Androgenic anabolic steroids of the type that bodybuilders sometimes
use can have a significant effect on both sperm count and sperm
quality. I have gathered some information that I hope will be helpful.
While anabolic steroids present many dangers to the user, and may be
hazardous to the fetus if the mother takes them, there is no proven
link between male steroid use and birth defects in the children
fathered by steroid users. However, in one study of bodybuilders who
took steroids, fewer than 1 in 5 had normal spermatozoa. The main
risk, as far as pregnancy is concerned, is that reduced sperm count
and inferior sperm quality may make it difficult for you to become
pregnant.
"The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the
administration of high doses of androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) on
endocrine and semen parameters. Thirty volunteering bodybuilders were
studied (ages ranging between 26.6 +/- 4.1 years). A history of
anabolic steroid administration was recorded for fifteen subjects, and
results of semen analysis and endocrine parameters were compared with
data from fifteen bodybuilders not using steroids. In those subjects
using AAS, eight had sperm counts under the lower normal limit (20 x
10(6) sperm/ml), three had azoospermia, two polyzoospermia, and two
had normal sperm counts. The percentage of morphologically normal
sperm was significantly reduced, only 17.7% had normal spermatozoa."
Effect of androgenic anabolic steroids on sperm quality and serum
hormone levels in adult male bodybuilders.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11270623&dopt=Abstract
"More and more men these days are using anabolic steroids to gain a
competitive edge or become 'bulked up.' Anabolic steroids act like
testosterone in the body. Taking the doses commonly used by athletes
is like flooding the body with extra testosterone, which cripples a
man's natural testosterone production and fertility. Although some
athletes take steroids in six- to twelve-week cycles, resting in
between in order to 'give their bodies time to recover,' it actually
takes between six months and a year for sperm and testosterone
production to return to normal after a course of steroid use. Anabolic
steroids are simply bad for fertility - and ultimately bad for your
overall health."
BestLife Online: The Male Biological Clock
http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cda/article/0,5507,s1-2---1736,00.html
"The effects of medications on sperm quality and count have not been
rigorously studied and many medicines are commonly prescribed without
knowing whether they impair fertility. Anabolic steroids (which are
those abused by weight lifters and other athletes) deserve special
notice because they are known to severely impair sperm production."
Dr. Koop: Infertility in Men - Causes
http://www.drkoop.com/ency/93/guides/000067_4_7.html
"Although anabolic/androgenic steroids can reduce sperm count and male
fertility, they are not linked to birth defects [when] taken by
someone fathering a child."
United Pharmacy: Steroid Side effects
http://www.united-pharmacy.com/index.php?m=sideeffects
"Among other side effects androgenic steroids induce hypogonadotrophic
hypogonadism with subsequent azoospermia. Over the past year we have
noted an increased number of men attending the infertility clinic who
have been using anabolic steroids for body building... Adverse effects
of anabolic steroids are recognised but have mostly been studied using
therapeutic doses. The doses used by body builders may be up to 40
times higher than therapeutic doses. Furthermore, the multiple
preparations used makes studying the adverse effects of individual
drugs almost impossible. The adverse effects on male fertility
described above are well known and are being developed for
contraceptive use. It should also be remembered that other adverse
effects include alteration in lipid concentrations, liver disease,
jaundice, hepatic tumours, gynaecomastia, mood changes, reduced
libido, dependence withdrawal effects, and prostatic carcinoma... Data
from the development of androgenic steroids for male contraception
indicate that reversal of effects can take up to 12 months after
stopping the drugs."
British Medical Journal: Anabolic steroid abuse by body builders and
male subfertility
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/313/7049/100
My Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: anabolic OR androgenic steroids infertility OR "birth defects"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=anabolic+OR+androgenic+steroids+infertility+OR+%22birth+defects%22
Google Web Search: anabolic OR androgenic steroids "by the male" pregnancy
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=anabolic+OR+androgenic+steroids+%22by+the+male%22+pregnancy
I hope this is helpful. Please keep in mind that Google Answers is not
an authoritative source of medical advice; the information I've posted
here is for informational purposes, and should not be viewed as a
substitute for the services of a qualified medical professional.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
