In a rut? Typically, when you take any sort of prohormone or testosterone supplement, the manufacturer will recommend that you cycle these products. In other words, you’ll take the product for a time, and then you’ll take a temporary sabbatical from it.

The Importance of Cycling Testosterone Supplements

You may be under the impression that as long as you aren’t taking a supplement that contains steroids or human growth hormone (HGH), you have no reason to worry about cycling. This isn’t true, though. The actual cycle recommended will vary from product to product, but any type of prohormone should be cycled in some way. Otherwise, if you take any testosterone supplement for an extended time, it can reduce the body’s own production of the hormone. Your body will, in effect, become dependent on the supplement as its own production of testosterone diminishes. To avoid this, you should always follow the guidelines for cycling with any testosterone supplement.

The Downside to Cycling Testosterone Boosters

While it is best to cycle testosterone supplements, there can be negatives to doing so. The process of cycling does a good job of keeping your body from becoming dependent on the supplement for testosterone production, but in the process, your testosterone levels will often drop dramatically during down cycles. There are ways to battle this, however. You can use a product such as Nutrex’s Vitrix at the end of a cycle of any prohormone. This type of supplement doesn’t just supply your body with testosterone, but it increases the body’s own production of the hormone, which can keep levels steady during the off-cycle period.

Cycles Vary

On average, a testosterone supplement will maintain a similar cycle as its competitors. The most common cycle is four weeks on the supplement, followed by two weeks off. Then, once that two weeks is up, you can do another four weeks on. Not all products have this exact cycle, however, and some manufacturers allow for variances in their recommendations. For example, Advanced Muscle Science recommends a cycle of four to six weeks on 4-AD, followed by two weeks off. BSN suggests you take Axis-HT for a minimum cycle of 6 weeks, and the manufacturer claims optimum benefits if you use the supplement for a 12-week cycle. Many people like that they can stay in the “on” cycle longer with this product than with some others. However, the off cycle for Axis-HT is longer than for most similar products; BSN recommends you take a break from it for four weeks. Some supplement manufacturers suggest a much shorter cycle, as MHP does with T-Bomb II; it’s best used for three to four weeks on followed by one to three weeks off.

It’s important to heed recommended cycling information for any testosterone supplement and follow it carefully.  Otherwise, you may find yourself dependent on the product for testosterone production.

—Joni Mitchell