What effects do anabolic steroids have in adults? Steroids and Gynecomastia


      In males, excess anabolic steroids are metabolized into female
 sex hormones.(1-4)  This leads to growth of
 the breasts in men, known medically as "gynecomastia" or "man breasts" (2,5,6) 
 While dramatic breast growth does not occur in every case of
 steroid abuse, it is an irreversible side effect.(4,7)  

      Testosterone is produced by the testes at the rate of 4 to 10
 milligrams per day.(8)  When a male takes anabolic steroids,
 the body detects the excess steroids and signals the testes to stop
 producing them.  When they stop producing testosterone, they also
 stop producing live sperm.(2,9)  Long periods of
 anabolic steroid abuse lead to infertility and reduced testicular
 size(4,5,10)  In adult males, the testes begin to
 function again within 6 months after steroids are
 withdrawn.(1,4,11)  It is not known whether anabolic
 steroids have a different effect on testicular function in
 adolescent males.(12)

 REFERENCES
 
 1.   Knuth UA, Maniera H, Nieschlag E. Anabolic steroids and semen
      parameters in bodybuilders. Fertility And Sterility 1989
      Dec;52(6):1041-7.
 
 2.   Wagner JC. Abuse of drugs used to enhance athletic
      performance. American Journal Of Hospital Pharmacy 1989
      Oct;46:2059-67.
 
 3.   Wilson JD. Androgen abuse by athletes. Endocrine Reviews
      1988;9(2):181-99.
 
 4.   Johnson MD. Steroids. Adolescent Med 1991 Feb;2(1):79-93.
 
 5.   Giannini AJ, Miller N, Kocjan DK. Treating steroid abuse - a
      psychiatric perspective. Clinical Pediatrics 1991
      Sep;30(9):538-42.

 6.   Council on Scientific Affairs. Drug abuse in athletes. J
      Am Med Assoc 1988 Mar 18;259(11):1703-5.
 
 7.   Huang QF, Gebrewold A, Altura BT, Altura BM. Cocaine-induced
      cerebral vascular damage can be ameliorated by Mg2+ in rat
      brain. Neurosci Let 1990;109:113-6.
 
 8.   Hough DO. Anabolic steroids and ergogenic aids. Am Fam
      Physician 1990 Apr;41(4):1157-64.
 
 9.   Kibble MW, Ross MB. Adverse effects of anabolic steroids in
      athletes. Clinical Pharmacy 1987 Sep;6:686-92.
 
 10.  Creagh TM, Rubin A, Evans DJ. Hepatic tumours induced by
      anabolic steroids in an athlete. J Clin Pathol 1988;41:441-3.
 
 11.  Yesalis CE, Wright JE, Bahrke MS. Epidemiological and policy
      issues in the measurement of the long term health effects of
      anabolic-androgenic steroids. Sports Medicine 1989
      Sep;8(3):129-38.
 
 12.  Buckley WE, Yesalis CE, Friedl KE, Anderson WA, Streit AL,
      Wright JE. Estimated prevalence of anabolic steroid use among
      male high school seniors. J Am Med Assoc 1988 Dec
      16;260(23):3441-5.
 
 
 by Trent Tschirgi, R. Ph.
 (c) 1992 University of Maryland Office of Substance Abuse Studies.
 All Rights Reserved.



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