EPO, short for Erythropoietin, is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that stimulates the production of red blood cells. More red blood cells means more oxygen being delivered to your muscles and organs — and that’s a big deal whether you’re training at altitude, smashing cardio, or just trying to recover faster between sessions.
While it has legitimate medical uses, EPO also gained worldwide attention for one reason: performance enhancement. Let’s get into it.
EPO in Endurance Sports: The Lance Armstrong Era
If you’ve followed cycling or endurance sports, you’ve heard of EPO. It was front and center during one of the most controversial scandals in sports history — Lance Armstrong’s seven Tour de France titles.
Armstrong, along with much of the pro cycling world at the time, used EPO to boost red blood cell counts, improving oxygen delivery and endurance. More oxygen = less fatigue, faster recovery, and the ability to push harder for longer. That advantage made a massive difference over long, multi-stage races.
The problem? EPO was banned. And even though it was illegal in sports, athletes used it because it worked — period.
How Does EPO Work?
EPO is produced mainly by the kidneys and triggers the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. Higher red blood cell count = more oxygen-carrying capacity.
It’s commonly used in medicine to treat anemia, especially in patients with kidney disease or undergoing chemotherapy. In a performance context, though, its effects are next-level:
Why Athletes Use EPO (Even Today)
✅ Increased Endurance
More red blood cells mean more oxygen delivery during exercise. That delays fatigue and improves aerobic capacity — ideal for runners, cyclists, triathletes, or anyone doing long-duration training.
✅ Faster Recovery
Oxygen is crucial for repairing tissues and clearing out waste products like lactic acid. By improving circulation, EPO helps reduce downtime between sessions and improve overall recovery — especially during intense training phases.
✅ Supports Performance in Hypoxic Conditions
If you’re training or competing at high altitudes (like in the mountains or at elevation), EPO can help you adapt by improving your ability to perform in low-oxygen environments (hypoxia). This is why some athletes do “live high, train low” protocols — or in some cases, use EPO to simulate the benefits.
EPO in IVF and Fertility?
Interestingly, there’s growing interest in EPO’s potential role in IVF (in vitro fertilization).
Some studies suggest that EPO may improve endometrial receptivity — meaning it may help the uterine lining become more favorable for embryo implantation. It’s also being explored as a way to support ovarian response in women with thin endometrial linings or poor egg quality.
While it’s not a mainstream IVF treatment yet, EPO is being researched in fertility clinics around the world. The data is still emerging, but the early results are promising, especially for patients who haven’t responded well to traditional treatments.
Source: Younis, J.S. et al. (2011). Erythropoietin: A novel therapy for thin endometrium in assisted reproductive technology. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Bottom Line
EPO is one of the most effective performance enhancers out there — which is why it’s been both celebrated and banned in elite sport. It boosts endurance, accelerates recovery, and helps your body perform better in low-oxygen environments.
Outside of sports, it’s being explored for medical applications like IVF, where its oxygen-boosting and tissue-supporting properties may improve outcomes for certain patients.
At PlatPharma, we stock EPO 5000iu for research purposes only. It’s a powerful compound, and when used responsibly in a research setting, it offers insight into everything from athletic performance to fertility science.
