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| Anabolic steroids and male infertility |
How many more medicines will be found to cause male infertility or ruin a male’s reproductive health? Male infertility is the inability of the male to cause pregnancy in a fertile female.
Male infertility statistic
WHO who conducted a survey from 1990 to 2004 and found out that male infertility in developing countries affects one in every four couples. In a study published by BMC on April 2015, it stated that male infertility affects an estimated 48.5 million couples globally and male infertility factors are responsible for 20-30% infertility cases and contribute to 50% cases overall. However, it does not represent all cases in all regions of the world thus the male infertility statistic presented is inaccurate.
If you have read the previous blog linking acetaminophen and decreased testosterone production in unborn baby boys which could make it hard for these babies once adults to make their partners pregnant, unfortunately another medicine adult males take could make them infertile.
Male infertility causes
According to American Pregnancy there are four causes of male infertility:
· Sperm transport disorder (10-20%)
· Gonad disorder (30-40%)
· A hypothalamic or pitituary disorder (10-20%)
· Unknown causes (40-50%)
40-50% unknown causes don’t sound good thus, studies and researches are being conducted on this subject to determine these unknown causes. In one of the researches that can be found at NCBI titled, “Anabolic steroids abuse and male infertility”, it found out that there is a higher aromatization of male testosterone when there is an excess use of anabolic steroids. Aromatization means it is the process that converts testosterone into estrogen. Estrogen plays an important role in men in the regulation of testosterone, sexual function/libido, cardiovascular function, cholesterol regulation, bone health and skin health however when the normal level of estrogen is elevated it could decrease testosterone leading to negative side effects like enlarged breasts, male infertility and erectile dysfunction.
Anabolic Androgenic Steroids are prescribed by physicians to men who don’t produce enough testosterone on their own and to help people with certain kinds of anemia. Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone used to increase testosterone production thus it mimics the natural testosterone. When the testosterone levels in the blood are raised by use of anabolic steroids, it would cause the testicle to produce testosterone which is vital for sperm production. The effect is reversible when usage is stopped in three months to a year but if used for a long time and in high doses, it can damage fertility permanently.
In a news article published by NHS on August 2016, it stated that one of the emerging main causes of preventable male infertility factor is the use of anabolic steroids. There is an increasing number of men as well as teenagers who opt in the use of steroids to help build up muscle bulk and most are not aware of the side effects that this could lead to male infertility.
Natural Aromatase Inhibitors
There are studies showing that estrogen level can be decreased naturally like red wine and cruciferous vegetables. A study titled, “Natural Product as Aromatase Inhibitors” was published in Bentham Science on 2008 evaluated nearly 300 natural products in their ability to inhibit aromatase.
It is best to avoid steroids just to have big bulky muscles and should be only used when advised by a physician. For people who can’t be stopped from taking steroids just to look manly it is better to consult urologist-andrologist for advice.
