Is there a SERM that can knock Clomid and Nolvadex off their rightful place as the go-to PCT compounds of steroid and SARM users? If there is, Enclomiphene is the one. While not yet as popular as the big two SERMs, Enclomiphene has been quickly gaining a fan base that believes (with good reason) that this is one of the most effective SERMs for PCT use.
Is Enclomiphene something you should use in place of or alongside Nolvadex and Clomid? What is it about Enclomiphene that people like more than the two more famous SERMs? Find out all this and more in my Enclomiphene guide. Let’s dive in!
Medical disclaimer: The following guide is based on personal experience and does NOT promote the illegal use of steroids (PEDs). Consult a healthcare professional before using PEDs.
What is Enclomiphene?
Enclomiphene is a SERM that has had virtually all of its medical research focused on its ability to restore testosterone function as an alternative to traditional testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Despite being a promising treatment for several conditions, it has not gained approval for use in the US and EU, and its development and attempted registration for medical use are currently discontinued.
Unlike most other ancillaries, including SERMs, which we usually call by their main brand name, the proposed brand of Enclomiphene (sometimes spelled as Enclomifene) was Androxal. Still, most people do not use that name to describe this SERM. I will stick to calling it Enclomiphene or just Enclo for short.
A Quick Look at Enclomiphene
- Other Names: Enclomiphene Citrate, Enclomifene, Androxal, Enclomifene citrate, Enclo, others.
- Primary Use: Investigational treatment for male hypogonadism. Off-label use for Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) to restore natural testosterone production with fewer estrogenic side effects compared to Clomid.
- Administration: Oral form (tablets). Typical PCT Dosage: 12.5-25 mg/day (adjusted via bloodwork). Half-life: ~10-12 hours (once-daily dosing).
- Cycle Length: 4-6 weeks (as part of PCT). Often used solo or stacked with Nolvadex for enhanced estrogen control.
- Benefits: Restores natural testosterone more effectively than Clomid in some studies, minimal estrogenic side effects (no zuclomiphene-induced estrogen agonism), improves lipid profiles (raises HDL cholesterol), may enhance sperm production and fertility.
- Side Effects: Mild headaches or hot flashes, fatigue or nausea (rare), visual disturbances (less frequent than Clomid), testicular discomfort (from rapid LH/FSH stimulation).
Note: Enclomiphene is a promising alternative to Clomid for PCT, offering targeted estrogen blockade without zuclomiphene’s drawbacks. While studies show efficacy in restoring testosterone, its off-label use requires caution. Bloodwork (monitoring testosterone, LH, FSH, and estrogen) is critical. Not yet mainstream in bodybuilding circles, but growing interest due to its cleaner profile. Misuse can still suppress natural hormones if dosed improperly.
History and Overview
Enclomiphene is one of the newer SERMs and has shown potential to be the best SERM developed. There’s a great interest in Enclomiphene being used for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) instead of testosterone injections. This provides an entirely different way of replacing testosterone – with Enclomiphene stimulating natural testosterone production rather than providing an external source of the hormone that men often need to stay on for life.
There is good news:
Numerous studies have revealed that Enclomiphene is exceptional at stimulating LH and FSH to fully recover testosterone levels in the normal range for men with hypogonadism. Unfortunately, the ongoing development of Enclomiphene has halted, at least for now, and it’s unknown if it will ever be approved and marketed for medical use in any major Western countries.
Mechanism of Action
At its core, Enclomiphene works like all other SERMs by being selective in its targeting of estrogen receptors. The negative feedback loop on the HPTA by estrogen, which disrupts LH and FSH, is broken by Enclomiphene – and this allows the restoration and increase in normal testosterone production in men. Studies have concluded without a doubt that Enclomiphene is incredibly effective at restoring testosterone. One study found that in men with hypogonadism, Enclomiphene[1]:
- Increased luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Increased serum total testosterone
- Increased sperm counts
Enclo was able to restore the normal levels of total testosterone completely. This proves that Enclomiphene’s mechanisms of action successfully deliver the effects we need during PCT.
What about targeting estrogen receptors in breast tissue, like other SERMs? Enclomiphene differs from other well-known SERMs in that breast tissue targeting was not the primary purpose of its development; instead, it’s a SERM where the focus is on its potential as a hypogonadism treatment. While Enclomiphene may target the breast tissue receptors, it is not as effective as other SERMs. That’s why we rarely use this SERM for gyno mitigation on the cycle.
