Nieschlag E, Vorona E. MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Medical consequences of doping with anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS): effects on reproductive functions. European Journal of Endocrinology. http://www.eje-online.org/content/early/2015/03/24/EJE-15-0080.abstract
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are the favoured appearance and performance enhancing drugs (APED) used in competitive athletics, by body-builders and in recreational sports. Many AAS, often obtained from the internet and dubious sources, have not undergone proper testing and are consumed at extremely high doses and in irrational combinations, also with other drugs.
Controlled clinical trials investigating undesired side-effects of AAS are lacking since ethical restrictions prevent exposing volunteers to potentially toxic regimens, thus making it difficult to establish a causal relationship between AAS abuse and possible sequelae.
Because of the negative feedback in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, in men AAS cause reversible suppression of spermatogenesis, testicular atrophy, infertility and erectile dysfunction (anabolic steroid induced hypogonadism).
Should spermatogenesis not recover after AAS abuse, a pre-existing fertility disorder may have resurfaced. AAS frequently cause gynecomastia and acne. In women, AAS may disrupt ovarian function. But as chronic strenuous physical activity leads to menstrual irregularities and, in severe cases, to the female athlete triad (low energy intake, menstrual disorders and low bone mass), it is difficult to disentangle effects of sports and AAS. Acne, hirsutism and (irreversible) deepening of the voice are further consequences of AAS misuse. There is no evidence that AAS cause breast carcinoma.
Detecting AAS misuse through the control network of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) not only aims to guarantee fair conditions for the athletes, but also to protect them from medical sequelae of AAS abuse.
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are the favoured appearance and performance enhancing drugs (APED) used in competitive athletics, by body-builders and in recreational sports. Many AAS, often obtained from the internet and dubious sources, have not undergone proper testing and are consumed at extremely high doses and in irrational combinations, also with other drugs.
Controlled clinical trials investigating undesired side-effects of AAS are lacking since ethical restrictions prevent exposing volunteers to potentially toxic regimens, thus making it difficult to establish a causal relationship between AAS abuse and possible sequelae.
Because of the negative feedback in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, in men AAS cause reversible suppression of spermatogenesis, testicular atrophy, infertility and erectile dysfunction (anabolic steroid induced hypogonadism).
Should spermatogenesis not recover after AAS abuse, a pre-existing fertility disorder may have resurfaced. AAS frequently cause gynecomastia and acne. In women, AAS may disrupt ovarian function. But as chronic strenuous physical activity leads to menstrual irregularities and, in severe cases, to the female athlete triad (low energy intake, menstrual disorders and low bone mass), it is difficult to disentangle effects of sports and AAS. Acne, hirsutism and (irreversible) deepening of the voice are further consequences of AAS misuse. There is no evidence that AAS cause breast carcinoma.
Detecting AAS misuse through the control network of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) not only aims to guarantee fair conditions for the athletes, but also to protect them from medical sequelae of AAS abuse.
