Anabolic-androgenic steroids: medical assessment of present, past and potential users

Abstract

Objective: To document adverse effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use in community-based users attending a medical clinic.

Design and setting: Prospective recruitment, questionnaire-based interview, physical examination and investigations, with follow-up, of people who attended, anonymously, an inner-city hospital clinic established specifically to examine AAS use.

Participants: 58 men, comprising 27 past AAS users, 14 present users and 17 potential users (who formed the control group).

Main outcome measure: Clinical adverse effects and abnormal laboratory findings.

Results: Cyclical use of oral and intramuscular, human and veterinary AASs were reported. The most commonly reported source of AASs was friends (59%), gymnasiums (25%) and doctors (14%). The most common reported adverse effects were alterations in libido (61%), changes in mood (48%), reduced testis volume (46%) and acne (43%). Although mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was not significantly different between groups, five present (29%), 10 past (37%) and one potential user (8%) were hypertensive. Gynaecomastia was found in 10 past users (37%; P<0.01 v. potential users), two present users (12%) and no potential users. Mean testis volume was significantly smaller in present users (18 mL; P<0.02) than in the other groups. Twenty past users (83%), eight present users (62%) and five potential users (71%) had abnormal liver function test results (P=0.5). After discussion of test results, only 11 participants (19%) reported they would not use AASs in the future.

Conclusions: Adverse effects were reported by or detected in most of the AAS users who attended the clinic. Despite awareness of adverse consequences, most participants planned future use of AASs.