Expert Answered First cycle — bloodwork and compound choice

[rpe10]

Hey guys,
I’m 22, 180 cm tall and weigh 86 kg, with an estimated body fat of 15–20% and have been training in the gym for around 4 years, possibly longer.
I used to compete in powerlifting, but I no longer practice it and have shifted my focus to bodybuilding-style training, with the goal of building as much muscle mass as possible rather than increasing maximal strength. I’m currently finishing my degree at a sports university, studying to become a personal trainer. Unfortunately, sports pharmacology isn’t covered in our curriculum, so I’m trying to learn more about it from experienced people.

My goal is maximum muscle mass, and my current body fat is around 15–20%.

I’m considering 250–300 mg testosterone and 200 mg Masteron per week. I also have chronic gastritis and pancreatitis, so I want to avoid oral compounds.

I have a few questions:

1. What exact blood tests should I do before starting?
2. Which blood tests should I repeat during the cycle, and after how many weeks?
3. What should I monitor throughout the cycle?
4. Would it be better to run testosterone alone for my first cycle, or is adding Masteron a reasonable option?
5. Would you recommend a different compound instead of Masteron, considering my goal?
6. Should I buy anastrozole in advance? If my estrogen is elevated, should I use it?
7. Is hCG necessary during the cycle, or can I run it without hCG? If it is necessary, how much should I use?

Thanks!

 

[rpe10]

Would really appreciate some feedback on this. Even if you can’t answer everything, any advice on a few of the questions would be helpful.

 

[Davy Tenebrae]

hey rpe10, with your training background and bodybuilding goals, i'd focus on keeping your first cycle manageable, especially considering your chronic pancreatitis. before starting, i'd prioritize basic bloodwork: cbc (especially hematocrit), lipid panel with triglycerides, fasting glucose and liver enzymes. with your pancreatitis history, triglycerides are particularly important. regarding your proposed test + masteron combination, masteron offers some anabolic activity, but its main appeal is usually cosmetic rather than maximizing muscle growth. at your current body fat, those effects may be less noticeable. testosterone alone would make it easier to evaluate your response. i wouldn't introduce anastrozole preventively, elevated e2 without symptoms doesn't automatically require treatment, and suppressing estrogen excessively can cause additional issues. hcg isn't mandatory for everyone, but it's worth considering when fertility and testicular function are priorities, it helps maintain testicular activity.
one important question: is your chronic pancreatitis currently stable, and what originally caused it?

 

[rpe10]

hey rpe10, with your training background and bodybuilding goals, i'd focus on keeping your first cycle manageable, especially considering your chronic pancreatitis. before starting, i'd prioritize basic bloodwork: cbc (especially hematocrit), lipid panel with triglycerides, fasting glucose and liver enzymes. with your pancreatitis history, triglycerides are particularly important. regarding your proposed test + masteron combination, masteron offers some anabolic activity, but its main appeal is usually cosmetic rather than maximizing muscle growth. at your current body fat, those effects may be less noticeable. testosterone alone would make it easier to evaluate your response. i wouldn't introduce anastrozole preventively, elevated e2 without symptoms doesn't automatically require treatment, and suppressing estrogen excessively can cause additional issues. hcg isn't mandatory for everyone, but it's worth considering when fertility and testicular function are priorities, it helps maintain testicular activity.
one important question: is your chronic pancreatitis currently stable, and what originally caused it?

Thanks for the reply! My pancreatitis and gastritis flare up from time to time, but symptoms usually improve with medication or settle down on their own. I don’t take medication regularly, and I’m not sure what originally caused the pancreatitis.

What testosterone dose would you consider reasonable for a first cycle focused on hypertrophy? And if estradiol is elevated, how should I approach it? Should I base that on symptoms as well as bloodwork?

 

[Bodykris]

Salut les gars,
J'ai 22 ans, je mesure 1,80 m et je pèse 86 kg, avec un taux de graisse corporelle estimé entre 15 et 20 %, et je m'entraîne en salle de sport depuis environ 4 ans, peut-être plus.
Avant, je pratiquais la force athlétique en compétition, mais j'ai arrêté et je me concentre désormais sur l'entraînement de type culturisme, avec pour objectif de développer un maximum de masse musculaire plutôt que d'augmenter ma force maximale. Je termine actuellement mes études dans une université spécialisée en sport, où je me forme pour devenir entraîneur personnel. Malheureusement, la pharmacologie du sport n'est pas au programme, alors j'essaie d'en apprendre davantage auprès de personnes expérimentées.

