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Originally posted by Anti
ok well what about this, I havent juiced in over a year and a half and i amgoing to start up again. the thing is that when i did juice i took small and short cycles but my nuts did shrink a little, so know a year later should i still take hcg before my I start my cycle or just start it and take it after words. I just dont want to shrink any more
IMO you would have no benefit if taking it before cycle, unless you are already hypogodadotropic (the only real way to tell is to test gonadotropin/hormone levels, or if you know for sure your nuts are smaller and are producing less endogenous test). Chances are, if you have been off cycle for a while (you said ~1 yr) you should have returned somewhat to basal function, although I cannot tell you this for sure. How is your sex drive/libido etc? In any case there really is no need to pre-load with hCG before cycle. Wait until you start your cycle, and use it when you notice atrophy beginning to set in, or use it to prevent atrophy in the first place. There are many schools of thought as to when to use hCG. Some prefer to run it q weekend at 500 IU's (sat/sun only) throughout. You could wait until midcycle and run it for 2 weeks at 500-1000 units/day, and then again at the end right before you clear (mainly applies to longer cycles of 12 weeks and >). Or you could wait solely until the end, just as you are clearing (test levels are still elevated, but gradually declining). But don't wait too long and use it when test levels are already low, cuz of its inhibitory effects. All of these methods utilize the fact that hCG in itself is inhibitory. Using it during any of the above listed times should not effect recovery/inhibition. hCG is a polypeptide with similar chemical characteristics to LH, which is the natural substrate for the leydig cells in the testes. When stimulated, the leydig cells produce endogenous testosterone which is very readily converted to estrogen or DHT (all proving inhibitory in the hypothalamus/pituitary). You would not want to run it when your hypothalamus/pituitary is functioning normally, because again of the inhibitory effects (negative feedback mechanism by increased test/estrogens/DHT) and it is also known, over time, to desensitize the leydig cells in the testes to proper stimulation. This is why you don't want to run it straight for long periods, nor run it at excessively high doses. But, it is often used in primary (even secondary say to AAS use) hypogonadotropic-hypogonadism. It can be effective and is often used in conjunction with clomiphene. Doses for this purpose vary greatly and I won't go into it. So IMO it is best saved for when you need it. Don't use it if you don't need it. You will know when your nuts atrophy. Like you said, you already experienced this. So use it either to prevent the atrophy or to help reverse the atrophy during cycle. Not all cycles require hCG either. If you were to run a short cycle 2-4 weeks, you may find you don't need it. But then again, depending on the duration of action of the AAS used (like d-bol, suspension, other short esters and orals) you may notice atrophy in a shorter time. Everyone is different, and you need to find what works best for you.