Steroids, supplements impact male infertility. Here’s how to recover sperm count | Health

While men strive hard to achieve an ideal physique/physique, they sometimes consume certain supplements or even steroids that help induce muscle growth and strength, but while maintaining physical strength and ensuring an increase in muscle mass, men do not realize it that the testosterone you are taking to improve your looks can affect your fertility and overall health. According to health experts, when men use steroids to increase testosterone levels to build muscle strength, it can lead to low sperm counts or even the absence of sperm.

Men often feel the pressure to maintain their physical appearance or to achieve a certain level of fitness, so they resort to consuming products like steroids that help them achieve the desired result of gaining muscle mass but in these situations Don’t men realize this? Using steroids is bad for a man’s sperm health and leads to fertility problems. Male infertility is an extremely sensitive issue for men to accept, and for men, fertility complications can come as an unpleasant surprise that can lead to increased levels of stress and relationship strain due to the frustration of not being able to have a child.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Anindita Singh, Fertility Advisor at Nova IVF Fertility in Kolkata: “While analyzing the main causes of infertility, it has been observed that certain dietary supplements, particularly anabolic steroids, can cause fertility problems. Steroids are synthetic supplements, or versions of testosterone, that help increase strength and muscle growth in men. Steroids used to promote muscle growth can decrease sperm count or even lead to a complete absence of sperm, causing male testicles to shrink.”

She emphasized: “However, the adverse effect on sperm health due to steroid use can be treated depending on the length of time. When the person stops using steroids, it takes about three months for the sperm count to recover. In cases where men have used steroids for a long period of time, the recovery period can take longer, around a year or more. Aside from male infertility issues, steroids can cause several other health issues ranging from acne, breast development, liver problems, heart attack or stroke, which can be irreversible.”

dr Priyanka Reddy, Counselor – Infertility Specialist at Motherhood Hospitals in Bangalore’s HRBR layout shared how steroids affect the male reproductive system:

• During steroid use, the brain is tricked into thinking that the body is producing the necessary amount of testosterone.
• When the brain thinks, it keeps signaling the testicles to slow down or even stop sperm production.
• This confusion results in a lower sperm count, or in some cases even a lack of sperm. The low sperm levels even cause the testicles to shrink, leading to male infertility.

She claimed that besides fertility, other serious side effects of steroids can also lead to side effects in the body system that can cause permanent damage, namely:

• Cardiovascular system: Along with testosterone, steroids can increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and decrease high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, contributing to high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.
• endocrine system: The use of steroids can cause hormonal imbalances that hinder fertility and sperm production, as well as disrupting bodily functions such as enlarged breast tissue, shrinking testicles, hair loss, as well as severe acne, cysts, and in severe cases, testicular cancer.
• Muscular and skeletal system: In adults, steroid use can lead to stiff tendons that can put you at risk of tendon injury, while steroid use in adolescents can lead to stunted growth.

dr Anindita Singh insisted that testosterone use should be administered by a doctor, saying: “Testosterone use is only appropriate when prescribed and administered under the supervision of a reliable doctor. In cases where men have low testosterone levels, a doctor will prescribe hormone-regulating medications that help produce adequate levels of testosterone without affecting a man’s fertility. When taking steroids to improve strength and muscle mass, a man must exercise caution and be aware of the consequences of steroid use on his fertility, as well as the risks that affect both a person’s short- and long-term health . ”

dr Speaking on how to restore sperm production, Priyanka Reddy said: “Restoring sperm production depends on how long the man has been using steroids that increase testosterone levels. The extent of damage to sperm production also depends on the dose administered. If the dose is given in lower amounts for a while, sperm production will resume within three months, however, if the dose is given in higher amounts for a longer period of time, then the recovery rate will take longer. Before taking any dietary supplement or medication that provides increased muscle mass, energy, or libido, it is important to consult a physician to understand the reproductive risks associated with the use of the dietary supplement.”