[It appears that Pope et al. is coming around to my way of thinking! Of some import, the abstract uses the phrase "androgenic steroid (AAS) MISUERS," NOT abusers, addiction, or dependency!!! This is something I insisted on in all of my discussions regarding AAS use. In fact, in my latest paper, I insisted no terms of abuse and addiction/dependency be used or me to be a coauthor.
Who knows what this actually means, but looks to be a step towards the proper treatment. Something I began 20 years ago in the care of AAS users. And, had bad personal consequences. But, sometimes one has to take a stand for what is right. I wonder if I will be alive when they finally come around to helping rather than harming men.]
Kanayama G, Hudson JI, DeLuca J, et al. Prolonged Hypogonadism in Males Following Withdrawal from Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: an Underrecognized Problem. Addiction. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.12850/abstract
AIMS: To assess the frequency and severity of hypogonadal symptoms in male long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) MISUSERS who have discontinued AAS use.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional, naturalistic.
SETTING: Outpatient facility.
PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four male former long-term AAS users and 36 non-AAS-using weightlifters, recruited by advertisement in Massachusetts, USA. Five of the former users were currently receiving treatment with physiologic testosterone replacement, leaving 19 untreated users for the numerical comparisons below.
MEASUREMENTS: The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, questions regarding history of AAS use, physical examination, serum hormone determinations, and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF).
FINDINGS: Compared with the 36 non-AAS-using weightlifters, the 19 untreated former AAS users displayed significantly smaller testicular volumes (estimated difference [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 2.3 [0.1, 4.5] ml; p = 0.042) and lower serum testosterone levels (estimated difference: 131 [25, 227] dL; p = 0.009), with five users showing testosterone levels below 200 ng/dL despite abstinence from AAS for 3-26 months.
Untreated former users also displayed significantly lower scores on the IIEF Sexual Desire subscale (estimated difference: 2.4 [1.3, 3.5] points on a 10-point scale; p < 0.001).
In the overall group of 24 treated plus untreated former users, 7 (29%) had experienced major depressive episodes during AAS withdrawal; 4 of these had not experienced major depressive episodes at any other time. Two men (8%) had failed to regain normal libidinal or erectile function despite adequate replacement testosterone treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: AMONG LONG-TERM ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROID MISUSERS, ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROID-WITHDRAWAL HYPOGONADISM APPEARS TO BE COMMON, FREQUENTLY PROLONGED, AND ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANTIAL MORBIDITY.
Who knows what this actually means, but looks to be a step towards the proper treatment. Something I began 20 years ago in the care of AAS users. And, had bad personal consequences. But, sometimes one has to take a stand for what is right. I wonder if I will be alive when they finally come around to helping rather than harming men.]
Kanayama G, Hudson JI, DeLuca J, et al. Prolonged Hypogonadism in Males Following Withdrawal from Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: an Underrecognized Problem. Addiction. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.12850/abstract
AIMS: To assess the frequency and severity of hypogonadal symptoms in male long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) MISUSERS who have discontinued AAS use.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional, naturalistic.
SETTING: Outpatient facility.
PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four male former long-term AAS users and 36 non-AAS-using weightlifters, recruited by advertisement in Massachusetts, USA. Five of the former users were currently receiving treatment with physiologic testosterone replacement, leaving 19 untreated users for the numerical comparisons below.
MEASUREMENTS: The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, questions regarding history of AAS use, physical examination, serum hormone determinations, and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF).
FINDINGS: Compared with the 36 non-AAS-using weightlifters, the 19 untreated former AAS users displayed significantly smaller testicular volumes (estimated difference [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 2.3 [0.1, 4.5] ml; p = 0.042) and lower serum testosterone levels (estimated difference: 131 [25, 227] dL; p = 0.009), with five users showing testosterone levels below 200 ng/dL despite abstinence from AAS for 3-26 months.
Untreated former users also displayed significantly lower scores on the IIEF Sexual Desire subscale (estimated difference: 2.4 [1.3, 3.5] points on a 10-point scale; p < 0.001).
In the overall group of 24 treated plus untreated former users, 7 (29%) had experienced major depressive episodes during AAS withdrawal; 4 of these had not experienced major depressive episodes at any other time. Two men (8%) had failed to regain normal libidinal or erectile function despite adequate replacement testosterone treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: AMONG LONG-TERM ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROID MISUSERS, ANABOLIC-ANDROGENIC STEROID-WITHDRAWAL HYPOGONADISM APPEARS TO BE COMMON, FREQUENTLY PROLONGED, AND ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANTIAL MORBIDITY.
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