Learn / The curriculum

Understand more.
Guess less.

Practical education for the questions
behind compound decisions.

Start here · An interactive introduction

Welcome to CompoundLab.

Find your path, learn how to read a compound profile, and turn a first visit into a useful research session.

Find your bearings
Foundation6 lessons · Beginner

The shared starting point

Get the vocabulary and habits that make every other track more useful.

Your first stepsIn reading order
  1. 02The Philosophy and Practice of Harm Reduction9 min read
  2. 03Understanding Your Bloodwork11 min read
  3. 04Hormones, the HPTA, and Suppression9 min read

Your learning paths

01FoundationEssential knowledge every user needs before exploring any track. Covers harm reduction, labs, dosing concepts, and how to use CompoundLab.6 lessonsBeginner
02TRT, Testosterone Replacement TherapyFor users exploring TRT as a medical protocol. Covers candidacy, protocols, side-effect management, labs, and long-term considerations.8 lessonsBeginner

Diagnosis and Alternatives

TRT candidacy, endogenous-axis options, and fertility-preserving alternatives.

01
TRT Candidacy and Diagnosis
A clinical introduction to testosterone replacement therapy, who qualifies, how it is diagnosed, and how it differs fundamentally from anabolic cycling.
4 min read
02
Clomiphene, Enclomiphene, HCG, and TRT Alternatives
How clomiphene, enclomiphene, HCG, lifestyle correction, and true TRT differ, who tends to fit each option, and why better testosterone numbers do not always mean better symptoms.
10 min read
03
HCG, Fertility, and Post-Cycle Hypogonadism
How HCG fits into on-cycle maintenance, TRT fertility preservation, post-cycle testicular recovery, and the difference between waking up the testes and restarting the pituitary.
10 min read

Protocol and Monitoring

Dosing, delivery, estrogen management, bloodwork, and long-term distinction from cycling.

04
TRT Protocols: Dosing, Frequency, and Delivery Methods
A practical guide to the different forms of testosterone used in TRT, how dosing and injection frequency affect hormonal stability, and the trade-offs between injectable, topical, and implant-based delivery.
10 min read
05
Managing Estrogen on TRT
Why estrogen management is one of the most misunderstood aspects of TRT, when AI use is and isn't warranted, and how to avoid the common mistake of crashing your estradiol.
5 min read
06
Bloodwork and Monitoring on TRT
A comprehensive guide to the labs every TRT user needs, how often to test, and what the results mean for long-term health management.
3 min read
07
Fertility, Side Effects, and Long-Term Considerations
How TRT affects fertility, which side effects to monitor proactively, and what the current evidence says about long-term health outcomes on testosterone replacement.
9 min read
08
TRT, Cycling, and Blast-and-Cruise Boundaries
An honest, nuanced exploration of how TRT and anabolic cycling differ in intent, dose, and risk, and how to approach conversations with a physician about TRT honestly.
9 min read
03Beginner AnabolicsStructured introduction to first-cycle planning, bloodwork, estrogen management, PCT, and making an informed go/no-go decision.10 lessonsBeginner

Readiness

Baseline decisions before a first cycle or SARM run.

01
Cycle Readiness Decision Framework
A clear-eyed decision framework covering age prerequisites, natural training ceiling, health requirements, psychological readiness, and the legitimate reasons to say no, at least for now.
12 min read
02
SARMs Before You Start
A plain-language beginner guide to why SARMs are still endocrine drugs, what Ostarine, LGD-4033, and RAD-140 usually mean in practice, how suppression and PCT enter the picture, and why quality control is the real problem.
10 min read

First Cycle Planning

Testosterone-only setup, estrogen, bloodwork, and PCT.

03
The First Cycle: Testosterone Only
The complete guide to planning a first testosterone cycle, why test-only is the universal starting point, ester selection, dosing logic, cycle length, and what to realistically expect week by week.
11 min read
04
Estrogen Management for Beginners
How testosterone aromatizes to estradiol, why both high and low estrogen cause problems, when and how to use an AI, and the single most common beginner mistake in estrogen management.
11 min read
05
Managing Estradiol
A practical guide to high and low estradiol, AI and SERM selection, compound-specific estrogen patterns, and troubleshooting symptoms with labs instead of guessing.
8 min read
06
On-Cycle Bloodwork and Health Monitoring
A practical guide to what blood tests to run during a cycle, when to run them, how to interpret results in context, and how to manage the most common on-cycle health changes, hematocrit, lipids, liver enzymes, and blood pressure.
10 min read
07
PCT Physiology, Timing, and SERM Protocols
Everything beginners need to know about Post-Cycle Therapy, the physiology of suppression, SERM protocols, timing based on ester half-life, recovery bloodwork, and the blast-and-cruise alternative.
10 min read

Side Effect Management

Common side effects, androgenic issues, and sexual-function troubleshooting.

