Research shows that potentially treatable factors can improve symptoms in men who stop using illegal steroids

Men who used steroids illegally to increase muscle mass and physical performance and stopped within the past year have decreased sexual function compared to men who currently use steroids, according to a study presented Sunday in ENDO 2024the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

Having a psychiatric diagnosis and stopping steroids was associated with greater deterioration in sexual function, the researchers found.

“It is important to recognize the symptoms that men experience within the first year after stopping steroid use,” says lead researcher Bonnie Grant, MBBS, of Imperial College London in London, UK. “We observed that some factors such as psychiatric diagnoses and lower testosterone levels may contribute to worse symptoms of depression and sexual dysfunction.”

Millions of men around the world use anabolic and androgenic steroids illegally. These substances work like the male hormone testosterone to increase muscle growth, improve physique and improve athletic performance. Steroid use is dangerous because they can lead to heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, mental health problems and even death, Grant said.

Steroids prevent the body from producing natural testosterone in men. When steroids are stopped, there is often a delay in the body’s ability to produce testosterone naturally. During this time, men report feeling low libido, low mood, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, with an overall decline in well-being.

“There are currently no treatments that doctors can give these men to reduce these symptoms, and often men start using steroids again,” says Channa Jayasena, M.D., Ph.D., the study’s senior author. He noted that no previous studies have focused on measuring symptoms within the first year after stopping steroid use, or have examined independently associated factors for these symptoms.

Grant and colleagues collected data from 165 men across England. Of these, 43 men had never used steroids, 76 were currently using steroids and 46 had stopped using steroids in the past 12 months. The men were asked about symptoms of sexual functioning, depression, anxiety and quality of life. They also had a blood test done for testosterone and other reproductive hormone levels.

The study found that men who stopped using steroids less than a year ago had a 12% lower sexual function score compared to men currently using steroids. Erectile function, sexual desire and overall satisfaction scores were lower in men who stopped using steroids compared to men currently using steroids. Having a psychiatric diagnosis and stopping steroids were associated with greater deterioration in sexual function.

Depression scores were 75% higher in men who stopped using steroids in the past year, compared to men who had never used steroids. Having a psychiatric diagnosis and lower testosterone levels were associated with higher depression scores. Men who had stopped using steroids were also less energetic and more tired compared to men who had never used steroids.

“These data reveal potentially treatable factors to improve the symptoms men experience when they stop using steroids,” Grant said.