Body Builders Using “Juice” Beware!

I don’t know of any physicians who would condone the use of anabolic steroids in men with normal testosterone levels whose only complaint is desire to increase their muscle mass or their athletic performance.  The use of anabolic steroids in young men is fraught with danger and can result in permanent hormone deficiency and permanent infertility.

Testosterone was first identified in 1935 as responsible for its masculinizing effects along with the effect of increasing lean muscle mass.

However, recently the illicit use of performance enhancing drugs has become an issue for athletes and those men wishing to increase their athletic performance, their strength and muscle mass.   It is estimated that there are 3 million anabolic steroid users and abusers.  And now we have found that nearly 5-6% of middle and high school students have or are using anabolic steroids.

These anabolic drugs are now identified to negatively affect the pituitary glands hormones that stimulate the testicle to produce testosterone and result in prolonged reduction of natural testosterone production and even permanent decrease in testosterone production for many months and even permanently in men who have used and abused anabolic steroids.  Most men will return to baseline natural production of testosterone in 1-2 years after discontinuing the use of anabolic steroids.

There are numerous reports of profound suppression of testosterone in nearly half of all men who have used anabolic steroids.  Because anabolic steroid can have a profound reduction in sperm production, men should understand the consequences of anabolic steroid use.  That is, if they want to father a child, they need to stay farther away from anabolic steroids.

Bottom Line: Anabolic steroid abuse can affect a man’s production of testosterone and may cause permanent reduction in testosterone production by a man’s testicles.  I suggest that all men who might consider using anabolic steroids to take this into consideration before making a bad choice that may affect their health and well being forever.