10-12 week cycle vs 20 week cycle
Translated from Turkish
134 views 3 replies Jan 20, 2026
#testosterone #kur uzunlugu #enanthate
KA
Kaan Ayhan
1 posts
Jan 20, 2026, 08:56 PM
Hello,
The half-life of long-ester testosterone derivatives (Cypionate/Enanthate) is between 8-10 days. It takes approximately 4-5 half-lives for a drug to reach a stable level in the blood (Steady State).
Literature Data: According to studies published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, it takes about 4 weeks for long-ester testosterone levels to plateau in the blood.
Analysis: In a 12-week cycle, the athlete remains at optimal hormone levels for only 8 weeks; in a 20-week cycle, this period increases to 16 weeks. This is critical for the continuity of hypertrophy signals.
2. Myonuclear Persistence and Muscle Memory (Myonuclear Domain Theory)
Muscle growth is not only an increase in cell volume (sarcoplasmic hypertrophy) but also the donation of new nuclei to muscle fibers by satellite cells.
Academic Basis: Studies by Bruusgaard et al. (2010, PNAS) have proven that AAS use provides a permanent "myonuclear" increase in muscle cells.
Why 20 Weeks? Acquiring new myonuclear nuclei and making this change a permanent structure is a time-consuming process. While most of the mass gained in 12-week cycles is due to water retention (edema) and glycogen, "real" protein synthesis and structural tissue increase (myofibrillar hypertrophy) are more dominant in a 20-week cycle.
3. Law of Diminishing Returns and Myostatin Adaptation
The body secretes a protein called Myostatin to limit excessive muscle development. In long-term cycles, the body develops adaptation to this high anabolic environment.
Theoretical Difference: While the body enters the full anabolic adaptation process in 12 weeks, stopping the cycle makes it difficult to maintain gains. 20 weeks allows enough metabolic time for the body to accept new muscle mass as a "set-point."
4. HPTA Axis and Recovery (PCT) Efficiency
Many users think that short cycles will suppress the natural axis (HPTA) less. However, the scientific reality is different.
PubMed Findings: Bhasin et al. (1996, NEJM) showed that exogenous testosterone completely stops LH and FSH production from the 2nd week. So, at the end of 12 weeks and at the end of 20 weeks, the axis is in a "fully closed" state.
Conclusion and Academic Opinion
In "Only Testo" cycles, the 20-week protocol gives statistically superior results compared to 12-week protocols in terms of pharmacokinetic saturation, satellite cell activation, and the permanence of gains. Especially in low-to-moderate dose (350-500mg) uses, if side effect management (E2 control and hCG support) is done correctly, the 20-week period is the gold standard for biologically stabilizing muscle mass.
Also, the first suggestion and wiki of the world's largest steroid community:
https://www.reddit.com/r/steroids/wiki/index/
https://www.reddit.com/r/steroids/wiki/your_first_cycle/
it is clearly seen here that the majority's decision and opinion is that a 20-week period would be the most reasonable.
Again, as you will see in the article attached, a 20-week enanth. usage:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11701431/
References:
Bhasin, S., et al. (1996). The Effects of Supraphysiologic Doses of Testosterone on Muscle Size and Strength in Normal Men. New England Journal of Medicine.
Bruusgaard, J. C., et al. (2010). Myonuclei acquired by overload exercise precede hypertrophy and are not lost on detraining. PNAS.
Schoenfeld, B. J. (2010). The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
KA
Kaan Ayhan
New Member
1 posts
Jan 20, 2026, 08:56 PM
Hello,
The half-life of long-ester testosterone derivatives (Cypionate/Enanthate) is between 8-10 days. It takes approximately 4-5 half-lives for a drug to reach a stable level in the blood (Steady State).
Literature Data: According to studies published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, it takes about 4 weeks for long-ester testosterone levels to plateau in the blood.
Analysis: In a 12-week cycle, the athlete remains at optimal hormone levels for only 8 weeks; in a 20-week cycle, this period increases to 16 weeks. This is critical for the continuity of hypertrophy signals.
