The non-medical use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has increased globally, particularly among young men seeking enhanced physical appearance or athletic performance. While exogenous androgens increase muscle mass, they profoundly suppress endogenous testosterone production.
AAS use disrupts the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal erotic axis through negative feedback inhibition, leading to testicular atrophy, oligospermia, or complete azoospermia. Recovery of spermatogenesis after cessation is unpredictable and may take years.
Long-term consequences include persistent hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and infertility. In some cases, fertility does not recover without medical intervention using gonadotropins or selective estrogen receptor modulators.
From an andrological perspective, prevention through education and early intervention is essential, as many users underestimate the reproductive risks associated with steroid abuse.
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