Anabolic steroids compromise fertility even after interruption of use

Anabolic sperm anabolic sperm quality even after years of interruption of use, reducing fertility

The Federal Council of Medicine prohibited, at the beginning of this year, the prescription of anabolic steroids for aesthetic purposes. This has reduced the use of substances, but does not restore the effects on health, which last, in particular those of fertility.

According to dr. Rodrigo Rosa, specialist in human reproduction and in the clinical director of the Mater Prime Clinic, anabolic steroids can compromise the correct functioning of the testicles even after years of interruption of their use. This is because the increase in testosterone levels caused by this type of medicine inhibits the production of the hormone responsible for the maturation of reproductive cells.

“We already knew that the indiscriminate use of anabolic steroids can affect fertility in total or partially in men. However, some studies have already shown that steroids can compromise the production of testosterone in the testicles, thus causing testicular dysfunction,” says the doctor.

Scientific test

In March 2021, the researchers published an article on the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, with the results of a work that accompanied the practicing men of 132 men between 18 and 50 years old. The scientist divided the participants into 3 groups:

• Those who have never used steroids;
• Those who have used anabolic steroids at the time of the study;
• And finally, those who stopped using drugs of the type at least three years before the start of the research.

To determine the lack of testicular function, since testosterone levels tend to vary naturally during the day, researchers used 3 -like insulin to peptides (Insl3) as a marker. It is produced by the same cells that produce testosterone.

Comparing the results of the analysis of these markers in the three groups, the researchers noted that, compared to participants who have never used anabolic steroids, the other two groups had much lower concentrations of Insl3. And longer the time of use of anabolic steroids, the lower the levels of this peptide are.

In addition, it has been observed that the former anabolic steroid user also had still testicular dysfunction. This is also after more than two and a half years of interruption of use. “It can be concluded that the use of long -term anabolic steroids can suppress the testicular function. It can never completely recover, with a consequent impact on the quality and fertility of the quality and sperm”, says dr. Rodrigo.

Is it possible to recover fertility?

The expert warns of the various risks of the indiscriminate use of anabolic steroids. Contraindifies use without adequate medical advice. The men who already use these substances, in turn, should interrupt use. And if you want to have children, consult a doctor specialized in human reproduction to perform sperm tests in order to verify the amount of sperm and if there has been some interference in fertility.

Fortunately, for men who have already had great impacts on fertility but want to have a child, it is possible to reverse the damage, improving the quality and counting of sperm. For this, the doctor recommends adopting a healthy lifestyle, following the following conduct:

• Maintain a balanced diet;
• Control weight;
• Practice regularly for the exercise;
• Avoid bad habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake.

“In addition, increasing the frequency of sex, especially during the fertile women’s period, is also another strategy for men with a low number of sperm to fertilize their partners”, recommends the doctor.

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

However, if even with the adoption of these strategies the couple cannot yet get pregnant, it is interesting to verify with the doctor specialized in human reproduction the possibility of performing assisted reproduction procedures. This is the case of in vitro fertilization (IVF), for example.

“In this procedure, the genetic material collected by women (eggs) and men (sperm) are fertilized in the laboratory. Subsequently, the doctors transfer the embryo to the uterus, where pregnancy will be implanted and developed”, explains Rodrigo.

According to the doctor, there is still a recent technique already very common in FIV. It is the injection of entertained sperm (ICSI), which allows you to choose microscopically the healthy sperm to insert it directly into the egg with the help of a maximum precision needle.

“With the selection of the sperm that uses the microscope, it is possible to separate the genetic material in conditions for fertilization, reversing problems as changes in the quantity or quality of the sperm”, says dr. Rodrigo Rosa.

“However, the indication of the procedure will depend on a series of factors, including the age and history of the couple’s health, and therefore the specialized professional recommends the most appropriate procedure for each case,” he concludes.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.