Author Topic: Myth of permanent HPTA shutdown and the future of PCT  (Read 2827 times)

Notomorrow

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Myth of permanent HPTA shutdown and the future of PCT
« on: July 30, 2022, 03:48:46 PM »
     People with low testosterone from endogenous factors (elderly men, people with Klinefelter’s syndrome, etc.) invariably have high Luteinizing hormone. In fact, it is speculated that high LH because of low T could be a risk factor in Alzheimer’s.   What has happened in these populations is a problem in their testes, not their HPTA axis.  The high LH in people with low T shows an actual supercompensation of HPTA, which Bill Roberts used to get into years ago.

     Bodybuilders who shut their testosterone down with anabolic steroids will eventually have their HPTA axis restored and even super compensated if they wait long enough. For a bodybuilder, 12 months is forever, however you are essentially starting puberty all over again. From the beginning of puberty, it could take several years for FSH and LH pulses from the pituitary to reach their maximum levels, and this is no different in bodybuilders.

     I have attached a study on bodybuilders who had “permanent” low testosterone from years of steroid use, and after about 36 months, not only had the bodybuilders LH and FSH returned to normal, but they had higher LH and FSH than the control group, in fact shutdown bodybuilders had the highest LH in all study groups even though their testosterone was the lowest.  HPTA axis can shut down for 12-36 months (or even longer) if you have been “on” for a long time.   I hypothesize that if you are permanently “shut down”, you will eventually have a super compensated HPTA with your low T.

     What has happened in terms of permanent shutdown is direct testicular damage, and I have included a few studies on this.  The reason that HCG works is not only by mimicking LH and FSH, but because it is restoring the Leydig cell function in the testicles. It is no coincidence that HCG comes from pregnant women, because HCG is what develops the male fetuses’ Leydig cells during pregnancy, cells that will be used many years later to respond to puberty. But without the Leydig cells functioning, you can have all the LH you want, and it won’t help. I have attached other studies that show that bodybuilders can have permanent damage to their testicular function, not their HPTA axis. This may be why HCG is so effective in male fertility. It is restoring the testes’ ability to make sperm, the FSH and LH mimicking is not the direct benefit of HCG for men. Even women who have low estrogen have high LH, the problem is their ovaries not their pituitary.

     So how does this affect PCT? The focus should be on restoring testicular function. HCG seems important, not because of the LH and FSH mimicking, but the restoration of Leydig cell function that is vital once HPTA is restored. Don't declare HCG ineffective if you don't get immediate rises in test. You may be helping your Leydig cells which will pay dividends down the road.  I found research on other novel compounds that could also help. One is stem cell therapy to the testes. Another is Insulin Growth Factor 3(IGF-3). For male’s with Klinefelter’s syndrome or when the testes do not descend after puberty (your balls don’t drop) they have used both stem cells and IGF-3 successfully to restore testicular function. But the future of PCT is restoring testicular function, not HPTA.

The idea that you have shut down your HPTA axis permanently I believe may be bro-science. If you are permanently shut down, it’s in your balls, not your pituitary.

However the testicular damage from long cycles can be permanent if one is on long enough, which means along with your low T you may never have kids.

If we found effective ways to regenerate Leydig cells in the testes, we could help many people with low T, not just bodybuilders.

A few of the studies I have referenced

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4988681/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2605.1987.tb00380.x
https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2021/steroid-abuse-by-men-leads-to-long-lasting-impaired-testicular-function
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5217336/#:~:text=In%20adult%20males%2C%20LH%20regulates,the%20male%20foetus'%20Leydig%20cells
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5080638/

Notomorrow

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Re: Myth of permanent HPTA shutdown and the future of PCT
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2022, 11:37:27 AM »
I think I found a possible medication for PCT. Also used for acne. Regenerates the leydig cells in the testes so they can produce testosterone when FSH AND GH are restored.

Accutane

Systemic isotretinoin has a positive effect on male fertility. Since the hormone levels did not change significantly, this positive effect of isotretinoin is not via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis but can be due to its regenerative and proliferative effects on the testes.

ThisisOverload

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Re: Myth of permanent HPTA shutdown and the future of PCT
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2022, 03:12:24 PM »
There is a lot of new evidence of recovery. Now that it has been properly studied for a while.

My Endo believes that almost anyone can recover their Test levels.

I recovered mine in about 8 months.

Accutane has some terrible side effects. But that is an interesting take on it.

deadz

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Re: Myth of permanent HPTA shutdown and the future of PCT
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2022, 02:20:17 PM »
Depends. On for 8 yrs. straight took HCG for a couple of months. My son is now six. Myth is correct.
T

Notomorrow

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Re: Myth of permanent HPTA shutdown and the future of PCT
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2022, 05:22:55 PM »
     My main point was that future PCT should focus more on restoring the actual functioning of the balls, not HPTA shutdown. I have yet to see a long term study(meaning years) that shows bodybuilders FSH and LH is permanently low. Sure it's low for 18, even 36 months but it is not permanently shutdown and eventually will return to normal and usually above normal because of low T. What can be permanently damaged are the actual cells in the balls.

     The novel compound I mentioned, IGF-3 is directly related to restoring function of the testes it's kind of like an anabolic steroid for the balls. Other compounds should be investigated. Accutane generally lowers Test and is horrible for training but "may" have some stimulating effect on severely damaged testes.

But if somehow we could restore Leydig cell function quickly, we would have a whole new approach to PCT.

Although this is from fake news CNN, it's referencing a legit Endocrinology journal about the actual damage bodybuilders are doing, and it's not at the HPTA axis.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/09/health/bodybuilding-steroids-testicular-damage-study-wellness/index.html#:~:text=Bodybuilding%20steroids%20linked%20to%20long%2Dterm%20testicular%20damage%2C%20study%20finds,-By%20Sandee%20LaMotte&text=Men%20who%20use%20anabolic%20steroids,they%20stop%20using%20the%20steroids.

     On a side note, be careful just googling for info on anything, as most results from a search engine you read are an opinion piece that is interpreting a real study and often getting it wrong or spinning it for an agenda. Whether politics or science, always try to find the original research a piece is making assumptions about. It can be a major pain in the ass finding the original research, but it's much better than an op-ed piece based on research. I couldn't find the original study the CNN piece references, but the original source is always better.

falco

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Re: Myth of permanent HPTA shutdown and the future of PCT
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2022, 06:12:14 AM »
Interesting.

ThisisOverload

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Re: Myth of permanent HPTA shutdown and the future of PCT
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2022, 01:28:23 PM »
      On a side note, be careful just googling for info on anything, as most results from a search engine you read are an opinion piece that is interpreting a real study and often getting it wrong or spinning it for an agenda. Whether politics or science, always try to find the original research a piece is making assumptions about. It can be a major pain in the ass finding the original research, but it's much better than an op-ed piece based on research. I couldn't find the original study the CNN piece references, but the original source is always better.

True for everything.

Read the actual research and data.

All "news" is spun a certain way on purpose.