Bloodwork

I noticed that there is not much on here about Bloodwork. I'd like to have it done after my PCT and there are a few things I'd like to know.

When do you normally have it done:
Like I said, I'm doing mine after PCT, but some recommend before cycle, during cycle and after PCT?

Where can you have Bloodwork done?
Luckily I can go to my GP as he is aware of what I am up to. But if that was not an option, what do the guys normally do? And does medical aid pay?

What exactly do you test for?
From what I read you want to check HORMONES: Free & total Testosterone, LH, FSH, prolactin, estrogen, progesterone.

What about: Cholesterol, liver enzymes, blood sugar, kidneys, estradiol, IGF-1, blood count, lipid profile, complete metabolic panel, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and basic thyroid?

Trying to avoid overkill and only test what is needed.

THANKS!

Yea nice post, i also will like to know.

1. Pre and post, just to compare and that I'm track/ recovering. But slip in a selective check if sceptical.

2. I do my bloodwork through Lancet, easy process and you can choose anything imaginable.

3. Obviously endocrine system, but depth depends on the cycle you are planning IMO. Test: (s-tsh,s-vt4,total and free). I've noticed some people check LH, estro ect.
I also do iron, liver function, cholesterol (lipid was included here) and thyroid. Additionally blood sugar can also be helpful.

Excellent Question: That show's responsibility.Im 53 and get steroid's legally prescribed.I nornally get a base reading.Total testosterone and Bio-available testosterone.One show's how much you have and the other(more important)show's what is in use?,Also estrogen level's.thyroid function.There are more,But these are the primary,also the most important your ast,alt. The liver function test,plus your kidney function.These are all available through your family dr.The igf-1 and hgh are not in the relm of the family dr. and only an endrcrinologist would even be aware of the testing procedure.It's alway's a good idea to know where we stand.Health wise. johnny

Depends what you are checking for. Doing blodwork straight after PCT will often not give you an accurate idea of how your HPTA has recovered. Clomid has an extremely long half life of up to 7 days and will keep LH and testosterone levels elevated for weeks after you stop taking it because it is still active in your system.

If you are on HCG it takes around 7 days for your 'articially' boosted testosterone levels to return to baseline as well but you shouldn't be running HCG right upto the end of your PCT anyway. Aromasin lowers estrogen for about 5 days after you stop it which also elevates test levels.

If I was doing the PCT's listed on this site's info section I'd wait a month after PCT to do bloodwork. I wouldn't expect test levels to be back to pre cycle levels yet and it is normal to be in the lower end of the normal range which might concern your doc since he most likely doesn't know you are on steroids but this is normal.

Looks like you know what all to get tested. If it's your first time getting bloodwork then you might as well get everything checked. I wouldn't bother with IGF1.

Muscleaddict wrote: Depends what you are checking for. Doing blodwork straight after PCT will often not give you an accurate idea of how your HPTA has recovered. Clomid has an extremely long half life of up to 7 days and will keep LH and testosterone levels elevated for weeks after you stop taking it because it is still active in your system.

If you are on HCG it takes around 7 days for your 'articially' boosted testosterone levels to return to baseline as well but you shouldn't be running HCG right upto the end of your PCT anyway. Aromasin lowers estrogen for about 5 days after you stop it which also elevates test levels.

If I was doing the PCT's listed on this site's info section I'd wait a month after PCT to do bloodwork. I wouldn't expect test levels to be back to pre cycle levels yet and it is normal to be in the lower end of the normal range which might concern your doc since he most likely doesn't know you are on steroids but this is normal.

Looks like you know what all to get tested. If it's your first time getting bloodwork then you might as well get everything checked. I wouldn't bother with IGF1.

That's great. I'll take that advice, wait a month and get a more "realistic" view as I will have Clomid/Nolva/HCG in the PCT. +1 !

@ JohnnyBolic - Thanks for the info.

Muscleaddict wrote: Depends what you are checking for. Doing blodwork straight after PCT will often not give you an accurate idea of how your HPTA has recovered. Clomid has an extremely long half life of up to 7 days and will keep LH and testosterone levels elevated for weeks after you stop taking it because it is still active in your system.

If you are on HCG it takes around 7 days for your 'articially' boosted testosterone levels to return to baseline as well but you shouldn't be running HCG right upto the end of your PCT anyway. Aromasin lowers estrogen for about 5 days after you stop it which also elevates test levels.

If I was doing the PCT's listed on this site's info section I'd wait a month after PCT to do bloodwork. I wouldn't expect test levels to be back to pre cycle levels yet and it is normal to be in the lower end of the normal range which might concern your doc since he most likely doesn't know you are on steroids but this is normal.

Looks like you know what all to get tested. If it's your first time getting bloodwork then you might as well get everything checked. I wouldn't bother with IGF1.

Hi MA..you say that tests levels wont be back to normal (pre-cycle) and are in the lower range due to being on steroids..but this is after you PCT..isnt the PCT supposed to rectify your low levels etc and get them back to pre-cycle levels? do test levels ever return to normal even after a good PCT?

Snitch wrote: Hi MA..you say that tests levels wont be back to normal (pre-cycle) and are in the lower range due to being on steroids..but this is after you PCT..isnt the PCT supposed to rectify your low levels etc and get them back to pre-cycle levels? do test levels ever return to normal even after a good PCT?

Yes, PCT speeds it up but isn't a miracle instant fix. It speeds up recovery but to expect your hormones to be 100% back to normal a month after a 3/4 month cycle because you did a good PCT is not realistic.

For example. Without any PCT it might take 4 months or even longer to get both LH and testosterone levels back to precycle levels after an average dose 12-15 week cycle + bridge. With a decent PCT your testosterone levels will be higher than they were precycle by the time you finish the PCT, but then your test levels can drop off substantially when the clomid/nolva/hcg/AI is out your system while your hormones adjust.

Many guys will be recovered about a month after a proper PCT, and many guys might take a month longer to recover. But the point is that without PCT you first drop to almost nonexistent test levels which slowly creep up, plus high estrogen levels which results in depression, hot flushes, and most importantly a loss of most of your gains.

With a PCT you go straight into having elevated test levels with functional testes, and when you stop you have no estrogen issues and you will have enough natural testosterone to maintain most of your gains.

Check this out below. The graph shows average post cycle LH and testosterone levels for a group of guys starting from 1 week after the last injection to 18 weeks after the last injection of only 250mg/week test E. Precycle average levels were LH:5 and testosterone:4.5ng/mL

NO PCT was done.



As you can see, even after 18 weeks testosterone levels are only 85% of what they were precycle! With PCT you can prevent this crap.

Thanks for clearing that up MA good to have you on board bro..so even without a PCT you can return to normal leels but obviously will take a lot longer

can you just walk into lancet and do the tests or do you need a referal from a doc ?

you can just walk in and do the tests but they wont tell you how your levels are and what thay should be etc. just give you the readings then you gotta see a doc so that he can check

or post it on the forum for doctor MuscleAddict to look at

MRfeathers wrote: or post it on the forum for doctor MuscleAddict to look at

He is going to start charging for consults soon

is muscle addict a doc?

Lol guys. If you have medical issues and are very concerned about something then see always best to see a doctor to be sure. My help is based on my experiences with my bloodwork and learning what is going on in my body. I love learning how the human machine operates. The problem is that most doctors know very little about steroids and in many cases you could be better off educating yourself.