It depends on a lot of things. If you take it easy on the dosage and duration I believe you can do steroids for a few years and recover completely if you do a proper PCT after each cycle. However, AGE is a big factor. If you're still cycling in your 40's it becomes tougher to recover completely and most guys opt for HRT. But even on PCT, I take a break -- use HCG for a while, then do a PCT, then go back on HRT. It seems to work out better that way.
I didn't need PCT till I was 45, but if I had what was available now (UNLEASHED, BRIDGE, et al) I probably could have held out even longer. But at this point, HRT is a must.