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

Objective: To document adverse effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use in community-based users attending a medical clinic. Design and settings Prospective recruitment, questionnaire-based interview, physical examination and investigations, with follow-up, of people who att ended, 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 measurer Clinical adverse effects and abnormal laboratory find ings. 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 effec ts were alterations in libido (61%), changes in mood (48%), reduced testis volume (46%) and acne (43%). Although mean systolic and diastolic blood pre ssure was not significantly different between groups, five present (29%), 1 0 past (37%) and one potential user (8%) were hypertensive. Gynaecomastia w as found in 10 past users (37%; P < 0.01 v. potential users), two present u sers (12%) and no potential users. Mean testis volume was significantly sma ller in present users (18 mL; P < 0.02) than in the other groups. Twenty pa st users (83%), eight present users (62%) and five potential users (71%) ha d 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 AA S users who attended the clinic. Despite awareness of adverse consequences, most participants planned future use of AASs.