08
Common First-Cycle Side Effects
Practical management of the most frequent first-cycle side effects, acne, hair loss, sleep disruption, mood changes, water retention, and injection site issues, with clear severity grading and response frameworks.
11 min read
09
Hair Loss, Prostate, DHT, and Sexual Function
A mechanism-level guide to androgenic side effects, DHT, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, nandrolone exceptions, prostate monitoring, and why libido problems are not always a DHT or prolactin issue.
8 min read

Off-Ramps

Red flags, stop rules, and recovery decisions.

10
When to Stop: Red Flags and Off-Ramp Scenarios
Clear decision frameworks for identifying bloodwork red lines, cardiovascular and psychological warning signs, how to stop mid-cycle safely, and the long-term perspective on compounding cycle risks.
11 min read
04Advanced PEDsMechanism-level depth on compound families, stack design, ancillaries, lab interpretation, and interaction management for experienced users.14 lessonsAdvanced

Mechanisms and Stacks

Compound families, stack architecture, ancillary logic, and escalation risk.

01
Compound Families and Their Pharmacological Logic
A mechanistic tour of the androgen receptor, compound classification by structural family, tissue selectivity, progestogenic activity, oral vs. injectable pharmacology, and the wet-vs-dry spectrum.
12 min read
02
Stack Design: Logic, Synergies, and the Principle of Least Complexity
A systematic framework for building compound stacks, the testosterone base rationale, synergy vs. redundancy, bulking and cutting architectures, managing androgenic load, and why more compounds reliably produce more problems rather than more gains.
11 min read
03
Advanced Ancillary Management
Mechanistic analysis of AI selection, prolactin management, SHBG manipulation, liver support evidence, cardiovascular ancillaries, and the critical principle that over-reliance on ancillaries signals a stack that needs simplification.
12 min read
04
Interaction Risks and Common Escalation Mistakes
The pharmacological basis of high-risk compound combinations, compound-specific side effects of Trenbolone, dose-creep dynamics, evidence-based cardiovascular risk from long-term AAS use, and when to take a meaningful break.
12 min read

Health and Labs

Advanced lab interpretation, long-term health management, and insulin-sensitivity context.

05
Advanced Labs Interpretation
How to read a full blood panel in the context of active compound use, why reference ranges don’t apply, suppressed gonadotropins on cycle, hematocrit dynamics, advanced lipid markers, liver panel interpretation, IGF-1 confirmation for GH use, and thyroid monitoring.
12 min read
06
Advanced Health Management and Longevity
Organ protection, cardiovascular risk, kidney and liver monitoring, and the long-term tradeoffs that matter once PED use moves beyond a single cycle.
14 min read
07
Insulin Sensitivity, Glucose Disposal, and Anabolism
How insulin works in muscle, liver, and fat tissue, what insulin sensitivity actually means, and why PED users keep running into this topic even when they are not using insulin itself.
8 min read

Compound Deep Dives

19-nors, trenbolone, boldenone, SARMs, and related mechanism-level caveats.

08
Tren, Nandrolone, Prolactin, and 19-Nor Myths
A focused lesson on why 19-nor compounds behave differently, how nandrolone and trenbolone affect sexual function, when prolactin matters, when cabergoline is misused, and why estrogen still matters.
11 min read
09
Estrogen, Neuroprotection, and Trenbolone
A mechanism-level lesson on estradiol as part of testosterone's brain effects, brain aromatase, AI overuse, trenbolone neurotoxicity signals, and the narrow truth behind the high-E2 tren discussion.
8 min read
10
Boldenone, Equipoise, and Estradiol
Why EQ's aromatization reputation is more complicated than the usual half-testosterone claim, how aromatase competition and assay issues can confuse estradiol management, and why hematocrit remains the other major EQ marker.
8 min read
11
SARMs, Prohormones, and Novel Compounds
What SARMs actually are mechanistically, the evidence and suppression profiles of LGD-4033, RAD-140, and Ostarine, why SARMs still require PCT consideration, the reality of prohormone conversion pathways, and the quality control and regulatory landscape for research chemicals.
13 min read

Metabolic, Cutting, and Endurance

Endurance doping, non-GLP-1 cutting drugs, thyroid hormones, and metabolic risk.