2. Myonuclear Persistence and Muscle Memory (Myonuclear Domain Theory)
Muscle growth is not only an increase in cell volume (sarcoplasmic hypertrophy) but also the donation of new nuclei to muscle fibers by satellite cells.
Academic Basis: Studies by Bruusgaard et al. (2010, PNAS) have proven that AAS use provides a permanent "myonuclear" increase in muscle cells.
Why 20 Weeks? Acquiring new myonuclear nuclei and making this change a permanent structure is a time-consuming process. While most of the mass gained in 12-week cycles is due to water retention (edema) and glycogen, "real" protein synthesis and structural tissue increase (myofibrillar hypertrophy) are more dominant in a 20-week cycle.
3. Law of Diminishing Returns and Myostatin Adaptation
The body secretes a protein called Myostatin to limit excessive muscle development. In long-term cycles, the body develops adaptation to this high anabolic environment.
Theoretical Difference: While the body enters the full anabolic adaptation process in 12 weeks, stopping the cycle makes it difficult to maintain gains. 20 weeks allows enough metabolic time for the body to accept new muscle mass as a "set-point."
4. HPTA Axis and Recovery (PCT) Efficiency
Many users think that short cycles will suppress the natural axis (HPTA) less. However, the scientific reality is different.
PubMed Findings: Bhasin et al. (1996, NEJM) showed that exogenous testosterone completely stops LH and FSH production from the 2nd week. So, at the end of 12 weeks and at the end of 20 weeks, the axis is in a "fully closed" state.
Conclusion and Academic Opinion
In "Only Testo" cycles, the 20-week protocol gives statistically superior results compared to 12-week protocols in terms of pharmacokinetic saturation, satellite cell activation, and the permanence of gains. Especially in low-to-moderate dose (350-500mg) uses, if side effect management (E2 control and hCG support) is done correctly, the 20-week period is the gold standard for biologically stabilizing muscle mass.
Also, the first suggestion and wiki of the world's largest steroid community:
https://www.reddit.com/r/steroids/wiki/index/
https://www.reddit.com/r/steroids/wiki/your_first_cycle/
it is clearly seen here that the majority's decision and opinion is that a 20-week period would be the most reasonable.
Again, as you will see in the article attached, a 20-week enanth. usage:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11701431/
References:
Bhasin, S., et al. (1996). The Effects of Supraphysiologic Doses of Testosterone on Muscle Size and Strength in Normal Men. New England Journal of Medicine.
Bruusgaard, J. C., et al. (2010). Myonuclei acquired by overload exercise precede hypertrophy and are not lost on detraining. PNAS.
Schoenfeld, B. J. (2010). The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
3 replies
FitKolik
Admin
Jan 21, 2026, 12:18 AM
#1-This forum post is a classic example of "bro-science" blending with actual clinical data.
-While the author cites reputable sources (Bhasin, Bruusgaard), they apply those findings in a way that prioritizes muscle gain optimization over health risk management.
-they claim: You aren't in a "stable" anabolic state until week 4, so 12 weeks is too short, The pharmacokinetics are mostly correct, but protein synthesis and nitrogen retention begin to increase long before the steady state is reached. You don't "waste" the first 4 weeks, you are simply ramping up. The argument that 20 weeks is "better" because of the plateau ignores the cumulative stress on the liver, lipids, and cardiovascular system.
-The Bruusgaard study(2010) is real and very famous, It suggests that once you gain muscle nuclei via AAS or training, they stay there even after atrophy, but There is no specific magic number like 20 weeks for this to happen, Myonuclear addition happens gradually, while 20 weeks allow for more nuclei it also increases the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy (heart thickening), which is also a permanent change you don't want(talked about this in my OCT/PCT e-book).
-The most dangerous part of the post is the part they say: "Since the HPTA is "shut down" by week 2 anyway, 20 weeks is no harder to recover from than 12 weeks", While it's true that LH/FSH drop to near zero quickly, duration of suppression is a primary factor in post-cycle therapy (PCT) failure, the longer the Leydig cells in the testes remain dormant, the more they are prone to atrophy and desensitization to gonadotropins. Recovering natural testosterone levels after 20 weeks is significantly more difficult and carries a higher risk of permanent hypogonadism than a 12-week cycle(trust me this the most common problem that i see from the clients coming to me, you can also see the post on this forum that a guy already have libido problems).
