Also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), anabolic steroids are a type of drug that are related to the testosterone hormone structurally and generate effects by binding to the androgen receptor. Anabolic steroids are used in various medical conditions. However, athletes or bodybuilders also use these drugs to increase muscle size and strength. In one study conducted, researchers found that the prevalence of anabolic steroid use is very high among bodybuilders. This study shows that among 298 male athletes, around 56.8% of them had used anabolic steroids in their lifetime. Increasing muscle size seems to be the main reason behind taking anabolic steroids by bodybuilders. On the other hand, younger males can be influenced by such bodybuilders and take steroids to look good. According to a 2017 IPED survey, around 56% of young males took steroids just to improve body image. In the 21st century, the number of males taking anabolic steroids has seen a huge increase. Unfortunately, too much anabolic steroid use can lead Erectile Dysfunction in men.
Types of Anabolic Steroids
There are more than 32 types of anabolic steroids. Some types of anabolic steroids are used only for treatment purposes, whereas other types of anabolic steroids have no treatment purposes whatsoever and are used by bodybuilders to improve their body image. Men who seek performance take performance steroids, those who seek to get bulk take bulking steroids, and those who seek to burn fat take cutting steroids.
Different anabolic steroids are taken differently as well. Some are taken orally through tablets or syrup, and some are taken via injection. Moreover, some steroids are taken with nasal sprays and inhalers. Interestingly enough, there exist some types of anabolic steroids that are taken by applying them to the skin as they come in the form of ointments and creams.
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Link Between ED and Anabolic Steroids
Many men around the world who took anabolic steroids ended up suffering from Erectile Dysfunction. Interestingly enough, most anabolic steroid users start to suffer from ED after they stop using steroids. But why does it happen? Well, when a man takes anabolic steroids, they keep the level of synthetic testosterone hormone high but suppress natural testosterone hormone. When that person stops taking steroids, the overall testosterone level drops. This leads to low testosterone hormone symptoms such as fatigue, low libido, reduction in the ability to focus, etc. All these effects of low testosterone pose a negative impact on erectile function and ultimately lead to ED.
Other Causes of ED
Besides anabolic steroids, ED has several other causes and risk factors. Other most common risk factors for ED include aging, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart diseases, anxiety, depression, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse, etc.
How to Avoid ED While Taking Anabolic Steroids
If anabolic steroids are needed to take for medical purposes, then it is mostly safe. Because medical professionals would most likely suggest an adequate number of steroids for the patients. Steroids become dangerous if the dosage gets too high and if they are taken for too long. Usually, when bodybuilders and younger males take anabolic steroids to look good and increase performance, they take these steroids illegally without any sort of advice from medical professionals. Such uncontrolled usage of steroids can lead to ED and other fatal diseases. That’s why to avoid ED, I should be careful to not overuse these drugs.
Can Little Blue Pills Treat Steroids Induced ED
The most popular and common approach to treating erectile dysfunction globally is medicines or oral medications “Little Blue Pills”. These pills can be used to improve erectile function. Sexual activity becomes easier for men after taking these pills, due to the increased blood flow inside the penile tissues. However, not all men may benefit from these pills. Considering that some men who use these medicines may also have additional health issues such as headaches, nosebleeds, impaired eyesight, low blood pressure, and other related issues. Moreover, these medicines tend to lose effectiveness in the long run. These pills may work in the short term, but they are not perfect for long-term solutions.
ED Treatments
Erectile function can gradually be improved after quitting using anabolic steroids. However, the time interval can vary from man to man. Some men may start to experience better erectile function after quitting steroids after 6-12 months. On the contrary, some men may require more time to see improved erectile function. It depends on the usage history of steroids. Nevertheless, there are various ED treatments available to aid men in this situation.
- Managing Underlying Medical Conditions: Treatment for underlying medical conditions will also benefit ED patients. For instance, if diabetes or hypertension are inducing or worsening erectile dysfunction in men, treating these diseases may assist in lessening their negative effects and, ultimately, enhance the patients’ erectile health.
- Vacuum Pumps for Erectile Dysfunction: One method of non-invasive treatment for ED involves vacuum pumps. Penile vacuum pumps increase blood flow by creating a suction inside the pump. This suction draws blood into the penis. The ability for patients to use these pumps independently at home is their best feature. They are very effective. Vacuum pumps can also be used in combination with other treatments, such as oral medications. These pumps rarely provide undesirable results. However, when utilising them patients may feel some pain if they don’t know how to use these pumps accurately.
- Penile Injections: Penile injections can be effective in treating ED, though these injections may have some negative side effects in some patients. After taking penile injections, some patients may experience priapism, penile pain, or infection.
- Surgeries: Only in extreme cases of ED surgery is recommended, when all other treatments fail. One sort of surgical therapy for ED is penile implants. Patients with ED may have penile implants surgically inserted into their penis. However, patients cannot get natural erections with this procedure, even though these implants are incredibly successful at creating erections during sexual activity.
- Shockwave Therapy: A more recent technique for treating ED is shockwave therapy. It was first invented to treat patients with kidney stones. Later, it was employed by doctors to treat several other illnesses, including erectile dysfunction. Shockwave therapy for ED is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment option. Following the administration of this therapy, patients can immediately resume their regular activities. Low-intensity shockwaves are used in this non-invasive procedure. Blood flow inside the penile tissues is increased by the low-intensity shockwaves. Additionally, shockwave therapy can generate new blood vessels which can ensure improved blood flow in the penis. Sadly, this kind of therapy is still rather uncommon worldwide. However, some hospitals provide shockwave therapy with great efficacy. MansMatters is one of them. It’s a specialised men’s health clinic located in London, UK. Additionally, MansMatters offers other modern non-invasive ED therapies including EMTT therapy, NanoVi, and the Tesla Chair.
Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Taking Anabolic Steroids
Illegal usage of anabolic steroids can lead to mild as well as some serious long-term consequences. Anabolic steroid use has both short-term effects and long-term effects. Short-term effects of steroids include fatigue, aggression or mood swings, baldness, changes in sex drive, acne, low sperm count, infertility, priapism, etc. On the other hand, long-term effects of using anabolic steroids include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, stroke, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, deep depression, roid rage, stunted growth, etc.
Conclusion
So, anabolic steroids have both good and bad usage. They are good as long as they are administered by a medical professional and the dosages are adequate. But if the dosages are too much, then it can cause many medical conditions including ED. Thankfully though, there are treatments available to aid men in regaining their sexual as well as general health.
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