Steroid Fertility Question

[lift23]

I know that steroids can cause you to become sterile. Is there a safe amount of time you can be on them without the worry of becoming sterile? How long is to long? Are certain steroids more dangerous when it comes to fertility than others? Any information on this would be very helpful to me.

[abuleh]

Hi,

I found this Study with regards to your question:

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990 Jan;70(1):282-7.
Effects of chronic testosterone administration in normal men: safety and efficacy of high dosage testosterone and parallel dose-dependent suppression of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and sperm production.
Matsumoto AM.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2104626

"At 50 mg of T enanthate per week, the LH level was 65% and the FSH level was 62% of control values; at 100 mg/week, the levels were at 32% and 34% of control values, respectively. T enanthate also contributed to a significant dose-dependent suppression of both sperm counts and concentrations. At 50 mg/week, the sperm count was 36% of control values; at 100 mg/week, it was 0.8% of control values."

"After a 4- to 6-month control period, 51 normal men were randomly assigned to treatment groups (n = 9-12/group) receiving either sesame oil (1 mL) or T enanthate (25, 50, 100, or 300 mg, im) weekly for 6 months. Monthly LH and FSH levels by RIA and twice monthly sperm counts were determined. During treatment, T levels were measured daily between two weekly injections. Chronic T administration in physiological to moderately supraphysiological dosages resulted in parallel dose-dependent suppression of LH, FSH, and sperm production. T enanthate (50 mg/week) suppressed LH and FSH levels and sperm counts to 50% of those in placebo-treated men (ED50). T enanthate (300 mg/week), was no more effective than 100 mg/week in suppressing LH, FSH, and sperm production. Serum T levels in men who received 100 and 300 mg/week T enanthate were 1.5- and 3-fold higher than those in placebo-treated men, respectively. "

"We conclude that 1) LH and FSH secretion are equally sensitive to the long term negative feedback effects of T administration; 2) sperm production is suppressed in parallel with the LH and FSH reductions induced by chronic T administration; and 3) even at the clearly supraphysiological dosage of 300 mg/week, T enanthate does not reliably induce azoospermia in normal men. However, there was also no evidence of a stimulatory effect of this T dosage on spermatogenesis"

Cheers
~abuleh

[Capebuffalo]

My opinion is that they all can cause sterility if over used or used incorrectly. Now for my experience. I decided to do a bodybuilding show in 2009. I ran a 15 month cycle with 8 different compounds. I do not recommend anyone do this. I did very well in the competition and started a full PCT 2 weeks after my last injection. I had made a promise to my wife to start trying to start a family. 3 months after PCT still not pregnant. So I go to a specialist. My sperm count is embarrassingly low. The sperm have 2 heads or tails strange shaped and very slow moving. The Dr. said the PCT was exactly what he would have prescribed. Let's wait 3 months more and get rechecked. 6 months after PCT everything was above normal and my wife got pregnant shortly after. We have a healthy beautiful baby boy. It could have been a lot worse. If you are going to use don't abuse if you want a family. I was very very lucky.

[jamesz123]

My opinion is that they all can cause sterility if over used or used incorrectly. Now for my experience. I decided to do a bodybuilding show in 2009. I ran a 15 month cycle with 8 different compounds. I do not recommend anyone do this. I did very well in the competition and started a full PCT 2 weeks after my last injection. I had made a promise to my wife to start trying to start a family. 3 months after PCT still not pregnant. So I go to a specialist. My sperm count is embarrassingly low. The sperm have 2 heads or tails strange shaped and very slow moving. The Dr. said the PCT was exactly what he would have prescribed. Let's wait 3 months more and get rechecked. 6 months after PCT everything was above normal and my wife got pregnant shortly after. We have a healthy beautiful baby boy. It could have been a lot worse. If you are going to use don't abuse if you want a family. I was very very lucky.