Mon objectif est d'atteindre une masse musculaire maximale, et mon taux de graisse corporelle actuel est d'environ 15 à 20 %.

J'envisage de prendre 250 à 300 mg de testostérone et 200 mg de Masteron par semaine. Je souffre également de gastrite et de pancréatite chroniques, c'est pourquoi je souhaite éviter les médicaments par voie orale.

J'ai quelques questions :

1. Quels sont les tests sanguins exacts que je dois effectuer avant de commencer ?
2. Quels tests sanguins dois-je répéter pendant le cycle, et après combien de semaines ?
3. Que dois-je surveiller tout au long du cycle ?
4. Vaut-il mieux utiliser uniquement de la testostérone pour mon premier cycle, ou l'ajout de Masteron est-il une option raisonnable ?
5. Compte tenu de mon objectif, me recommanderiez-vous un autre composé que le Masteron ?
6. Dois-je acheter de l'anastrozole à l'avance ? Si mon taux d'œstrogènes est élevé, dois-je en prendre ?
7. L'hCG est-elle nécessaire pendant le cycle, ou puis-je le suivre sans ? Si elle est nécessaire, quelle dose dois-je utiliser ?

Merci!

Salut Pour les analyses, je ferais déjà un bilan complet avant de commencer : NFS avec hémoglobine/hématocrite, bilan lipidique (HDL, LDL, triglycérides), foie (ASAT, ALAT, GGT), rênes (créatinine, DFG), glycémie/HbA1c et bilan hormonal (testo total, SHBG, LH, FSH, estradiol sensible, prolactine si besoin). Ensuite, contrôle vers 4 à 6 semaines, puis régulièrement selon les résultats, surtout hématocrite, lipides, tension et estradiol. Après le cycle, nouveau bilan pour voir où en sont les paramètres, puis contrôle hormonal à distance pour vérifier la récupération. Pour un premier cycle, rester sur une seule molécule permet au moins de mieux identifier les effets et les éventuels soucis. Le Primo est parfois présenté comme plus soft que le Masteron, mais ça reste un AAS avec des effets possibles sur le cholestérol et la production naturelle de testo. Pour l'anastrozole, je ne me baserais pas uniquement sur un chiffre d'estradiol sans symptômes. Quant à l'hCG, son intérêt dépend notamment de la fertilité et de la situation hormonale, ce n'est pas automatique. Et avec ta pancréatite chronique, je surveillerais particulièrement les triglycérides et je validerais le suivi biologique par ton médecin.

 

[Davy Tenebrae]

Thanks for the reply! My pancreatitis and gastritis flare up from time to time, but symptoms usually improve with medication or settle down on their own. I don’t take medication regularly, and I’m not sure what originally caused the pancreatitis.

What testosterone dose would you consider reasonable for a first cycle focused on hypertrophy? And if estradiol is elevated, how should I approach it? Should I base that on symptoms as well as bloodwork?

250mg weekly is already above physiological replacement,and a very good muscle-building dose. for estradiol management, symptoms and bloodwork should be evaluated together. higher e2 is expected with increased testosterone, but that doesn't necessarily mean it needs treatment and i really doubt you'll have problems at that dose. i'd avoid preventive anastrozole and only consider intervention if there's a clear clinical reason.

 

[Sam Bjorn]

Hey guys,
I’m 22, 180 cm tall and weigh 86 kg, with an estimated body fat of 15–20% and have been training in the gym for around 4 years, possibly longer.
I used to compete in powerlifting, but I no longer practice it and have shifted my focus to bodybuilding-style training, with the goal of building as much muscle mass as possible rather than increasing maximal strength. I’m currently finishing my degree at a sports university, studying to become a personal trainer. Unfortunately, sports pharmacology isn’t covered in our curriculum, so I’m trying to learn more about it from experienced people.

My goal is maximum muscle mass, and my current body fat is around 15–20%.

I’m considering 250–300 mg testosterone and 200 mg Masteron per week. I also have chronic gastritis and pancreatitis, so I want to avoid oral compounds.

I have a few questions:

1. What exact blood tests should I do before starting?
2. Which blood tests should I repeat during the cycle, and after how many weeks?
3. What should I monitor throughout the cycle?
4. Would it be better to run testosterone alone for my first cycle, or is adding Masteron a reasonable option?
5. Would you recommend a different compound instead of Masteron, considering my goal?
6. Should I buy anastrozole in advance? If my estrogen is elevated, should I use it?
7. Is hCG necessary during the cycle, or can I run it without hCG? If it is necessary, how much should I use?

Thanks!

