Do anabolic steroids affect male fertility?

Building muscle and pumping up the body is a common trend in young men. To do this, they quite often take various supplements, including anabolic steroids.

Anabolic steroids are hormones manufactured artificially and similar to the male hormone, that is, testosterone. Testosterone is necessary for men to develop such sexual characteristics as facial and body hair growth, increased height and muscle mass, deepening of the voice and libido.

Dr. Parul Katiyar, Fertility Consultant at Nova IVF Fertility, answers questions related to this topic.

Steroids friend or foe?

Steroids are used medically to treat certain conditions such as hormonal imbalances, life-threatening allergies, arthritis, and more. But this should not be confused with the illegal use of anabolic steroids for bodybuilding. The dosage of drugs in this case can exceed the usual prescription dose of steroids from 10 to 100 times.

Taking anabolic steroids without the advice of any medical professional can wreak havoc in the body in the long run and lead to imbalance and significant side effects in men. For example, impotence, erectile dysfunction and low sperm count. The risk of life-threatening heart attacks also increases.

Steroids affect not only men, but also the female reproductive system. The use of anabolic steroids by women increases the risk of problems associated with pregnancy, including the ability to conceive. They also create an imbalance in the menstrual cycle, cause excessive unwanted body hair, lead to a decrease in breast size and a low voice.

How do anabolic steroids affect male fertility?

Normally, the brain sends signals to the reproductive organ to produce the male hormone testosterone and sperm, but when taking synthetic testosterone (anabolic steroids), the brain detects high levels in the body and stops the signals that stimulate the testes to naturally produce testosterone as well as sperm. This leads to low and in some cases even zero sperm count, leading to male infertility.

In many cases, sperm production is restored 3-12 months after a man stops taking anabolic steroids, but sometimes the negative impact is so strong that he completely loses the ability to produce sperm, and infertility becomes irreversible even after stopping steroids .

Researchers have also concluded that anabolic steroids cause structural damage to spermatozoa, which in turn can lead to abnormalities in the fetus. The damage done to male fertility is related to the dosage and duration of the drugs. Men who want to have children in the future should first consult a doctor before starting any muscle building supplements.

Common sense or pumped biceps?

Men who experience problems due to steroid abuse should consult with a fertility specialist to determine treatment that can resolve the problem. The most important test for determining male infertility is the semen analysis, which provides information on the quantity and quality of spermatozoa. Based on the results, the doctor will prescribe medications to restore the body.

Perhaps both couples will need specialized infertility treatment in order to fulfill their dream of having children in the future.

In conclusion, it is important to draw the attention of a young thinking person to the possible side effects of taking anabolic steroids. These drugs help build a stronger and more muscular body in a short amount of time, but can lead to infertility and other complications in the long term.