-and lastly do not take all pibmed articles or anyother as reference since they can be tricky, the 2001 Bhasin study (the 20-week one) was a clinical trial where subjects were healthy and monitored by doctors, it wasn't a recommendation for gym-goers to stay on indefinitely.
FitKolik
Admin
New Member
Jan 21, 2026, 12:18 AM
-This forum post is a classic example of "bro-science" blending with actual clinical data.
-While the author cites reputable sources (Bhasin, Bruusgaard), they apply those findings in a way that prioritizes muscle gain optimization over health risk management.
-they claim: You aren't in a "stable" anabolic state until week 4, so 12 weeks is too short, The pharmacokinetics are mostly correct, but protein synthesis and nitrogen retention begin to increase long before the steady state is reached. You don't "waste" the first 4 weeks, you are simply ramping up. The argument that 20 weeks is "better" because of the plateau ignores the cumulative stress on the liver, lipids, and cardiovascular system.
-The Bruusgaard study(2010) is real and very famous, It suggests that once you gain muscle nuclei via AAS or training, they stay there even after atrophy, but There is no specific magic number like 20 weeks for this to happen, Myonuclear addition happens gradually, while 20 weeks allow for more nuclei it also increases the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy (heart thickening), which is also a permanent change you don't want(talked about this in my OCT/PCT e-book).
-The most dangerous part of the post is the part they say: "Since the HPTA is "shut down" by week 2 anyway, 20 weeks is no harder to recover from than 12 weeks", While it's true that LH/FSH drop to near zero quickly, duration of suppression is a primary factor in post-cycle therapy (PCT) failure, the longer the Leydig cells in the testes remain dormant, the more they are prone to atrophy and desensitization to gonadotropins. Recovering natural testosterone levels after 20 weeks is significantly more difficult and carries a higher risk of permanent hypogonadism than a 12-week cycle(trust me this the most common problem that i see from the clients coming to me, you can also see the post on this forum that a guy already have libido problems).
-and lastly do not take all pibmed articles or anyother as reference since they can be tricky, the 2001 Bhasin study (the 20-week one) was a clinical trial where subjects were healthy and monitored by doctors, it wasn't a recommendation for gym-goers to stay on indefinitely.
#1
KA
Kaan Ayhan
Jan 21, 2026, 01:45 AM
#2Probably the reason for the English translation is that my computer and browser are in English, even though I write the text in Turkish, it automatically translates to English, which is probably why there is a problem (assume I am suggesting a correction).
Coming back to the topic, preventing the complete shutdown of the LH/FSH cycle is possible with HCG. At weekly intakes of 875mg, a high rate of 93% of the normal level is met (for 437.5 IU, this rate is 25% lower), so you can understand that we can keep the LH/FSH cycle completely open during the cycle.
The issue here is the difference in whether HCG is used and how often. If you say you'll inject HCG from time to time and see how you feel, yes, you may have problems in the future, especially in long cycle processes. But if you use 500-750 IU of HCG weekly, your recovery will be just as fast because LH/FSH will continue. Since HCG did not exist before the 1980s, most of the documents and cycle examples we know and read are outdated. The only thing I don't understand is that in a 10-week cycle, the natural cycle of testosterone shuts down, the cells are introduced to new and much more abundant testosterone, and we can achieve the process of rapid change of muscle cells and putting the body into an anabolic effect not from the 1st week but around the 3rd-4th weeks. Since we are stressing the body so much, it prepares for this for 1 month, it works like a machine 24/7, what is the point of continuing for 6 weeks and then suddenly stopping and putting it into PCT? 1 month was spent in preparation, we stayed on the cycle for 1.5 months, we suddenly cut the cycle, left the body without drugs for 2 weeks, then we entered PCT, what do we have left from 1.5 months of development? When did the muscle nuclei increase? When did we create new fibers in the body, when did our nitrogen level and protein synthesis multiply? How much will the body benefit from this? I don't know how logical it is to suddenly stop after stressing it so much and say, "Okay, that's enough, now go back to rest mode and repair yourself."
