Anabolic steroid misuse and male infertility: management and strategies to improve patient awareness

Spermatogenesis recovery treatment in less than four months from zero to almost 16 million sperms per milliliter after several cycles of steroids in 44‐year‐old healthy man

“…Mechanism of action related to testosterone in male body, and it is correlations with spermatogenesis, hypothalamus, and anterior pituitary, is very well known 15 . Within a very short period of only few months of anabolic steroids use major side effects can occur 13–15,23 .…”

“…15 Within a very short period of only few months of anabolic steroids use major side effects can occur. [13][14][15]23 The purpose of this case report is focus on spermatogenesis and blood tests parameters changes due to negative effect of testosterone, stanozolol, and oxandrolone. Almaiman et al 23 reported most significant blood test parameters changes during anabolic steroids use.…”

“…Even though that in literature there are some recommendations related to therapy with prescribed medications in case of post cycle recovery period, 13–15 patient in consultation with doctors choose to go only with one prescribed drug (Clomiphene Citrate) at the dose of 50 mg per day during the whole period of recovery. According to literature and practical experiences, normal production of healthy sperms after steroid's use is having recovery period of 12–14 months 15 . To speed up this process, recommendation is to use clomiphene (25 or 50 mg daily) and human chorionic gonadotropin (daily dose 500–3000 UI) as combined therapy with minimum of 3 months treatment to optimal of 6–12 months 13–15 .…”

“…Many different approaches have been used in the past, including medications and food supplements (mostly antioxidants) to improve sperm count in healthy males. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] In this paper, we report the case of the healthy, sporty, intellectual, educated (pharmacist), and very active man in his early 40th. His example was unique due to very fast and unusually successful level of spermatogenesis recovery after several steroids' cycles (4 months after last steroid use and 3.5 months after therapy and habit changes).…”

“…In any case, use of anabolic steroids has direct and negative influence on spermatogenesis which was proven long time ago. Most of the scientific data are supporting reversibility of spermatogenesis in healthy men after steroid cycles 13–15 . However, depends on the age, time that steroids have been used, amount and type of steroids, damage that has be done, and overall condition of the person, spermatogenesis can be back to normal level (above 15 million sperms per milliliter) within 12–24 months after last uptake of steroids 13–15 or to limited level (below 15 million sperms per milliliter) without further improvements.…”