Anabolics Mall
What effects do anabolic steroids have on men?
High doses of anabolic steroids can lead to temporary
sterility, testicular atrophy, and the development of female sex
characteristics in the normal male.(1-4)
One case of prostate cancer has been associated with steroid abuse
in an athlete.(5,6) The severity of these effects
depends on how much of the steroid has been taken and how long the
steroid user has been taking the drug.(1)
In the normal male, the testes secrete testosterone and make
sperm. The pituitary gland in the brain monitors the amount of
testosterone in the male's bloodstream. If the level is too low,
it secretes the hormones FSH ("Follicle Stimulating Hormone") and
LH ("Luteinizing Hormone") to cause the testes to secrete more
testosterone. If there is too much testosterone, the pituitary
cuts back on FSH and LH, and the testosterone level drops. In this
way, the body controls the amount of testosterone needed to produce
sperm and to maintain male sexual characteristics.
When a male takes steroids, the pituitary gland detects the
sudden high quantity of anabolic steroids and sends chemical
signals to shut down testosterone production in the testes. The
longer a person takes anabolic steroids, the longer the testes
remain inactive. The sperm cells begin to have abnormal shapes,
and are fewer in number.(1) If anabolic abuse continues
long enough, the male becomes infertile.(1,2) The
testes of male athletes who have been stacking and cycling steroids
for years decrease in size.(3) If the adult male stops
taking anabolic steroids, testicular function will probably return
to normal.(2,7) However, it may take four months to a
year or more for him to regain normal sperm cell shape and
fertility.(1,2)
In two cases, long term use of anabolic steroids may have led
to lasting sterility and loss of libido with impotence due to a
permanent effect on the pituitary.(4) However, more studies
need to be done to determine whether steroids caused the pituitary
damage or whether each of these men had pre-existing pituitary
damage.(4)
When there are large amounts of anabolic steroids in the body,
part of them are metabolized to form conjugated estradiol and
estrone, female hormones.(1,8-11) In some anabolics abusers,
this results in breast growth, known medically as "gynecomastia."
(7,11) Breast growth is an irreversible side effect of anabolic
steroid abuse and may accumulate from one cycle of use to the next.(12)
The use of alcohol while taking anabolics increases the
likelihood of breast growth.(11) The body changes a portion
of the anabolics to conjugated estradiol and estrone, female sex
hormones, by a chemical process called "aromatisation."(6)
Ordinarily, the liver quickly deactivates most of these female
hormones before they can have effects on the body. Alcohol
prevents the liver from deactivating them, allowing them to promote
breast growth. Bodybuilders are more likely to drink alcohol to
excess than others of their age.(13)
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. 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.
3. Creagh TM, Rubin A, Evans DJ. Hepatic tumours induced by
anabolic steroids in an athlete. J Clin Pathol 1988;41:441-3.
4. Jarow JP, Lipshultz LI. Anabolic steroid-induced
hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Am J Sports Med 1990 Jul-
Aug;18(4):429-31.
5. Roberts JT, Essenhigh DM. Adenocarcinoma of prostate in 40-
year-old body-builder. Lancet 1986 Sep 27;8509:742.
6. Hickson RC, Ball KL, Falduto MT. Adverse effects of anabolic
steroids. Med Toxicol Adv Drug Experience 1989 Jul-
Aug;4(4):254-71.
7. Johnson MD. Steroids. Adolescent Med 1991 Feb;2(1):79-93.
8. Wagner JC. Abuse of drugs used to enhance athletic
performance. American Journal Of Hospital Pharmacy 1989
Oct;46:2059-67.
9. Wilson JD. Androgen abuse by athletes. Endocrine Reviews
1988;9(2):181-99.
10. Gluud C. Testosterone and alcoholic cirrhosis. Danish Med Bull
1988 Dec;35(6):564-75.
11. Giannini AJ, Miller N, Kocjan DK. Treating steroid abuse - a
psychiatric perspective. Clinical Pediatrics 1991
Sep;30(9):538-42.
12. 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.
13. Brower KJ, Blow FC, Young JP, Hill EM. Symptoms and correlates
of anabolic androgenic steroid dependence. British Journal Of
Addiction 1991 Jun;86(6):759-68.
14. Johnson MD. Anabolic steroid use in adolescent athletes.
Pediatr Clin North Am 1990 Oct;37(5):1111-23.
(c) 1992 University of Maryland Office of Substance Abuse Studies.
All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer: Steroid use is illegal in a vast number of countries around the world. This is not without reason. Steroids should only be used when prescribed by your doctor and under close supervision. Steroid use is not to be taken lightly and we do not in any way endorse or approve of illegal drug use. The information is provided on the same basis as all the other information on this site, as informational/entertainment value.
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Disclaimer: The information presented is intended to be used for educational purposes only. The statements made have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (U.S.). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. Please consult with your own physician or health care practitioner regarding any suggestions and recommendations made.