Please don't misunderstand, I'm not questioning you, I'm trying to understand your point of view and why you recommend HCG use differently to your users, I'm trying to learn. How did you reach the information and experience that while a weekly 750 fixed HCG usage is recommended, you should inject HCG sometime in the 3rd week or 6th week and continue?
KA
Kaan Ayhan
New Member
Jan 21, 2026, 01:45 AM
Probably the reason for the English translation is that my computer and browser are in English, even though I write the text in Turkish, it automatically translates to English, which is probably why there is a problem (assume I am suggesting a correction).
Coming back to the topic, preventing the complete shutdown of the LH/FSH cycle is possible with HCG. At weekly intakes of 875mg, a high rate of 93% of the normal level is met (for 437.5 IU, this rate is 25% lower), so you can understand that we can keep the LH/FSH cycle completely open during the cycle.
The issue here is the difference in whether HCG is used and how often. If you say you'll inject HCG from time to time and see how you feel, yes, you may have problems in the future, especially in long cycle processes. But if you use 500-750 IU of HCG weekly, your recovery will be just as fast because LH/FSH will continue. Since HCG did not exist before the 1980s, most of the documents and cycle examples we know and read are outdated. The only thing I don't understand is that in a 10-week cycle, the natural cycle of testosterone shuts down, the cells are introduced to new and much more abundant testosterone, and we can achieve the process of rapid change of muscle cells and putting the body into an anabolic effect not from the 1st week but around the 3rd-4th weeks. Since we are stressing the body so much, it prepares for this for 1 month, it works like a machine 24/7, what is the point of continuing for 6 weeks and then suddenly stopping and putting it into PCT? 1 month was spent in preparation, we stayed on the cycle for 1.5 months, we suddenly cut the cycle, left the body without drugs for 2 weeks, then we entered PCT, what do we have left from 1.5 months of development? When did the muscle nuclei increase? When did we create new fibers in the body, when did our nitrogen level and protein synthesis multiply? How much will the body benefit from this? I don't know how logical it is to suddenly stop after stressing it so much and say, "Okay, that's enough, now go back to rest mode and repair yourself."
Please don't misunderstand, I'm not questioning you, I'm trying to understand your point of view and why you recommend HCG use differently to your users, I'm trying to learn. How did you reach the information and experience that while a weekly 750 fixed HCG usage is recommended, you should inject HCG sometime in the 3rd week or 6th week and continue?
#2
FitKolik
Admin
Jan 21, 2026, 09:25 AM
#3In reply to Kaan Ayhan
Probably the reason for the automatic translation to English is because my computer and browser are in English. Even though I write in Turkish, it automatically translates to English, which is probably why there's a problem (assume I'm suggesting a correction).
Coming back to the topic, preventing the complete shutdown of the LH/FSH cycle is possible with HCG. At weekly intakes of 875mg, about 93% of the normal level is met (for 437.5 IU, this rate is 25% lower). So, as you can see, we can keep the LH/FSH cycle completely open during the cycle.
The issue here is whether or not to use HCG and how often. If you say, "I'll inject HCG from time to time and see how I feel," then yes, you may experience problems in the future, especially during long cycles. But if you use HCG between 500-750 IU weekly, your recovery will be just as fast because LH/FSH will continue. Since HCG didn't exist before the 1980s, most of the documents and cycle examples we know and read are outdated. The only thing I don't understand is that in a 10-week cycle, the natural testosterone cycle shuts down, the cells are introduced to new and much more abundant testosterone, and we can achieve the process that occurs, such as the rapid change of muscle cells and putting the body into an anabolic effect, not from the 1st week but around the 3rd-4th weeks. Since we're stressing the body so much, it prepares for this for 1 month, working like a machine 24/7. What's the point of continuing for 6 weeks and then suddenly stopping and starting PCT? 1 month was spent in preparation, we stayed on cycle for 1.5 months, we suddenly cut the cycle and left the body without drugs for 2 weeks, then we started PCT. What do we have left from 1.5 months of development? When did the muscle nuclei increase? When did we create new fibers in the body? When did our nitrogen level and protein synthesis multiply? How much will the body benefit from this? I don't know how logical it is to stress the body so much and then suddenly stop and say, "Okay, that's enough, now go back to rest mode and repair yourself."
