Clomid Overview & Mechanism

Clomid Overview and History

Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) belongs to the category and type of drugs known as Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs).

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators belong to the much broader category of drugs known as Anti-estrogens.

Other sub-categories of drugs belonging to the Anti-estrogen category are known as Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs), such as Aromasin (Exemestane) and Arimidex (Anastrozole).

AIs and SERMs constitute the Anti-estrogens.

Aromatase Inhibitors differ greatly from SERMs in their mode of action and how they address estrogen-related issues.

A misunderstanding that SERMs like Nolvadex and Clomid serve to lower estrogen levels is one that must be addressed first before delving deeper.

Clomid was developed and approved for use in the early 1960s for the treatment of female infertility.

(Its scope of use was later expanded to include male infertility treatment.)

Shortly after its release in the United States, it, like Nolvadex, spread throughout the world, and its popularity and usage rate became so high that it became widely and freely available under nearly infinite brand names and generic products in most countries and regions of the world.

Its popularity and low cost make it a very easily obtainable compound for off-label use in the anabolic steroid community as well as for medical purposes.

Although classified as an anti-estrogen, Clomid is actually utilized in the treatment of female infertility due to ovulatory disorders (anovulatory infertility).

Clomid is a very close relative of Nolvadex, both belonging to the SERM family of drugs, but in reality, Clomid acts with much lower efficiency compared to Nolvadex regarding its estrogen antagonistic effects in breast tissue.

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

Instead, the primary use of Clomid is as a non-steroidal ovulatory stimulant for women.

Because Clomid is a SERM, like Nolvadex, it exhibits mixed agonist and antagonist effects on estrogen action in various tissues throughout the body.

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

Meaning, in these tissues and body areas, Clomid serves to mitigate (suppress or block) the action of estrogen.

In men as well as women, the estrogen antagonistic effect on the hypothalamus triggers the secretion of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone).

These two hormones in men are the signal hormones that signal the testes to begin or increase testosterone production, this entire process is known as the HPTA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis).

The same action occurs in women, differing only in that LH and FSH cause the release of an egg from the ovaries (known as follicular rupture) to increase the possibility of conception.

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 body areas such as breast tissue, blocking the effects of ‘real’ estrogen, and acting as an actual estrogen in other body areas.

This is another way to describe the agonistic/antagonistic nature of Clomid in relation to estrogen.

For athletes and bodybuilders, predominantly male, Clomid can serve as an effective anti-estrogen for the purpose of mitigating certain unwanted side effects of estrogen resulting from the use of anabolic steroids (such as Testosterone, Dianabol, Boldenone, etc.).

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

Due to Clomid’s estrogen antagonistic effects on the hypothalamus, which cause 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 anabolic steroid users wishing to restore proper hormonal function following the conclusion of an anabolic steroid cycle for a period of several weeks, a period known as PCT (Post Cycle Therapy).

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

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

All triphenylethylene compounds in the SERM family (Nolvadex, Clomid, Toremifene) also exhibit estrogenic effects in the liver, making the liver one of the body areas where a SERM like Clomid (clomiphene citrate) acts as an estrogen rather than blocking estrogen activity.

This has turned out to be a beneficial aspect of SERMs, as research has shown that not only estrogen but also estrogen agonists (e.g., Clomid and Nolvadex) act in the liver to positively influence cholesterol levels.

This is why using Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) to lower estrogen levels is not always the best decision, as it has been demonstrated both clinically and anecdotally that the reduction of estrogen often negatively impacts cholesterol profiles.

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Clomid Chemical Characteristics

Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) is a non-steroidal Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) that has both mixed agonistic and antagonistic actions in relation to estrogen in different parts of the body.

Clomid belongs to a family of compounds known as triphenylethylene compounds, with Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate) being a very closely related compound to Clomid.

Clomid Properties

In the medical field, the primary use of Clomid is as a fertility treatment drug for both women and men.

It has been established that Clomid, being a SERM, does not lower circulating estrogen levels in the body, but instead occupies the receptor sites in breast tissue, preventing estrogen itself from binding to these receptors due to Clomid’s strong binding affinity.

Simply put, Clomid essentially acts as a ‘fake’ estrogen that serves as a placeholder at the receptor sites in breast tissue.

