Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Health

Men who abuse anabolic steroids risk long-term testicular problems even after they quit

After three years since quitting steroids, some men still had abnormally low markers for healthy testicular function.

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
March 9, 2021
in Health, News
Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Anabolic steroids are composed of testosterone and other substances related to testosterone that promote the growth of skeletal muscle. These substances have been in use since the 1930s to improve athletic performance and enhance aesthetics. Sometimes they are prescribed by healthcare providers to treat hormonal issues and diseases that cause muscle loss.

However, there are significant negative physical and psychological effects of using anabolic steroids.

Anabolic steroids have become widely used by bodybuilders, athletes, and others since the 1950s. But a growing awareness of steroid abuse led to federal regulation of these substances in the United States and elsewhere.

Since 1990, anabolic steroids have been classified as a scheduled III controlled substance due to growing awareness of their abuse. These drugs are legally available only with a prescription, however, they can easily be purchased illegally even online.

In the United States alone, 3 to 4 million people use anabolic-androgenic steroids. Worldwide, steroid users make up 3.3 percent of the global population.

What’s staggering is the fact that the majority of anabolic steroid users are aware of the negative effects, but continue to use them regardless. These include reduced sperm count, erectile dysfunction, baldness, breast development, and an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and liver or kidney failure. There are also dramatic mental effects like paranoia, extreme irritability, and mania.

That’s not all. There is still much to learn about how these drugs affect the body. A new study published today in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism showed how anabolic steroids harm men’s testicular function.

It’s well known that anabolic steroid abuse can cause shrunken testicles and lower testosterone levels (which leads to more steroid use to keep up) — this is known as hypogonadism.

Whether or not anabolic steroids cause long-lasting testosterone deficiency has been a matter of contention among researchers in the field. But according to the results of the study led by  Jon J. Rasmussen, a researcher at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, it seems like it.

“A few years ago we noted a persistent increase in the referral of men with hypogonadism due to previous use of anabolic steroids and this prompted us to perform the study. The main finding is that illicit use of anabolic steroids seems to cause a persistent impairment of Leydig cells in the testicles which is the major source of testosterone in men,” Rasmussen told ZME Science.

The study involved 132 participants, who were originally recruited for another study and whose ages ranged from 18 to 50. The participants were split into three roughly equal groups: men who currently use anabolic steroids, former steroid users, and those who never used steroids. Former users reported not taking anabolic steroids for the past 32 months on average.

The researchers zoomed in on a hormone made by the Leydig cells in the testicles, which are responsible for making testosterone. This marker, known as serum insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), is a more reliable indicator of testicular function than testosterone, whose levels can vary greatly during the day.

Among current steroid users, INSL3 was heavily suppressed compared with former users and never-users. But compared to never-users, former steroid users had significantly lower INSL3 concentrations: 0.39 versus 0.59 micrograms per liter.

This suggests that the effect of anabolic steroids on testicular function can persist for many years after cessation. The longer the duration that men reportedly used steroids, the lower their INSL3 levels were.

“The study adds to the existing literature on the subject that illicit use of anabolic steroids can cause a persistent impairment of the gonadal function in men,” Rasmussen said in an email.

The findings are due to be presented at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, which runs from March 20-23.

Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Related posts:
  1. Late-term babies are likelier to be classed as ‘gifted’ in school, but also at risk of health problems
  2. Helping a Family Member with Substance Abuse: Is Long-Term Rehab the Answer?
  3. New insights into testicular macrophages, the guardians of male fertility
  4. Long working hours increase the risk of alcohol abuse
  5. The paradox of LSD: makes you psychotic in short-term, happier and more creative long term

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW