Clomiphene citrate (aka Clomid)

Overview and History of Clomid

Clomid (clomiphene citrate) belongs to a category and class of medications known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).

Selective estrogen receptor modulators belong to a much broader class of medications known as anti-estrogens.

Another subcategory of drugs in the anti-estrogen category is known as aromatase inhibitors (AIs), such as aromasin (exemestane) and arimidex (anastrozole).

AIs and SERMs make up the class of anti-estrogens.

Aromatase inhibitors differ significantly from SERMs in how they work and how they address estrogen regulation.

The misconception that SERMs like Nolvadex and Clomid are responsible for lowering estrogen levels should be addressed before delving further.

Clomid was developed and approved for use in the early 1970s to treat female infertility (it was later expanded to treat male infertility as well).

Shortly after its introduction in the United States, it, like Nolvadex, spread around the world, and its popularity and use has become so great that it is widely and freely available in most countries and regions of the world under an almost infinite number of brand names and generic products.

Due to its popularity and low cost, it is a very readily available compound, not only for medical use, but also for off-label use by the anabolic steroid-using community.

Although clomid is classified as an anti-estrogen, it is actually utilized to treat female infertility due to ovulation disorders (anovulatory infertility).

Clomid is a very close relative of Nolvadex, both belonging to the SERM family of drugs, but in reality, clomid works at a much lower efficiency compared to Nolvadex when it comes to estrogen antagonism in breast tissue.

In other words, it is a weaker estrogen blocker in breast tissue, and Nolvadex is much better suited for this task.

Instead, Clomid's primary use is as a non-steroidal ovulation stimulant for women.

Clomid, like Nolvadex, is a SERM, meaning it has a mixture of estrogen agonist and antagonist effects in various tissues of the body.

Like Nolvadex, Clomid acts as an estrogen antagonist in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, endometrium, vagina, and cervix.

This means that in these tissues and body parts, clomid acts to mitigate (inhibit or block) the action of estrogen.

In women as well as men, the estrogen antagonistic effect on the hypothalamus triggers the release of LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone).

In men, these two hormones are the signaling hormones that signal the testes to start or increase testosterone production, and this entire process is known as the HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis).

The same thing happens in women, except that LH and FSH also trigger the release of eggs from the ovaries (called follicle rupture), which increases the chances of fertility.

This entire process in women is known as the HPOA (hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis).

Like Nolvadex, clomid can be considered an estrogen that acts as a 'fake' estrogen in some parts of the body, such as breast tissue, blocking the effects of 'real' estrogen, while acting as real estrogen in other parts of the body.

This is another way of describing the agonism/antagonism of clomid in relation to estrogen.

For athletes and bodybuilders, most of whom are male, clomid can act as an effective anti-estrogen for the purpose of mitigating certain unwanted side effects of estrogen caused by anabolic steroid use (testosterone, Dianabol, boldenone, etc.).

This particular unwanted side effect is gynecomastia, which is the development of breast tissue due to excessively high levels of estrogen in the body.

Because of clomid's estrogen antagonistic effect on the hypothalamus, which results in increased production of the gonadotropins LH and FSH, clomid can be effectively utilized to increase endogenous testosterone production in men.

This is particularly important for individuals using anabolic steroids who wish to restore proper hormonal function in the weeks following the end of an anabolic steroid cycle, a period known as Post Cycle Therpay (PCT).

The traditional protocol for this use is to use a combination of Nolvadex, Clomid, and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for several weeks, and while much more modern protocols have been developed, this time-honored PCT protocol is still effective.

The use of clomid for this purpose is covered in more detail in the Clomid Dosage section of this profile.

All of the triphenylethylene compounds in the SERM family (Nolvadex, Clomid, and Toremifene) have estrogenic effects in the liver, so the liver is one of the body sites where SERMs like Clomid (clomiphene citrate) act as estrogens without blocking estrogenic activity in the liver.

Research has shown this to be a beneficial aspect of SERMs, as not only estrogen, but also estrogen agonists (such as Clomid and Nolvadex) work in the liver to positively affect cholesterol levels.

The reason why using aromatase inhibitors (AIs) to lower estrogen levels is not always the best decision is that the reduction in estrogen often has a negative impact on the cholesterol profile, as demonstrated not only in clinical studies but also anecdotally.

Chemical Properties of Clomid

Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is a non-steroidal selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that has both mixed and antagonistic actions with respect to estrogen in different parts of the body.

Clomid belongs to a class of compounds known as triphenylethylene compounds, and Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate) is a compound that is very closely related to clomid.

Properties of Clomid

The primary use of clomid in the medical field is as a treatment for infertility in women as well as men.

As a SERM, it has already been shown that clomid does not lower the levels of circulating estrogen in the body, but instead acts by occupying receptor sites in breast tissue, making it impossible for estrogen itself to bind to these receptors due to clomid's strong binding capacity.

In layman's terms, clomid essentially acts as a “fake” estrogen that acts as a placeholder at the receptor site in breast tissue.

