The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 made using performance-enhancing drugs illegal. Yet athletes continue to take these substances which act on the body's testosterone system. That's because anabolic steroids increase muscle recovery, strength and size. Such gains, however, bring risks as performance-enhancing drugs often cause adverse reactions. These reactions include negative effects on the endocrine system which manifest as changes in reproductive physiology, sexual behavior and energy level.
Decreased Sperm Count
The male testes and female ovaries produce most of the body's testosterone. Anabolic steroids flood the body with synthetic testosterone and alter these reproductive organs. A 2001 analysis in the journal "Life Sciences" illustrates the consequences of steroid intake. This study evaluated the sperm count of 15 bodybuilders using anabolic steroids. Data indicated that 11 of these men had unusually low sperm counts. A 2005 paper in "Archivos Espanoles De Urologia" reported similar results. The latter study also looked at the time it took to recover fertility following steroid withdrawal. The sperm count returned to normal in about six months for most men, but others required additional treatment.
Reduced Sex Drive
Anabolic steroids affect not only reproductive physiology but also reproductive behavior. A 2010 experiment in the periodical "Behavioural Brain Research" tested the effects of a "cocktail" containing several anabolic steroids. Rats given this cocktail took longer to mate and mated less often than controls. These effects occurred whether steroid intake happened during adolescence or adulthood, suggesting that steroids have long-term effects on sexual health. Human cases support these animal results. For example, a 2010 report in "Fertility and Sterility" describes the effects of anabolic steroids on sex drive. A 34-year-old male purchased performance-enhancing drugs on the Internet to enhance his physique. Repeated use of these drugs caused a reduction in energy and libido. A dose of triptorelin, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, restored his sexual health.
Increased Arousal Level
The adrenal gland produces hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which control arousal level. Anabolic steroids compete with these natural chemicals for binding sites in the body. The synthetic hormones are more potent, and they occupy these sites. Adrenal hormones do not enhance muscle growth, thus anabolic steroids promote muscle growth through this enhanced binding. That process leaves adrenaline and cortisol circulating throughout the body. The excessive adrenaline produces feelings of euphoria and the excessive cortisol shuts down natural cortisol production.
According to the website "Women to Women" these effects produce a syndrome known as "adrenal dysregulation." This syndrome ranges across a broad spectrum from excessive to inefficient adrenal activity. Anabolic steroid use causes excessive adrenal activity producing manic symptoms. Steroid withdrawal causes insufficient activity producing depressive symptoms.
References
- "Life Sciences"; Effect of Androgenic Anabolic Steroids on Sperm Quality and Serum Hormone Levels in Adult Male Bodybuilders; J. Torres-Calleja et al.; March 2, 2001
- "Archivos Espanoles De Urologia"; Management of Male Sterility in Patients Taking Anabolic Steroids; L. de la Torre Abril et al.; April 2005
- "Behavioural Brain Research"; Anabolic Steroids Have Long-Lasting Effects on Male Social Behaviors; K. Y. Salas-Ramirez et al.; April 2, 2010
- "Fertility and Sterility"; Anabolic Steroids Purchased on the Internet as a Cause of Prolonged Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism; I. Pirola et al.; April 21, 2010
- Women to Women: Adrenal Extremes--Could You Be on Your Way to Cushing's or Addison's Disease?