Effects of Enclomiphene (Benefits) for Men
Enclomiphene’s benefits for male steroid users center on its proven ability to restore and maintain testosterone levels after you’ve been on a cycle of suppressive anabolic steroids or SARMs. Here are the primary benefits of Enclomiphene that are of interest to us as bodybuilders:
- Restores and increases Testosterone: The study I linked earlier confirms that Enclomiphene can effectively restore and increase testosterone levels by stimulating the release of LH and FSH. Enclomiphene is an excellent PCT SERM, which does this at low doses and within a standard PCT cycle length of 4 to 6 weeks.
- Improves fertility and sperm count: Studies also show that Enclomiphene is very effective at increasing sperm count and fertility, two areas of our health that regular steroid users will often be concerned about.
- Increased aggression: It’s not too surprising that you might feel an aggression boost on Enclomiphene since it’s so effective at raising testosterone. Few will find this to be a negative, and it won’t be at the level that you’ll experience with the roid rage of AAS. For most Enclomiphene users, this is a nice little boost that goes along with the overall feel-good factor of Enclomiphene.
- Muscle gains: Enclomiphene may contribute to minor muscle gains as a natural result of the increase in your testosterone levels. This interests TRT users more than anabolic steroid users, who are unlikely to notice this effect.
What are SERMs?
SERMs work by binding to specific estrogen receptors in your body. When a SERM binds to an estrogen receptor, it can activate or block the receptor, depending on where the tissue is. SERMs can block the estrogen receptors in the breasts to help prevent and treat breast cancer (and gyno in steroid users). Some SERMs will activate estrogen receptors in the bones – making them useful for osteoporosis treatment.
However, the secondary effect of SERMs that interests us the most is that they can stop the negative estradiol feedback loop on the HPTA and recover testosterone function. So, although it wasn’t the original intention of SERMs research to discover their incredible ability to stimulate testosterone production, it’s undoubtedly the main reason we are interested in Enclomiphene and other SERMs as bodybuilders.
Enclomiphene for PCT
Our primary and usually only use as steroid users for Enclomiphene are going to be for PCT. The doses are now quite well established, and Enclomiphene requires a very simple dosing protocol to get your PCT job done well.
Doses
Enclomiphene requires an even lower dose than other SERMs thanks to its effectiveness at increasing testosterone levels. Clinical trials on men with hypogonadism would often include three different doses:
- 12.5mg daily
- 25mg daily
- 50mg daily
However, 50mg was only very rarely used. In most cases, the dose was titrated up to 25mg, and some studies were run for 26 weeks – much longer than we would need to run PCT.
Enclomiphene dosage on-cycle
Enclomiphene is considered an effective testosterone base to use on a SARM cycle for all but the most suppressive SARMs. As for steroid cycles, testosterone is the preferable testosterone base in most cases.
Whatever type of cycle you choose to utilize Enclomiphene for, you’ll want to optimize your dose. If the SARMs being taken are only moderately suppressive, then Enclomiphene can result in higher testosterone levels above your normal range. In other words, low-dose Enclomiphene will be very effective on-cycle in the case of most SARMs and potentially with some anabolic steroids.
But on-cycle SERM use for steroid users is to prevent estrogenic gyno – Enclomiphene is not considered a particularly potent SERM to use for this purpose. If you want to attempt on-cycle Enclomiphene use, a dose of no more than 25mg per day is recommended.
Enclomiphene dosage for PCT
Enclomiphene is a potent testosterone stimulator, and we can get its full effects at relativity low doses; indeed, you won’t need to run Enclomiphene at doses near what we need for Clomid or even Nolvadex. A standard PCT dosage with Enclomiphene is to start at 25mg daily and maintain that dose for three weeks (if you’re doing a 4-week PCT). Then, for the final week of PCT, you can halve the dosage down to 12.5mg per day. There’s little need to use Enclomiphene outside these doses. At 12.5mg, side effects are very unlikely, and even at 25mg, most men will see no adverse effects.
Dosing schedule, half-life, and PCT length
Enclomiphene’s half-life is approximately 10 hours. This makes it suitable for taking once daily and receiving its full effects. There is no need to split your daily dose of Enclomiphene, and since doses are always relatively low, there’s no practical reason for splitting the dose. How long should you run your Enclomiphene PCT? This depends on a few factors:
- How long your steroid cycle was?