As a result, estrogen is unable to activate gene transcription in those cells to form gynecomastia, and any existing estrogen that has already bound to the receptor site is 'forced' out of the receptor site by clomid, taking its place.

It is important to note, however, that the action of clomid in this area is much weaker and less efficient than its close relative compound, nolvadex.

While clomid can indeed be utilized by anabolic steroid using individuals who wish to prevent, eliminate, or reverse gynecomastia in its early stages, its more effective and promising role is that of an endogenous testosterone production stimulating compound.

This is the primary purpose and function of clomid among anabolic steroids used by athletes and bodybuilders, and in this sense, the primary desired effect.

However, research has also demonstrated a number of advantages that Nolvadex has over clomid in this sense, which will be covered in detail in the next section of this profile.

However, as a SERM, clomid does not act to block or reduce other estrogenic side effects, as it only acts to block estrogenic activity in the breast tissue area (where major estrogenic side effects are of concern).

Clomid does not act to reduce abdominal bloating, water retention, increased blood pressure (due to water retention), or acne formation, which are side effects of increased plasma estrogen levels (as do other SERMs).

Clomid Side Effects

Clomid belongs to the SERM family of drugs and is well-tolerated by most people.

However, as with all medications, there is a risk of side effects.

Clomid is an anti-estrogen.

It is used to treat infertility.

It is also a drug used by many anabolic steroid users to reduce or eliminate common steroid side effects.

Clomid itself is not a steroid drug.

Clomid can cause headaches.

Other side effects associated with clomid include nausea and hot flashes.

It can also cause uterine bleeding in women, but this particular side effect is considered rare.

Additionally, women who use clomid may experience breast discomfort.

Another side effect to watch out for is visual disturbances.

Studies have shown that 1.5 percent of people who use clomid experience visual disturbances.

For example, you may experience blurred or blurry vision while taking the medication.

People who experience visual disturbances should stop using clomid.

Your doctor should be able to prescribe an alternative that serves the same purpose and does not negatively affect your vision.

Visual impairment usually stops when you stop taking clomid.

However, visual impairment may persist even after use of this prescription medication has ended.

If vision problems associated with clomid persist, it is usually because you used a higher than average amount of clomid for a longer than average period of time.

People who experience blurred or blurry vision while taking Clomid should stop taking it and ask their doctor about other SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators).

People who take clomid may also develop acne.

In particular, people who use it during post cycle therapy (PCT) are more likely to develop acne.

It is not always the clomid that causes complexion problems when used in post cycle therapy (PCT) (anabolic steroid post cycle therapy).

Sometimes, it is due to the natural production of large amounts of testosterone.

However, clomid can play a role in the development of acne, which can appear on the shoulders, chest, or back, regardless of whether the user is related to anabolic steroids or not.

Clomid dosing and uses

Most women who need help with fertility problems take 50 milligrams of clomid per day.

Clomid comes in pill form, so it is very simple to take.

The dosing schedule for women with fertility problems is to take it once a day for five consecutive days.

If pregnancy does not occur, the dose can be increased to 100 milligrams per day.

Taking usually begins five days after a woman's menstrual cycle.

These cycles are repeated five to six times until the woman becomes pregnant.

Clomid treatment is usually stopped after 5 to 6 cycles if the woman does not become pregnant.

If treatment with clomid is not successful, other options may be considered, such as IVF.

People who use anabolic steroids for estrogen protection usually take 50 milligrams of the drug, as do women who want to get pregnant.

Steroid users take 50 milligrams throughout their cycle.

If anabolic steroid users do not get estrogen protection from clomid, they may find that increasing the dosage makes no difference.

Sometimes steroid users who do not get good results with Clomid will have better results with another SERM called Nolvadex.

Another popular option for steroid users is Arimidex, an aromatase inhibitor.

For post cycle therapy, steroid users typically begin taking 100 to 150 milligrams of clomid per day for one to two weeks.

After this period, the dose is usually reduced to 50 milligrams per day, or 100 milligrams if the previous dose was 150 milligrams.

You will take the lower dose for 1 to 2 weeks.

Overall, you should take this medication for 4 to 6 weeks.

Your dosing schedule should take this time frame into account.

For post cycle therapy, many steroid users find that adding HCG and Nolvadex to their Clomid regimen yields good results.

Timing is an important factor when planning the use of clomid for post cycle therapy.

The inclusion of HCG will affect the timing of clomid use.

If you are finishing a cycle with an anabolic steroid with a large ester base, you should start taking Clomid a few weeks after your final injection.

If your cycle ends with an anabolic steroid with a small ester base, you should start taking Clomid 3 days after your final injection.

If your cycle ends with an anabolic steroid with a large ester base, you should start HCG 10 days after your final injection and then start Clomid once your HCG treatment is over.

If your cycle ends with an anabolic steroid with a small ester base, you should start HCG 3 days after your final injection and then start clomid when your HCG therapy ends.