What the Science Says

It’s eight weeks into your Ligandrol cycle, and you’re setting PRs in the gym with every session. LGD 4033 is the real deal, and this SARM produces the results you crave. Chances are you put on more lean body mass and lost body fat, making more progress in these eight weeks since you started training.

LGD 4033 is a potent compound, and at the end of week eight, it’s time to take your foot off the gas pedal and start your PCT. The eight weeks were the best you ever had in your training career. However, sooner or later, the party must stop, and PCT has to start.

Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) is as important as your cycle. What goes up, must come down, and you need a safety net to help your land on your feet. PCT enables you to keep the gains you make on cycle, ensuring that you make the most out of your LGD 4033.

We want you to have a safe cycle with this compound, and get lasting results from your efforts. In this post, we’ll unpack everything you need to know about PCT for Ligandrol.

What is Post Cycle Therapy, and what does it have to do with SARMs?

What is PCT?

Involving SARMs in your training and diet is nothing like taking supplements. Enhancing your physique with a chemical edge consists of the drug working with different body mechanisms that supplements can’t stimulate.

Steroids like testosterone experience an androgenic and anabolic effect on the body. When injecting intra-muscularly or consuming oral steroids, you introduce large quantities of hormones into your body.

As a result of the practice, your body shuts down its natural production of testosterone, relying solely on the exogenous source. Using injectable or oral steroids allows you to manipulate your testosterone levels to five or six times more than the average male.

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Unfortunately, this comes at a cost. Steroids like test play havoc on the hormonal system. Your brain will signal the Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis (HPTA) to elevate estrogen levels while suppressing testosterone production.

As the drug metabolizes in the body, it binds to androgen receptors (1). As a result, you experience an elevation in DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) androgens that start causing androgenic side effects associated with the use of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS).

Test also aromatizes through the 5a-reductase enzyme, causing estrogenic side effects, such as gynecomastia. The estrogenic side effects can also play havoc with your mood and sense of well-being.

After concluding an AAS cycle, users will use Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) to restart the HPTA. Traditional PCT involves the use of anti-estrogenic drugs to reduce estrogen levels to near zero. At this stage, the brain recognizes the lack of hormones in the body, jumpstarting testosterone production through the HPTA.

Does LGD 4033 cause your testosterone to shut down?

LGD 4033 Shutdown

SARMs like LGD 4033 have a mildly suppressive effect on the HPTA. As a result, you don’t need the same pharmaceutical-grade PCT as AAS users. If AAS is like a shotgun blast of androgens to your body, SARMs are more like a military sniper rifle.

SARMs specifically target the androgen receptors (2), without presenting the adverse estrogenic effects of AAS use. Therefore, there’s no concern for gyno or low mood when using LGD 4033. However, elevations in androgen levels may cause a moderate shutdown, depending on the dose.

Doses for LGD 4033 can range from 5mg to 20mg per day, depending on the user’s experience. Low doses up to 15mg per day, in cycles of 8-weeks, won’t cause a major shutdown of the HPTA. However, exceeding this dose to the 20mg+ mark might cause further suppression, especially if you extend the cycle.

The longer you stay on cycle, the harsher the suppression, and the more sides start to present themselves. LGD 4033 requires the use of “cycling” to be effective. Pushing past a cycle length of 8-weeks starts to introduce diminishing returns form your dose.

You’ll need to take more to experience the same effect, and higher doses mean more sides. When it comes time to get off the compound eventually, you might have trouble starting the HPTA with an OTC supplement to boost your testosterone.

Is it necessary to use a PCT after running an LGD 4033 cycle?

Necessary?

All SARMs, including LGD 4033, has a mildly suppressive action on the HPTA. However, since SARMs don’t have the same hormonal fallout as AAS, the PCT requirements are different. In most cases, it’s possible to recover the function of the HPTA using OTC test-boosting supplements. (3)

However, for users using high doses, or stacking LGD-4033 with other SARMs, you might have a harder time recovering. The only way to be certain if you need a pharmaceutical PCT is through bloodwork analysis.

