TY - JOUR
T1 - Disruption and recovery of testicular function during and after androgen abuse: the HAARLEM study
AU - Smit, D. L.
AU - Buijs, M. M.
AU - de Hon, O.
AU - den Heijer, M.
AU - de Ronde, W.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021/4/1
Y1 - 2021/4/1
N2 - STUDY QUESTION: What is the speed and extent by which endogenous testosterone production and spermatogenesis recover after androgen abuse? SUMMARY ANSWER: Testosterone concentrations normalized within 3 months after discontinuation of androgen abuse in most subjects but recovery of spermatogenesis took longer-approximately 1 year. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: An estimated 4-6% of amateur strength athletes use androgens. Abuse of supraphysiological doses of androgens completely suppresses endogenous testosterone production and spermatogenesis. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Prospective and observational cohort study in which 100 male amateur athletes participated for 1 year. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Subjects (≥18 years) were included if they had not used androgens for at least 3 months and intended to start an androgen cycle within 2 weeks. Clinic visits took place before (T0), at the end (T1), and 3 months after the end of the cycle (T2), and 1 year after start of the cycle (T3), and included a blood test for gonadotrophins and sex hormones, and semen analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: During androgen abuse, 77% of subjects had a total sperm count (TSC) below 40 million. Three months after the end of the cycle (T2), total (-1.9 nmol/l, CI -12.2 to 8.33, P = 0.71) and free (-38.6 pmol/l, CI -476 to 399, P = 0.86) testosterone concentrations were not different compared to baseline, whereas mean TSC was 61.7 million (CI 33.7 to 90.0; P < 0.01) lower than baseline. At the end of follow-up (T3), there was no statistically significant difference for total (-0.82 nmol/l, CI -11.5 to 9.86, P = 0.88) and free (-25.8 pmol/l, CI -480 to 428, P = 0.91) testosterone compared to baseline, but there was for TSC (-29.7 million, CI -59.1 to -0.39, P = 0.05). In nine (11%) subjects, however, testosterone concentrations were below normal at the end of follow-up (T3), and 25 (34%) subjects still had a TSC below 40 million. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The follow-up period (after the cycle) was relatively short, especially considering the long recovery time of spermatogenesis after discontinuation of androgens. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Endogenous testosterone production and spermatogenesis recover following androgen abuse in the vast majority of users. Nevertheless, not all users achieve a normalized testicular function. This may especially be the case for athletes with a high past exposure to androgens. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): There is no conflict of interest. The study was funded by the Spaarne Gasthuis academy.N/A.
AB - STUDY QUESTION: What is the speed and extent by which endogenous testosterone production and spermatogenesis recover after androgen abuse? SUMMARY ANSWER: Testosterone concentrations normalized within 3 months after discontinuation of androgen abuse in most subjects but recovery of spermatogenesis took longer-approximately 1 year. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: An estimated 4-6% of amateur strength athletes use androgens. Abuse of supraphysiological doses of androgens completely suppresses endogenous testosterone production and spermatogenesis. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Prospective and observational cohort study in which 100 male amateur athletes participated for 1 year. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Subjects (≥18 years) were included if they had not used androgens for at least 3 months and intended to start an androgen cycle within 2 weeks. Clinic visits took place before (T0), at the end (T1), and 3 months after the end of the cycle (T2), and 1 year after start of the cycle (T3), and included a blood test for gonadotrophins and sex hormones, and semen analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: During androgen abuse, 77% of subjects had a total sperm count (TSC) below 40 million. Three months after the end of the cycle (T2), total (-1.9 nmol/l, CI -12.2 to 8.33, P = 0.71) and free (-38.6 pmol/l, CI -476 to 399, P = 0.86) testosterone concentrations were not different compared to baseline, whereas mean TSC was 61.7 million (CI 33.7 to 90.0; P < 0.01) lower than baseline. At the end of follow-up (T3), there was no statistically significant difference for total (-0.82 nmol/l, CI -11.5 to 9.86, P = 0.88) and free (-25.8 pmol/l, CI -480 to 428, P = 0.91) testosterone compared to baseline, but there was for TSC (-29.7 million, CI -59.1 to -0.39, P = 0.05). In nine (11%) subjects, however, testosterone concentrations were below normal at the end of follow-up (T3), and 25 (34%) subjects still had a TSC below 40 million. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The follow-up period (after the cycle) was relatively short, especially considering the long recovery time of spermatogenesis after discontinuation of androgens. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Endogenous testosterone production and spermatogenesis recover following androgen abuse in the vast majority of users. Nevertheless, not all users achieve a normalized testicular function. This may especially be the case for athletes with a high past exposure to androgens. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): There is no conflict of interest. The study was funded by the Spaarne Gasthuis academy.N/A.
KW - anabolic steroids
KW - androgens
KW - bodybuilding
KW - post-cycle therapy
KW - semen analysis
KW - testosterone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103228897&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deaa366
DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deaa366
M3 - Article
C2 - 33550376
SN - 0268-1161
VL - 36
SP - 880
EP - 890
JO - Human reproduction (Oxford, England)
JF - Human reproduction (Oxford, England)
IS - 4
ER -