- Which steroids, SARMs, or other suppressive PEDs have you used, and how suppressive are they?
- If you’re utilizing other compounds in your PCT (like HCG or Nolvadex).
A standard PCT cycle with Enclomiphene will run for 4 or 6 weeks. This is enough time to allow recovery of the HPTA and stimulate the return of your natural testosterone production to healthy endogenous testosterone levels within the normal range.
Proper administration and timing
Enclomiphene can be taken once daily, and whether you take it in the morning or evening (or any other time) is not thought to matter. For the few people who experience side effects from Enclomiphene, adjusting the timing of your daily dose may make some difference in the onset of side effects – but with Enclomiphene being far less prone to causing side effects than Clomid, this is not so much of a consideration. Me personally? I’d instead take Enclomiphene in the morning for convenience as it’s one less administration to worry about for the rest of the day.
Since we often have to buy research chemical Enclo, some new users can find it confusing to take a liquid compound like this. The liquid should be taken straight into your mouth and swallowed. Like all liquid research chemicals, Enclomiphene will often have an unpleasant taste and can leave a burning sensation in your mouth and throat.
Here’s a trick:
Buy empty gelatin or veggie-based capsules and fill them with your required dose. Then swallow the capsule – this does away with the awful taste and shouldn’t leave any lingering aftertaste either!
Enclomiphene vs. Other PCT Options
It can be overwhelming for the new steroid user to figure out what PCT compounds you should use to get the quickest and maximum restoration of your natural testosterone function. Even experienced users can find the differing opinions and numerous options confusing. So, let’s compare Enclomiphene to some of the other ancillary compounds that you might consider using for PCT:
Enclomiphene vs. Clomid
Enclomiphene is derived from Clomid (Clomiphene). It is known as the trans-isomer of Clomid. This means it has the same molecular structure but a different arrangement.
Unlike Clomid, which comprises two isomers (one being enclomiphene), Enclomiphene is a single isomer, purely an estrogen antagonist. On the other hand, Clomid is an estrogen agonist and an antagonist, and this comes with some adverse effects that affect emotions and mood.
Enclomiphene is much more potent than Clomid at stimulating the HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis), making it a more effective PCT compound for restarting testosterone production.
Clomid has worse side effects and a higher chance of experiencing side effects than Enclomiphene. I much prefer Enclomiphene as a PCT SERM over Clomid, but Clomid is undoubtedly the cheaper option and the one that’s easier to find for purchase.
Enclomiphene vs. HCG
HCG is often used alongside SERMs in PCT (as well as on cycle) to provide a more powerful restart of the HPTA for quicker testosterone recovery and to improve fertility.
Unlike Enclomiphene, HCG is naturally found in the body and acts similarly to the luteinizing hormone (LH). Two of the primary reasons we will use HCG are to maintain fertility and prevent testicular atrophy (shrinkage). But there’s a catch with HCG: You can’t use it alone in PCT because it will cause suppression of LH levels. So, HCG should always be used with or followed by a SERM for PCT.
In short, Enclomiphene boosts your endogenous LH levels, while HCG provides an exogenous replacement of LH.
Enclomiphene vs. Aromasin
Aromasin is a popular aromatase inhibitor (AI) that primarily differs from Enclomiphene because it can lower your total estrogen levels. At the same time, Enclomiphene is specific in its specific targeting and will not result in lowered or crashed estrogen.
Both are very useful compounds, but you should know when the best time is to use each one:
- Enclomiphene is best for PCT use. It will recover and restore your suppressed testosterone levels to normal range.
- Aromasin can be used on-cycle to prevent gyno and water retention if you’re using aromatizing steroids.
Using Aromasin for PCT is not recommended or useful – it can crash estradiol levels and cause considerable side effects.
Enclomiphene Side Effects in Men
The great thing about Enclomiphene is that most men see no concerning side effects when it’s used at the recommended dosages. At 12.5mg per day, you can typically use Enclomiphene with zero side effects. Of course, each of us will respond in our way to every drug, and Enclomiphene is no exception – but in general, I consider Enclomiphene to be a VERY side effect-friendly SERM, especially when we compare it to Clomid and even Nolvadex.