15 months ? Can you please tell us what you did or at least what results it yielded...what was your sex drive like when you were on that cycle. Did you gain as much as you thought you would. A competitive bodybuilders advise would be just great. Thx

[Capebuffalo]

I am not a competitive bodybuilder. I have done one show when I was 37 yrs old. I would like do do a masters show next year. Wow that makes me sound old. I started out at 178 lbs 10% bf. Got to 210 lbs 12% bf. Dieted for 15 weeks and competed as a NPC middle weight novice and JR. I weighed in at 164 lbs 7% bf the Friday before the show. Walked on stage around 168 lbs. My sex drive was like an 18 yr old through the whole time. A lot of hamstring cramps during sex during the diet. That sucked. I did a lot with my body in those 15 months. I am at 207 lbs this morning. And am about to start Ronnies reload/deload program. I still don't know the long term damage I have done with that cycle. Time will tell. Luckily I was able to have a child. It scared the hell out of me. Get all the info you can and make good smart decesions. It's easy to get caught up in it. Just because you don't sees the damage doesn't mean it's not there. Get your blood work done. That's an eye opener. Not try to steal the thread. Just answer the question. And give experience

[D7M]

AAS will decrease sperm mobility, and long term use (TRT) *can* lead to sterility. But my opinion is that if you cycle safely (time on/time off, proper pct, etc) you should be fine. But if you are seriously trying to conceive, or want to conceive in the near future, then you really have to weigh the risk vs. rewards.

In my own case, I was on TRT for over a year or so, and on a blast when I got my lady preggers (no, we were not trying), so like most things in this game, it's completely person dependent. And it's going to be up to you if you want to take that chance.

[Swifto]

Hi,

I found this Study with regards to your question:

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990 Jan;70(1):282-7.
Effects of chronic testosterone administration in normal men: safety and efficacy of high dosage testosterone and parallel dose-dependent suppression of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and sperm production.
Matsumoto AM.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2104626

"At 50 mg of T enanthate per week, the LH level was 65% and the FSH level was 62% of control values; at 100 mg/week, the levels were at 32% and 34% of control values, respectively. T enanthate also contributed to a significant dose-dependent suppression of both sperm counts and concentrations. At 50 mg/week, the sperm count was 36% of control values; at 100 mg/week, it was 0.8% of control values."

"After a 4- to 6-month control period, 51 normal men were randomly assigned to treatment groups (n = 9-12/group) receiving either sesame oil (1 mL) or T enanthate (25, 50, 100, or 300 mg, im) weekly for 6 months. Monthly LH and FSH levels by RIA and twice monthly sperm counts were determined. During treatment, T levels were measured daily between two weekly injections. Chronic T administration in physiological to moderately supraphysiological dosages resulted in parallel dose-dependent suppression of LH, FSH, and sperm production. T enanthate (50 mg/week) suppressed LH and FSH levels and sperm counts to 50% of those in placebo-treated men (ED50). T enanthate (300 mg/week), was no more effective than 100 mg/week in suppressing LH, FSH, and sperm production. Serum T levels in men who received 100 and 300 mg/week T enanthate were 1.5- and 3-fold higher than those in placebo-treated men, respectively. "

"We conclude that 1) LH and FSH secretion are equally sensitive to the long term negative feedback effects of T administration; 2) sperm production is suppressed in parallel with the LH and FSH reductions induced by chronic T administration; and 3) even at the clearly supraphysiological dosage of 300 mg/week, T enanthate does not reliably induce azoospermia in normal men. However, there was also no evidence of a stimulatory effect of this T dosage on spermatogenesis"

Cheers
~abuleh

Good study, seen it before.

After 100mg/wk, there is no greater LH/FSH supression when compared with 300mg/wk. But what about 500mg/wk+?

Spermatogesnsis is directly correleated with testes size. So using HCG and maintaining testicular size and function on cycle, should limit the effects steroids have on spermatogenisis.

[Fetch]

I'm interested in long term. If a person is on TRT with no HCG for years, will the use of HCG possibly restore fertility?