As a result, estrogen cannot activate gene transcription in those cells to form gynecomastia, and any existing estrogen already bound to receptor sites is ‘forcibly’ removed from the receptor sites by Clomid, which then occupies the receptor site instead.

However, it is important to note that Clomid’s action in this area is much weaker and less efficient than its close relative compound, Nolvadex.

While Clomid can indeed be utilized by anabolic steroid users wishing to prevent or remove/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 athletes’ and bodybuilders’ anabolic steroid use, and in this sense, the desired primary effect.

However, research has also demonstrated the various advantages that Nolvadex holds over Clomid in this regard, which will be covered in detail in the following section of this profile.

However, as a SERM, Clomid’s role is to block estrogen activity *only* in the breast tissue area (where the primary estrogen side effect is a concern), and it does not serve to block or reduce other estrogenic side effects.

Clomid does not serve to reduce bloating, water retention, increased blood pressure (due to water retention), or acne formation resulting from increased plasma estrogen levels.

(The same is true for other SERMs.)

Clomid Side Effects

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

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

Clomid is an anti-estrogen.

It is used as a fertility treatment.

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 specific side effect is considered rare.

Additionally, women using Clomid may experience breast discomfort.

Another side effect to be aware of is visual disturbances.

Studies indicate that about 1.5 percent of people using Clomid experience visual disturbances.

For example, vision may become blurry or cloudy while taking the drug.

A person experiencing visual disturbances should discontinue Clomid use.

A physician should be able to prescribe an alternative that serves the same purpose and does not negatively impact eyesight.

Typically, visual disturbances cease when Clomid intake is stopped.

However, it is possible for visual disturbances to persist even after use of this prescription drug has ended.

If vision problems associated with Clomid persist, it is generally because the individual used larger than average amounts of Clomid for a longer than average period of time.

Anyone experiencing blurry or cloudy vision while taking Clomid should stop taking it and consult their doctor about another SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator).

People taking Clomid may also develop acne.

Specifically, those using this drug during Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) are likely to experience breakouts.

When Clomid is used in Post Cycle Therapy (therapy after an anabolic steroid cycle), it is not always Clomid that causes complexion issues.

Sometimes it is the large amounts of testosterone being produced naturally.

However, Clomid can play some role in the onset of acne, which may appear on the shoulders, chest, or back, regardless of whether the user is associated with anabolic steroids or not.

Clomid Administration and Uses

Most women needing help due to infertility issues take 50 milligrams of Clomid per day.

Clomid is provided in tablet form, making it very simple to take.

The schedule for a woman with infertility issues is to take it once a day for five consecutive days.

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

Dosing usually starts five days after the woman’s menstrual cycle.

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

Typically, Clomid therapy is discontinued after five or six cycles if the woman does not become pregnant.

If successful results are not achieved with Clomid therapy, other options such as in vitro fertilization procedures can be considered.

A person using anabolic steroids for estrogen protection typically takes 50 milligrams of the drug, similar to a woman wanting to get pregnant.

The steroid user takes 50 milligrams throughout the cycle.

An anabolic steroid user who does not get estrogen protection effects from Clomid may find that increasing the dosage does nothing.

Sometimes a steroid user who does not get good results with Clomid gets better results with another SERM called Nolvadex.

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

For Post Cycle Therapy, a steroid user generally starts by taking 100 to 150 milligrams of Clomid per day for one to two weeks.

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

The lower dose is taken for one to two weeks.

Overall, the drug should be taken for four to six weeks.

The dosing schedule should consider this timeframe.

For Post Cycle Therapy, many steroid users find that adding HCG and Nolvadex to their Clomid regimen yields good results.

When planning Clomid use for Post Cycle Therapy, timing is an important factor.

The inclusion of HCG affects the timing of Clomid use.

If a cycle ends with anabolic steroids that have large ester bases, Clomid intake should start a couple of weeks after the final injection.

If a cycle ends with anabolic steroids that have small ester bases, Clomid intake should start three days after the final injection.

If a cycle ends with anabolic steroids that have large ester bases, HCG should be started 10 days after the final injection, and then Clomid should be started after the HCG therapy ends.

If a cycle ends with anabolic steroids that have small ester bases, HCG should be started three days after the final injection, and then Clomid should be started after the HCG therapy ends.

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Clomiphene Citrate (aka Clomid)