- Decreased IGF-1 – This is a common issue with SERMs, which will decrease your levels of circulating IGF-1. While concerning, it’s not thought to impact muscle growth – especially as we will only usually use Enclomiphene for a few weeks.
- Mood – While Enclomiphene won’t affect your emotions and mood as Clomid does, it can result in some mild roid-rage-like symptoms like increased aggression – and for some users, this will be a positive effect.
- Breast sensitivity – Some Enclomiphene users have developed puffiness or similar early gyno symptoms. It’s difficult to pinpoint whether Enclomiphene is, in fact, the culprit. Still, in any case, this is certainly a short-term and temporary side effect that disappears once Enclomiphene is stopped.
- Liver stress – While I’m unaware of any specific data on Enclomiphene’s effects on the liver, we can expect at least a small effect on liver enzymes, like other SERMs. This is not likely to cause any problems, especially compared to the liver stress caused by many of the AAS we use.
Where to Buy Enclomiphene?
One of the downsides to Enclomiphene is that it’s not as cheap or as easy to find for sale as Clomid and Nolvadex. Without any medical approval, Enclomiphene is not yet manufactured pharmaceutically in any major country. Pharma-grade is always the holy grail for ancillary compounds, but you’ll likely find it a great challenge to find such a thing with Enclomiphene.
Availability of Enclomiphene
Enclomiphene is less easily or widely available than the more established and older SERMs like Clomid and Nolvadex. It can be challenging to find legitimate Enclomiphene in tablet form. More easily found are research chemical versions of Enclomiphene. These are liquids that are taken by mouth.
A brand of Enclomiphene tablets sold pharmaceutically in India is EN-Clofert, which can be sought out online – but finding a supplier outside of India can be difficult. Also, remember that you can run into legal troubles in some countries trying to import pharmaceuticals without a prescription.
Most Enclomiphene users will look to buy it from research chemical companies, and the good news is that the best research chemical suppliers will have high-quality Enclomiphene – but you MUST do your due diligence to avoid bunk products. Since Enclomiphene is popular among SARM users (for SERMs + SARMs cycles), many SARMs suppliers will have Enclomiphene in their inventory.
Is Enclomiphene legal?
Enclomiphene has not been approved for medical pharmaceutical use. So, we can legally purchase it as a research chemical in liquid form (although some suppliers do sell capsules), and no prescription is required. Getting a prescription for Enclomiphene is impossible, meaning it doesn’t sit inside the same laws as other prescription medications (including Clomid and Nolvadex).
You should also keep this in mind: Confusing Clomid (Clomiphene) and Enclomiphene is easily done, and some online suppliers may be misleading. Clomid is an approved prescription medication that requires a doctor’s prescription for legal purchase. It should not be confused with Enclomiphene, which is similarly named.
While neither of these drugs will see you in legal trouble for possessing, whichever path you go down to purchase your Enclomiphene Citrate, I can not stress enough to confirm that Enclomiphene is what you are getting and NOT a mislabelled Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid).
Typical pricing
Most of us will be buying Enclomiphene in a liquid form through online research chemical labs (many of the same labs that sell SARMs as well as other ancillaries for steroid users). While not as ideal as purchasing pharmaceutical-grade tablets, these are very difficult to come by in most countries, so research labs are often your only option.
The good news?
Research grade Enclomiphene is not ridiculously expensive. Yes, quality can differ considerably between different suppliers, and this will still be a much more expensive SERM than Nolvadex or Clomid.
I urge you to stick with the most reputable online research chemical labs because under-dosed or faked Enclomiphene is a real possibility. Any unexpected side effects will indicate that you’ve received a bunk product. Liquid Enclomiphene from good research labs typically comes with a third-party verification certificate to verify its purity at 99.9%. A 12.5mg/ml can cost you nearly $100 for a 30ml bottle.
Final Thoughts
Enclomiphene is a fantastic SERM. I would call it the very best SERM we can use for PCT. It is THE most effective SERM for restoring testosterone function and is also great for use alongside SARMs. It also reduces the incidence of side effects we often get with other SERMs.
The problem?
Finding legitimate Enclomiphene is not easy, nor is it cheap. This often leaves us returning to traditional Nolvadex and Clomid, which are much cheaper and easier to find. But if you don’t mind research-lab Enclomiphene and have a good source AND you’re willing to pay the higher price, you too will likely find that Enclomiphene soon becomes your favored PCT SERM.
— Furious Joe