How much risk of a complete shut down is there really?

[iCookie]

Considering you cycle 12 weeks of Test-E / 500mg weekly and do proper PCT with nolvadex/HCG + possible anti-estrogens on cycle.

How much risk is there really? I've been contemplating starting steroids for quite some time now, and my biggest fear is shutting down testosterone production forever.....

[scotty51312]

Stats?
Age?
height?
weight?
Bodyfat%?
training expierience?

[iCookie]

Stats?
Age?
height?
weight?
Bodyfat%?
training expierience?

Age 22
6'1 200lbs
18% bodyfat (going to lower it before a cycle)
training experience 4 years

[scotty51312]

ok. At 22 your body's natural testosterone production is at its peak. Your HTPA is close to being fully matured but not quite there yet. At the age of 25 on average testosterone levels peak and slowly decline from that point on. At this point of your life there's no reason to cycle with all the natrural test you have. And in my opinion i think you could get to 215lbs at at 13-16%bf pretty easily with proper diet and training. Till you hit 25 I'd stick with supplements. (protien, creatine, BCAA's) Pick up the book "Power Eating" by Susan M. Kleiner. Whats your diet look like now?

[iCookie]

There's plenty of testosterone in my body yes, but not nearly as much as a cycle would give. Just because I have high testosterone levels doesn't mean I'll make steroid-like gains naturally nomsayin.

Oh yeah and my natural t-levels aren't really that high actually....a blood test returned 21nmol/L or 580ng/dl which is low for my age. And that's part of the reason I'm considering cycling right now.

[scotty51312]

I wouldn't risk it. Even if you're levels are low for your age. Yes your levels would be higher on AAS. And yes you'd make huge gains. But the risk of permenant damage is higher at your age. Which was the question you originally asked. And yes theres a chance that cycling now could result in you having to be on Hormone replacement therapy for the rest of your life. AAS IMO is not to be used as a short cut. You have to at least be close to achieving your genetic potential. It sounds like you're looking for someone to tell you that its ok and there's not enough risk to worry about. Thats not what you'll get here. You'll get the facts and the facts are that the risk exists. The choice is yours and so are the reprocussions.

[iCookie]

Yes you are right...but I am just wondering if there are any statistics out there that show risk of shutdown? I know it's a chance to take, but so is everything else in life. I just need a percentage or something so I can evaluate this whole thing better.

[scotty51312]

AAS havent' been studied in that way to establish a percentage because they are a controlled substance. Read through these threads here if you like and look at all the ones that say things like "Need Help" "Not Recovering" "Erectile Dysfunction" "Bad Blood Work" Either way whatever you decide. This forum will still be here and whatever questions you have probably have been asked at least 10 times before all you have to do is search through these threads to find the answers you need

[sigman roid]

You may want to speak to swifto he will no more about statistics than most.

[iCookie]

yea I realize it's hard getting statistics on this, seing it's an illegal substance. and it's a damn shame too.

oh well, such is life

[dec11]

its a lottery, some shut down badly some dont. important thing to rem though is your still developing and you could halt tht prematurely. its hard enough when youve started in your 30's and lowered htpa effectiveness (now on trt), i wouldnt fancy growing up through my younger years having affected it.

[Matt]

If your going to inject yourself with 500mgs of testosterone every week then your going to shut down your own bodies test production 100%....

[G4R]

Also remember, when you run a cycle, your body stops producing any natural test. You are banking on a properly run PCT to get your body to start producing naturally again. If your body is producing low amounts of test naturally, then if it was something that is a major concern, your doctor would do something about it. If you run a cycle, you will only have an elevated test levels during the cycle. If PCT gets your body producing naturally again (which in most cases it does), you are going to most likely be back at your low levels again, and back at square one.

But, again, if your levels are lower than what they should be, your doc should be more than willing to try and help you fix it.

Also, eating a proper diet, and training will both help increase your natural test production. Running a cycle would only be a temp fix to your problem.

[iCookie]

Also remember, when you run a cycle, your body stops producing any natural test. You are banking on a properly run PCT to get your body to start producing naturally again. If your body is producing low amounts of test naturally, then if it was something that is a major concern, your doctor would do something about it. If you run a cycle, you will only have an elevated test levels during the cycle. If PCT gets your body producing naturally again (which in most cases it does), you are going to most likely be back at your low levels again, and back at square one.

But, again, if your levels are lower than what they should be, your doc should be more than willing to try and help you fix it.

Also, eating a proper diet, and training will both help increase your natural test production. Running a cycle would only be a temp fix to your problem.

Yea I understand that. However my levels aren't considered low enough for the doc to do anything about it.

They are currently at 580ng/dl. Referance values are 300-1200ng/dl. It's normal for 20 year olds to be around 700-800ng/dl, so as you can see I'm below average already...

[gymfu]

Yea I understand that. However my levels aren't considered low enough for the doc to do anything about it.

They are currently at 580ng/dl. Referance values are 300-1200ng/dl. It's normal for 20 year olds to be around 700-800ng/dl, so as you can see I'm below average already...

Yea, unfortunatly endos here in the states won't prescribe test unless your down to nothing. Dam FDA.

Dude you really need to learn how eat, you won't believe the results from just a good meal plan.

[iCookie]

Yea, unfortunatly endos here in the states won't prescribe test unless your down to nothing. Dam FDA.

Dude you really need to learn how eat, you won't believe the results from just a good meal plan.

Actually eating isnt really a problem for me....I got my macros and shit down, got plenty of protein so yeah...

but I do believe my sleep could be optimalized though. always had problems with maintaining a straight sleep cycle, and honestly it affects my gains a lot.

[Swifto]

Considering you cycle 12 weeks of Test-E / 500mg weekly and do proper PCT with nolvadex/HCG + possible anti-estrogens on cycle.

How much risk is there really? I've been contemplating starting steroids for quite some time now, and my biggest fear is shutting down testosterone production forever.....

Its fairly rare.

I get PM's from members about PCT often, but most of the time they havent used the correct PCT (doses, compunds, duration), so it causes problems.

Use HCG when "on", then PCT with 2 SERMs. That usually doesnt pose a problem at all.