Background And Aims: Androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) abuse is a global health concern, studies revealing an increasing trend of abuse and deleterious effects on reproductive health. Unfortunately, there is no consensus about management pathways due to the lack of specific guidelines.
Methods: A prospective study, multicentre, online survey, composed of 30 questions, was conducted to investigate the current trend of AAS abuse and the management followed by practitioners from different specialities dealing with this condition.
Results: A total of 151 respondents were included. The majority were general urologists (68.21%), andrologists (22.51%), and endocrinologists (9.28%). An increasing trend of AAS abuse was noticed by 90.73% of participants mostly in young age populations. Most of AAS abusers were presented with infertility (64.24%) and erectile dysfunction (59.60%), and their investigations showed abnormal semen analysis (77.48%), abnormal hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and estradiol) (94.70%), and reduction in testicular size (50.33%). Most of respondents expected: the need of long duration for spontaneous recovery (6-12 months), relapse of AAS abuse in one-third of patients, less knowledge about the adverse effects (39.74%), and risk of drug dependence (54.30%). Immediate treatment was the most offered plan of management (44.37%) followed by a waiting spontaneous recovery (32.45%), while the remaining would refer the patients to an either endocrinologist or andrologist. The treating physicians did not follow specific guidelines and most of participants (44.44%) reverted to their personal experience in the management.
Conclusions: Our study revealed an increasing trend of AAS abuse, deleterious effects of AAS use on reproductive health, and lack of consensuses among the treating physicians regarding the management of related adverse effects. Our study could be considered a call to the scientific bodies to have more studies, establish guidelines for management, and to have better awareness of this serious public health concern.
Research has identified the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) as a gap between treatment needs and available facilities for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in Norway. State policy emphasizes the need for measures to ensure coordinated treatment services. This study aims to explore whether clinical pathways of mental health and substance abuse and team-based organisation function as intended in the treatment of patients with AAS use.
Objective: To investigate the relationship between violence and the nutritional status of pregnant women, and whether mental health could be a mediator in this relationship.
Design: Cross-sectional study. Violence and mental health status were investigated using the following questionnaires: World Health Organization Violence Against Women (WHO-VAW), Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).
* A case study discusses a 46-year-old man who experienced complications like swelling, bruising, and shortness of breath due to AAS use, revealing underlying issues like high blood pressure and heart failure.
* The case highlights the importance of screening for heart and vascular health in individuals using anabolic steroids, as they may not exhibit clear symptoms of underlying heart conditions.
Abuse of androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) is associated with a range of cardiovascular side effects, summarized in this review. Apart from being linked to cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidaemia, AAS abuse is associated with coronary atherosclerosis and imparts a pro-coagulative state, predisposing to thromboembolic disease. Finally, AAS abuse leads to left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction, which can ultimately result in heart failure.
Background: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic forms of testosterone frequently used as performance enhancing drugs among gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) men. Despite widespread use, associated harms, and the likely existence of an AAS use disorder, there is no medical consensus on standards of care for people who use AAS, with most medical providers focusing exclusively on abstinence. Individuals using AAS have developed community-based harm reduction strategies to mitigate these harms.
