The Test E first cycle is the textbook entry-point into AAS research. One compound, one ester, one variable. When something goes sideways — mood swings, E2 issues, hematocrit climb — you know exactly what’s driving it. Stack three compounds from day one and you’re guessing.
The protocol
| Week | Testosterone Enanthate | Ancillary |
|---|---|---|
| 1–12 | 400mg/week (200mg twice weekly, Mon/Thu) | Anastrozole 0.25mg EOD (adjust by bloodwork) |
| 13–14 | Off (ester clearing) | None |
| 15–18 (PCT) | — | Clomid 50mg + Nolvadex 20mg daily |
Why 400mg, not 500mg
Classic broscience says 500mg is the “standard first cycle.” Research actually supports lower. The Bhasin 2001 dose-response study showed hypertrophy scales with dose, but so do side effects. 400mg puts you well above replacement (4× physiological output) while keeping aromatization and hematocrit rise manageable for someone who hasn’t been on exogenous hormones before.
If your first cycle at 400mg produces what you wanted, you never need to push higher. Most guys who “need” 500+mg on cycle two are compensating for dirty training or nutrition on cycle one.
Twice-weekly pinning
Test E half-life is ~7 days. Once-weekly pinning gives a peak-trough swing of roughly 2×. Twice-weekly (Mon/Thu, 200mg each) cuts that swing in half and gives more stable serum levels. E2 management is cleaner on stable levels — you’re not chasing aromatization spikes.
Bloodwork schedule
- Baseline (week -2 to 0): Total T, free T, SHBG, E2 sensitive, LH, FSH, prolactin, ALT/AST, lipid panel, CBC with hematocrit, fasting glucose
- Week 6 mid-cycle: Total T, E2 sensitive, ALT/AST, hematocrit
- Week 10 (before last pin): E2, hematocrit, lipids
- Week 18 (post-PCT): Full panel to confirm HPTA recovery
Ancillaries you need on hand
- Anastrozole — start at 0.25mg EOD. Adjust by bloodwork. Target E2: 20–40 pg/mL on sensitive assay.
- Nolvadex — 10mg daily as insurance against gyno; scales to 20mg if symptoms appear
- Fish oil 3–4g/day — HDL protection (test tanks HDL)
- TUDCA 250mg/day — not strictly needed on injectable-only but cheap insurance
PCT
Start 14 days after last Test E pin (ester has to clear before SERMs can do anything useful).
| Week | Clomid | Nolvadex |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 2 | 50mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 3 | 25mg/day | 20mg/day |
| 4 | 25mg/day | 10mg/day |
Bloodwork at week 10 total (6 weeks post-PCT end). If total T is below 400 ng/dL at that point, extend SERMs another 2-4 weeks and repull.
What to expect
- Week 1–2: Not much. Ester saturating.
- Week 3–4: Libido surge, mood lift, better recovery between sessions.
- Week 5–8: Noticeable lean mass accrual if nutrition is dialed (300-500 kcal surplus).
- Week 9–12: Peak gains. Expect 5–8kg of retained lean mass over the cycle if you trained hard and ate right.
- Week 13–14 (off): You’ll feel test dropping. This is normal and temporary.
- PCT weeks: Expect some water loss, possible 1-2kg scale drop as bloat clears. Strength usually holds if PCT is running correctly.
This is the cycle people should actually run as their first. Simple, well-documented, recoverable. Save the stacks for when you understand your own response.