Hi,

I'll answer your questions point by point.
1. It depends on what exactly you want. I usually suggest two options — either a comprehensive health checkup if your budget allows it, or a hormonal panel to understand your baseline sex hormone levels. These are the levels you'll want to return to after PCT before starting your next cycle.
2. There are several essential markers — a lipid panel and a complete blood count. These are the ones we're most concerned about because they're related to cardiovascular risks. You should also check estradiol and prolactin.

But that doesn't mean you should ignore everything else if your initial blood tests showed values outside the reference ranges.

It makes sense to check estradiol around the third week of your cycle and the other markers around the sixth week.
3. Point 2 basically answers this question. How often you need blood tests will depend on your dosages, the length of your cycle, and whether you adjust doses or introduce new compounds.
4. I'm a strong supporter of using testosterone alone for the first cycle.
5. I'd remove Masteron and only introduce it during your second cycle if you really want to try it. But it's not a particularly suitable compound for building muscle mass.
6. Yes, it's worth having it on hand. Exemestane would be better, but anastrozole is also fine. As for whether you'll actually need to use it, we'll see from your first blood tests during the cycle.
7. I recommend always using HCG. The most commonly used protocol right now is 250 IU three times a week.

My answers might seem a little incomplete — and they are.

The thing is, if you want more than just straightforward answers and would prefer more personalized recommendations, it's much better to take a step back and look at your situation starting from the very beginning — why you decided you wanted to build more muscle mass in the first place.

If you're interested in that approach, let me know, and we'll go through everything step by step.

 

[rpe10]

Hi,

I'll answer your questions point by point.
1. It depends on what exactly you want. I usually suggest two options — either a comprehensive health checkup if your budget allows it, or a hormonal panel to understand your baseline sex hormone levels. These are the levels you'll want to return to after PCT before starting your next cycle.
2. There are several essential markers — a lipid panel and a complete blood count. These are the ones we're most concerned about because they're related to cardiovascular risks. You should also check estradiol and prolactin.

But that doesn't mean you should ignore everything else if your initial blood tests showed values outside the reference ranges.

It makes sense to check estradiol around the third week of your cycle and the other markers around the sixth week.
3. Point 2 basically answers this question. How often you need blood tests will depend on your dosages, the length of your cycle, and whether you adjust doses or introduce new compounds.
4. I'm a strong supporter of using testosterone alone for the first cycle.
5. I'd remove Masteron and only introduce it during your second cycle if you really want to try it. But it's not a particularly suitable compound for building muscle mass.
6. Yes, it's worth having it on hand. Exemestane would be better, but anastrozole is also fine. As for whether you'll actually need to use it, we'll see from your first blood tests during the cycle.
7. I recommend always using HCG. The most commonly used protocol right now is 250 IU three times a week.

My answers might seem a little incomplete — and they are.

The thing is, if you want more than just straightforward answers and would prefer more personalized recommendations, it's much better to take a step back and look at your situation starting from the very beginning — why you decided you wanted to build more muscle mass in the first place.

If you're interested in that approach, let me know, and we'll go through everything step by step.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer my questions. I really appreciate your help!

To answer your question, I’m finishing my degree to become a personal trainer, and I’d really like to improve my physique and become significantly more muscular. I sleep well and generally eat well, but I’m not currently tracking my calories. I used to compete in powerlifting, so eating enough has never really been a problem for me. I’ve always tried to eat a lot to support my training.

The main difficulty for me is that I prefer a varied diet. I don’t really enjoy eating the same basic meals, like rice and chicken, over and over again. I know I’ll need to be more consistent with tracking my calories and nutrition, and I’m willing to work on that.

I’m interested in pharmacology because I want to build a much better physique, both for myself and to look more credible and potentially attract more clients as a personal trainer.

I also wanted to clarify a few things:

1. What is the actual difference between Aromasin (Exemestane) and Arimidex (Anastrozole)? Is there a significant difference in effectiveness or cost?
2. Regarding hCG, if testosterone is injected twice a week and hCG three times a week, does that mean five injections per week, or can some injections be scheduled on the same days?
3. Regarding AI how do you determine the appropriate dose of Anastrozole or Exemestane? I understand that it should depend on bloodwork and symptoms, but how do you generally determine the starting dose and adjust it based on follow-up blood tests? How do you avoid lowering estradiol too much?
4. Also, could you recommend a knowledgeable coach or specialist who focuses specifically on pharmacology? I don’t need help with training or nutrition, as I can manage those myself. I’m looking for someone who can provide guidance on bloodwork, pharmacology and health monitoring. Ideally, someone who doesn't charge around $200 per month. Is there anyone you would recommend?