12
Cardarine, ITPP, EPO, and Endurance Doping
A practical map of oxygen-delivery and endurance pharmacology, covering Cardarine and PPAR-delta, ITPP and hemoglobin oxygen release, EPO and erythropoiesis, doping rules, and monitoring risks.
11 min read
13
Cutting Compounds Beyond GLP-1s
How non-GLP-1 cutting drugs differ by mechanism, including clenbuterol, Cardarine, DNP, metformin, AICAR, thyroid hormones, and the difference between sustainable fat loss and metabolic stress.
11 min read
14
Thyroid Hormones and Fat Loss
A focused lesson on T3, T4, TSH feedback, thyrotoxicosis, muscle retention, cardiac risk, GH-related thyroid questions, and why thyroid drugs are not casual cutting tools.
10 min read
05Women: Female-Specific PED RiskFemale-specific PED education covering androgen sensitivity, virilization, menstrual changes, compound selection, monitoring, and stop rules.1 lessonsIntermediate
06PeptidesA dedicated track for healing peptides, GH secretagogues, GLP-1s, cosmetic peptides, reconstitution math, quality control, and practical risk management.8 lessonsIntermediate

Start Here

Category map and first-vial decision points.

01
Intro to Peptides
A high-level map of the peptide category, including healing peptides, GH secretagogues, GLP-1s, direct GH and IGF compounds, cosmetic peptides, reconstitution, quality control, and the red flags that matter before a first vial.
10 min read

Prep and Math

Reconstitution, U-100 syringe math, injection setup, and storage basics.

02
Peptide Reconstitution and Injection Math
How to prepare peptide vials, choose bacteriostatic water, calculate concentration, convert micrograms into U-100 syringe units, inject subcutaneously, store mixed peptides, and use the peptide dose calculator without guessing.
10 min read

Healing and Cosmetic

BPC-157, TB-500, Melanotan II, expectations, and quality-control concerns.

03
Healing and Recovery Peptides: BPC-157 and TB-500
A practical breakdown of BPC-157 and TB-500 - why they have such a strong reputation, what the animal work points to, how people usually protocol them for injury management, and what to realistically expect.
7 min read
04
Melanotan II and Cosmetic Peptides
Melanotan II mechanism, protocol design, side effect profile, and the relevant safety concerns around mole and lesion monitoring. Practical positioning within a training context.
5 min read

GH and IGF Axis

GH pulses, secretagogues, direct GH, IGF-1, fat-loss dosing, and glucose drift.

05
The Growth Hormone, IGF-1, and Recovery Axis
How endogenous GH pulses work, how IGF-1 is produced, what separates direct GH from secretagogues, and why glucose control becomes part of the conversation long before protocol details do.
9 min read
06
GH Secretagogues, hGH, and Practical Outcomes
A mechanistic breakdown of GH secretagogue pathways, CJC-1295 DAC vs. non-DAC pharmacokinetics, ipamorelin vs. GHRP-2, GHRP-6 and Hexarelin, MK-677 long-term effects, exogenous hGH dosing logic, how lifters actually talk about BPC-157 and TB-500, and the risks of insulin co-administration.
16 min read
07
Growth Hormone Fat Loss Dosing Logic
How GH-driven lipolysis works, why acute fat-mobilization has diminishing returns per administration, how route and timing affect interpretation, and why glucose monitoring matters more than chasing huge GH shots.
9 min read

Metabolic Peptides

GLP-1, dual agonist, and triple agonist fat-loss pharmacology.

08
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and Retatrutide
How incretin-based compounds work, what distinguishes each generation of GLP-1 agonist, practical protocol design for fat loss contexts, and what the current evidence says about retatrutide as a triple agonist.
8 min read
07Coach ReferenceOperational framework for coaches supporting clients who use PEDs, screening, communication, compliance, and how to use CompoundLab responsibly.5 lessonsIntermediate
Reference libraryTables and comparison sheets to return to when you need them.5 entriesAll levels

Educational content only. Not medical advice. Safety information →