Visit an anti-aging clinic or doctor near you. And tell them you want bloodwork for a hormone panel. Your doctor will send a blood sample to a lab for analysis and review your results. The doctor will assess your testosterone and estrogen levels, making recommendations on drug therapies designed to help you recover the function of the HPTA.

Common drugs used in pharmaceutical PCT involve Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) and Clomid (Clomifene). These drugs are potent estrogen therapies, and Nolvadex features in studies for the chemical castration of mice.

Therefore, you mustn’t thumb-suck your way through a PCT. Using these drugs when you don’t need them could cause adverse health effects on your reproductive system. We’re sure that the last thing you want to do is chemically castrate yourself.

Guidance from a licensed medical professional will help you restore the HPTA function. However, mild cycles of less than 15mg per day, for less than 8-weeks, will likely only require an OTC test-booster for PCT.

Is it okay to use Ligandrol without doing PCT afterwards?

Final Verdict

Ligandrol (LGD 4033) is a potent SARM with plenty of benefits. This compound is suitable for bulking or cutting, with pronounced results on an eight to 10-week cycle. Ligandrol is somewhat suppressive, causing a slowdown in the HPTA.

To recover faster, you need an OTC PCT to bring your HPTA back online quicker. Without a PCT, you won’t give your body the opportunity it needs to recover from the effects of the LGD 4033. As a result, you’ll lose some of your gains.

The only way to check if your HPTA is functional, and testosterone levels are within a normal range, is through bloodwork. Make sure you book an appointment with an anti-aging clinic for regular bloodwork around your cycle.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

Should I run an LGD 4033 cycle without a PCT?

No. Never run a cycle of any SARM without having your PCT on-hand before you start. While SARMs are only mildly suppressive, a PCT product will help speed up your natural recovery of the HPTA. If you don’t run a PCT, you’ll lose a significant amount of your gains. You’ll also notice an impact on your mood and well-being, and you’ll have less motivation in the gym.

Do I need a PCT like Nolvadex or Clomid for LGD 4033?

No. If you stick to your experience level’s recommended dosages, you should recover find with an OTC test-boosting product. There are dozens of choices for a supplement, but make sure you choose a high-quality product with excellent reviews.

In some cases, running LGD 4033 for extended cycles and higher doses may cause a heavier shutdown. However, the only way you can be sure if you need a pharmaceutical PCT is by visiting your doctor for bloodwork.

Does Ligandrol cause gyno?

No, Ligandrol LGD 4033 does not cause gynecomastia. Gyno occurs due to testosterone’s aromatization process, with elevated levels of estrogen driving the growth of mammary tissue in men. Ligandrol does not act on these pathways and cannot cause gyno.

DISCLAIMER: The author and publishing website do not condone or recommend the use of SARMs. The information in this article is for research and entertainment purposes only. We bear no liability for how you use this information.

Sources

  1. Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes
  2. The Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Effects of LGD-4033, a Novel Nonsteroidal Oral, Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator, in Healthy Young Men
  3. Safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects of the selective androgen receptor modulator, GSK2881078, in healthy men and postmenopausal women
Chris Jackson
Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson, co-founder of Sarms.io, is a renowned fitness blogger, physique model, and evolutionary bioscience researcher specializing in SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators). His extensive work, characterized by cutting-edge research and practical training advice, has made Sarms.io a leading source for accurate, credible information on performance enhancers. With a dedication to improving the understanding and application of SARMs in optimizing human performance, his contributions have not only expanded public awareness but also shaped the conversation around these substances. Chris's pursuit of knowledge and commitment to sharing it continue to inspire many in their fitness journeys.

6 Comments
  1. Your blog is a real gold mine. And I sincerely thank you for your work. Regarding PCT, what do you recommend as an effective product to help me recover normally? I plan to do an 8 week cycle with 10mg/day. This is my first treatment. I’ve never touched any other products before, apart from xeno-androgens.

    Thank you

  2. any idea where to get some real certified lab tested injectable YK11? i see your sources are only for orals you should have a separate page for injectables and sources for those so people wanting to get real injectables can do so safely

    • I’ve seen it sold before but never had the balls to pin it. I believe Swiss chems stopped selling injectables. I’ll ask around for you

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