title: Concomitant abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids and human chorionic gonadotrophin impairs spermatogenesis in power athletes. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials "ANABOLIC" EFFECTS OF METHANDIENONE IN MEN UNDERGOING ATHLETIC TRAINING Effect of short-term treatment with an anabolic steroid (methandienone) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate on plasma hormones, red cell volume and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in athletes. The effect of mesterolone administration to normal men on the pituitary-testicular function. Anabolic steroid: effects on strength, body weight, oxygen uptake and spermatogenesis upon mature males.
abstract: Abuse of anabolic and rogenic steroids ( AASs ) may be an aetiological factor in male infertility among recreational power athletes . They try to avoid AAS-induced deterioration in spermatogenesis by combining doses of human chorionic gonadotrophin ( HCG ) and /or antiestrogens with their AAS abuse . Eighteen healthy male power athletes using massive doses of AASs were recruited for the study . Semen sample s were collected during AAS abuse and 1.5 and 6 months after cessation of the abuse . They were also asked about their reproductive activity six years after the study . At the end of the AAS cycle , the sperm count was 33 + /- 49 x 10 ( 6 ) /ml ( mean + /- SD ) , and only one subject had azoospermia . At 1.5 months after cessation of the AAS cycles , the mean sperm concentration was 30 + /- 42 x 10 ( 6 ) /ml , and after six months 77 + /- 70 x 10 ( 6 ) /ml . There were significant differences between the sample drawn six months after cessation of AAS abuse and both sample s drawn during and 1.5 months after the abuse ( p < /= 0.05 , repeated measures of ANOVA ) . There was a significant positive correlation between  HCG dose during the cycle and the relative amount of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa ( r = 0.60 , p < 0.01 ) . The concomitant abuse of HCG and supraphysiological AAS dose cause transient impairment on semen quality in males , although spermatogenesis is maintained with this regimen despite prolonged abuse of massive doses of AAS Flaws in the design , conduct , analysis , and reporting of r and omised trials can cause the effect of an intervention to be underestimated or overestimated . The Cochrane Collaboration ’s tool for assessing risk of bias aims to make the process clearer and more After failure to confirm an anabolic action of testosterone and its derivatives in rats , meth and ienone ( ' Dianabol ' , an " anabolic steroid " used by athletes ) has been given to 11 athletic men during a course of weight-training , in a double-blind , crossover experiment . The dose of meth and ienone was 100 mg/day for 6 wk . Body weight and composition , muscular strength and performance , and indices of endocrine function were studied . Compared with the placebo period , on meth and ienone the subjects gained weight ( mean 3 - 3 kg + /- 0 - 6 kg ) and accumulated a disproportionately large amount of potassium ( 420+/-68 mmol ) ; the increase in weight was confined to the lean part of the body , and the muscles increased in size . Strength and performance improved over each training period , but not significantly differently on drug and placebo . On the drug , plasma-cortisol concentration and urinary cortisol excretion increased , and plasma-testosterone decreased . Although the weight and body-composition changes may demonstrate an anabolic action of meth and ienone in man , they may alternatively have been caused by an increase in intracellular fluid , and the question of anabolic action therefore remains open The effects of a one-month course of treatment with a potent anabolic steroid , meth and ienone ( 5 and 10 mg daily ) , and a very weak and rogen and hormone precursor , dehydroepi and rosterone sulphate ( DHEAS , 20 and 40 mg daily ) and placebo on plasma testosterone , LH and FSH levels , red cell volume and red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate ( 2,3-DPG ) concentration in endurance sportsmen were studied using a double-blind test system . A highly significant decrease in mean plasma testosterone was observed after the 5 and 10 mg meth and ienone regimen ( 66 and 73 % ) . Treatment with 40 mg of DHEAS decreased mean testosterone levels by 41 % ( not statistically significant ) . Pre-test testosterone levels were reattained about 10 days after the end of the treatment period with the higher doses of both compounds , while 2–6 weeks afterwards a significant over-compensation in mean plasma testosterone levels was observed . No significant changes in plasma gonadotropins were seen immediately after treatment with either of these steroids bu The effect of mesterolone ( 1 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone ) administration to 10 normal men aged 24 - 27 years on the pituitary-testicular function was investigated . No effect on the plasma levels of interstitial cell-stimulating hormone ( ICSH ) and follicle stimulating hormone could be detected . After 4 weeks on 75 mg mesterolone/day a significant ( p < .01 ) drop in the mean level of testosterone was observed 5.2 to 4 ng/ml . After another 4 weeks on 150 mg/day a further decrease to 3.5 ng/ml was found . During mesterolone administration the protein binding of testosterone was significantly ( p < .0025 ) reduced and it appeared that the level of free ( nonprotein bound ) testosterone in diluted plasma remained unchanged .37 and .41 ng/ml before and after mesterolone administration respectively . These results suggest that mesterolone given in doses of 75 and 150 mg/day to normal men does not suppress the pituitary ICSH production or the testicular testosterone production The effects of an anabolic steroid on male physical education students at Brigham Young University were studied . 31 subjects were trained with weights for 7 weeks . At the end of week 4 24 subjects were r and omly placed in a treatment-placebo group which took 2 capsules daily from 24 numbered bottles for 21 days . 12 of the bottles contained 5 mg of meth and rostenolone ( Dianabol ) per capsule . All subjects supplemented their diets with 20 gm of 93 % protein powder daily . 6 pretests were given before the subjects were placed into groups . Oxygen uptake sperm count maximum weight lifting and thickness of skinfolds were determined . Also used were cable tensiometry and anthropometric measurements . At the end of the study period it was determined that there was no significant change in maximal oxygen uptake and no significant changes occurred in sperm count . The dynamic and static strength increases of the treatment group were significant over the placebo and control groups for all measures . There was a significant increase in the circumference measurements at 5 of the 8 sites measured . The mean weight gain of the treatment group was 2.37 kg . There was no significant change in skinfold thickness . When interviewed the subjects noted that there was a very rapid weight gain during the first 5 - 8 days followed by a loss of 1 - 2 pounds within 5 days after the end of the treatment . There was also a noticeable increase in urine production the first 5 - 8 days but not noticeable thereafter . A majority of the subjects felt some degree of nervous tension during the treatment . 1 subject noticed an increase in sexual drive and 1 a decrease . There was a general increase in appetite and a surplus of energy and all subjects noted that they felt bigger and stronger . It was concluded that anabolic steroid treatment does accelerate the acquistion of muscular strength and size if accompanied by a higher protein diet and serve muscular stress
target: In addition , AAS abuse result ed in structural and functional sperm changes , a reduction in testicular volume , gynecomastia , as well as clitoromegaly , menstrual irregularities , and subfertility .
  Conclusion The majority of  AAS users demonstrated hypogonadism with persistently low gonadotropin and testosterone levels , lasting for several weeks to months after AAS withdrawal .
  Anabolic and rogenic steroid use results in profound and prolonged effects on the reproductive system of athletes and recreational users and potentially on fertility
background: Background Anabolic and rogenic steroids ( AAS ) are testosterone derivatives used by athletes and recreational users to improve athletic performance and /or enhance appearance .
  Anabolic and rogenic steroids use may have serious and potentially irreversible adverse effects on different organs and systems , including the reproductive system .
  Objective This systematic review and meta- analysis aim ed to critically assess the impact of AAS use on the reproductive system of athletes and recreational users .