Please don't misunderstand, I'm not questioning you, I'm trying to understand your perspective and why you recommend HCG usage differently to your users, I'm trying to learn. How did you reach the information and experience that while a weekly fixed HCG usage of 750 is recommended, you should inject HCG sometime in the 3rd week or 6th week and continue?
I definitely don't misunderstand, in fact, I like these kinds of exchanges of ideas. You're saying, from what I understand from your writing, that we should sacrifice health to get results. It's not just the HCG issue, there are side effects. Besides, using HCG can also lead to infertility. HCG only mimics LH/FSH, but what about GnRH production after the cycle! Okay, you'll get the cycle running with SERMs, but how difficult it is after a long cycle, and in some cases (I'll give an example from my own student, it took 2 years to get the HPTA cycle back).
And the other thing is you're ignoring the side effects, meaning no matter what happens, muscle gain should increase.
My perspective is that a person should do it properly, but be able to do 100 cycles.
FitKolik
Admin
New Member
Jan 21, 2026, 09:25 AM
In reply to Kaan Ayhan
Probably the reason for the automatic translation to English is because my computer and browser are in English. Even though I write in Turkish, it automatically translates to English, which is probably why there's a problem (assume I'm suggesting a correction).
Coming back to the topic, preventing the complete shutdown of the LH/FSH cycle is possible with HCG. At weekly intakes of 875mg, about 93% of the normal level is met (for 437.5 IU, this rate is 25% lower). So, as you can see, we can keep the LH/FSH cycle completely open during the cycle.
The issue here is whether or not to use HCG and how often. If you say, "I'll inject HCG from time to time and see how I feel," then yes, you may experience problems in the future, especially during long cycles. But if you use HCG between 500-750 IU weekly, your recovery will be just as fast because LH/FSH will continue. Since HCG didn't exist before the 1980s, most of the documents and cycle examples we know and read are outdated. The only thing I don't understand is that in a 10-week cycle, the natural testosterone cycle shuts down, the cells are introduced to new and much more abundant testosterone, and we can achieve the process that occurs, such as the rapid change of muscle cells and putting the body into an anabolic effect, not from the 1st week but around the 3rd-4th weeks. Since we're stressing the body so much, it prepares for this for 1 month, working like a machine 24/7. What's the point of continuing for 6 weeks and then suddenly stopping and starting PCT? 1 month was spent in preparation, we stayed on cycle for 1.5 months, we suddenly cut the cycle and left the body without drugs for 2 weeks, then we started PCT. What do we have left from 1.5 months of development? When did the muscle nuclei increase? When did we create new fibers in the body? When did our nitrogen level and protein synthesis multiply? How much will the body benefit from this? I don't know how logical it is to stress the body so much and then suddenly stop and say, "Okay, that's enough, now go back to rest mode and repair yourself."
Please don't misunderstand, I'm not questioning you, I'm trying to understand your perspective and why you recommend HCG usage differently to your users, I'm trying to learn. How did you reach the information and experience that while a weekly fixed HCG usage of 750 is recommended, you should inject HCG sometime in the 3rd week or 6th week and continue?
I definitely don't misunderstand, in fact, I like these kinds of exchanges of ideas. You're saying, from what I understand from your writing, that we should sacrifice health to get results. It's not just the HCG issue, there are side effects. Besides, using HCG can also lead to infertility. HCG only mimics LH/FSH, but what about GnRH production after the cycle! Okay, you'll get the cycle running with SERMs, but how difficult it is after a long cycle, and in some cases (I'll give an example from my own student, it took 2 years to get the HPTA cycle back).
And the other thing is you're ignoring the side effects, meaning no matter what happens, muscle gain should increase.
My perspective is that a person should do it properly, but be able to do 100 cycles.
#3