It's not a must but it's a big help since it prevents trying to PCT with shrunken atrophied balls which aren't ready to help you do anything. You can either cruise or blast. Cruise is better IMO since your balls never atrophy at all -- 1,000 IU/wk in two doses throughout cycle and right up to PCT, maybe even a slight overlap of a week or two in PCT. Blast is the other method -- 5,000-ish IU/wk in several doses per week for several weeks leading up to PCT and maybe an overlap.
If you don't use HCG you might have a few extra weeks of PCT required, or even a failed PCT that needs another entire go-round. Endos will always use HCG blasting as part of that process, especially for failed PCTs. No point in avoiding it. It's unnatural for you to have no LH hormone (as is the case on cycle) so HCG fixes that.
