Are you a heavy steroid user and struggling in the bedroom? The two may be interconnected! Experts have found strong links between steroid use and erectile dysfunction. This article will be tackling how synthetic steroids can harm your erectile health.
What are Steroids?
Steroids are chemicals that are either naturally occurring or synthetic (man-made). When originating from the body, steroids are typically produced by the adrenal glands and the testes. Examples of natural steroids include cortisol, testosterone, and oestrogen. On the other hand, synthetic steroids are classified as either corticosteroids or anabolic steroids. Both mimic the function of human steroids and are used for medical purposes.
Corticosteroids and Anabolic Steroids
When people think of steroids, they often mean anabolic steroids or the ones that athletes use. But there’s also another synthetic steroid that you can find in your local chemist. Here are the two types of manufactured steroid:
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are used for autoimmune diseases (and their complications) as they have anti-inflammatory effects like the stress hormone cortisol. Examples are prednisone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone. Corticosteroids can come in various forms like pills or ointments. Some patients with rheumatoid arthritis use corticosteroids to manage joint pain.
While corticosteroids are effective at immediately suppressing inflammation, they can also cause these side effects, some of which contribute to erectile problems:
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Weight gain
- Puffy face
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Acne
- Osteoporosis
- Adrenal insufficiency
Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids imitate the sex hormone testosterone. It’s usually given as testosterone replacement therapy for men with hypogonadism as they have low testosterone. Since it mimics testosterone, anabolic steroids can boost one’s sex drive, increase muscle growth, and improve male fertility. Unfortunately, anabolic steroids are frequently abused for performance enhancement purposes.
Reports say that men who self-prescribe anabolic steroids tend to consume a hundred times more than the safe amount, making it likely to incur these side effects that are debilitating to your sexual and overall health:
- Natural testosterone inhibition
- High LDL cholesterol
- Oligospermia (low sperm count)
- Gynecomastia (enlarged breasts)
- Smaller testicles
- Mood swings
- Severe fluid retention
Why do Men Misuse Anabolic Steroids?
Anabolic steroids have become infamous because of their tendency to be abused unlike corticosteroids. While it’s not psychoactive or makes you high like other illegal drugs, it can produce a range of effects that men perceive as ‘benefits’ such as:
Muscle Growth
For men striving for muscle gains, anabolic steroids can seem like a shortcut to their dream physique. However, the temporary increase in muscle mass comes at a considerable cost. For example, while anabolic steroids may help with stamina in bed and being able to experiment with more sexual positions due to boosted strength, they can also trigger erectile dysfunction through hormonal imbalance. Research shows that anabolic steroids can lead to hypertension.
Athletic Edge
Athletes sometimes turn to anabolic steroids to improve performance. Despite strict doping regulations, the lure of competitive advantage can tempt even professional athletes towards tapping into steroids. Some users even try to stack steroids, believing it will have a more potent effect. Specifically, a man may end up using multiple anabolic steroids, pause for a period, then kickstart the cycle of using anabolic steroids again. It’s also easy to abuse anabolic steroids because they don’t cause an overdose the way other drugs would. Instead, users tend to experience the consequences due to prolonged misuse.
Sexual Performance
Some men turn to anabolic steroids in the belief that higher testosterone levels will enhance their libido and sexual performance. However, overloading the body with synthetic hormones can suppress natural testosterone production. This means that your body stops secreting testosterone because of constantly elevated levels in the bloodstream (and your body will work on regulating that). What happens is that the moment you stop anabolic steroids, your sexual desire will crash, and you may suffer from testosterone deficiency and all its consequences.
Consequences of Anabolic Steroid Abuse
Ever heard of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it?” This should be applied to steroid use. While doping on steroids might offer short-term gains, the long-term consequences are severe and well-documented:
Organ Damage – both the liver and kidney get overworked by anabolic steroids. Scarring can form on the kidneys while the liver may develop cholestatic hepatitis and hepatotoxicity. Anabolic steroids can also impair the heart’s capacity to effectively pump blood.
Cardiovascular Issues – steroids lower your HDL cholesterol while increasing your LDL cholesterol, contributing to plaque build-up. They also lead to high blood pressure which is why anabolic steroids are bad for erections. Long-term steroid abuse can trigger cardiac arrest and arrhythmia.
Roid Rage – steroid abuse can impact the limbic system which is a part of the brain that regulates emotions. This can lead to uncontrollable sudden bursts of anger and possibly violent behaviour.
Steroid Addiction – While not psychoactive, synthetic steroids can cause both physical and emotional dependence. The body may stop forming natural steroids, causing negative symptoms when abruptly quitting steroid use. Men may also be reliant on steroids for self-esteem.
Can Steroid Use Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
One of the top searches for steroid and erectile dysfunction is “can steroid cream cause erectile dysfunction?” Yes, and not just creams. Any form of steroids, when misused, can lead to erectile dysfunction. Here’s how steroid abuse causes erectile problems:
Hypogonadism
When the body is constantly getting high levels of testosterone in the blood, negative feedback starts to happen in the brain in the body’s attempts to restore balance. The brain stops signalling the pituitary gland to release FSH and LH which prevents the testes from producing testosterone. This can also lead to thyroid issues as FSH is what orders the thyroid to produce hormones. Hypothyroidism is also associated with erectile issues.
Circulatory Issues
Steroid misuse can cause all sorts of damage to your circulatory system. Since blood flow is essential in forming and maintaining erections, any cardiovascular issue can lead to weakened erections. For example, high blood pressure will harden your blood vessels over time, making it harder to dilate or relax. If blood can’t get into the penis, erections won’t happen. Atherosclerosis can also block blood flow and cause heart attacks. This is why there is also a correlation between erectile dysfunction and heart attacks.
Liver Disease
The liver is crucial for your erection in numerous ways. It ensures that fats and cholesterol levels stay at optimal levels so that you don’t develop high triglycerides and high cholesterol levels associated with metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome is also linked to erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, synthetic steroids are linked to weight gain and high blood sugar, cementing the connection of steroids to metabolic dysfunctions.
Kidney Disease
Another blood worker, the kidney filters waste from your blood and eliminates it as urine. Some studies theorise that steroids have a toxic effect on the kidneys. Apart from that, the extreme muscle growth that arises from synthetic testosterone can strain the kidneys. Bodybuilders who use steroids have been observed to have protein leakage in their urine and impaired kidney function. Kidney disease can lead to erectile dysfunction and trigger other causes of erectile damage like diabetes.
Testicle Atrophy
Since steroid use interferes with natural testosterone release, the testes lose their size, shape, and firmness. Testicular shrinkage can be reversible with early intervention. However, irreversible damage to the testes is also possible which may sometimes lead to permanent erectile dysfunction as testosterone is critical for the erectile process.
Recovering from Steroid-induced Erectile Dysfunction
Recovery from steroid-induced erectile dysfunction is possible but requires time, patience, and strategic action. Here are some steps you can take to begin rehabilitating your sexual health:
- Cease Unprescribed Steroid Use – The first and most crucial step is to stop using non-medically supervised steroids. However, this can be difficult if the patient already has adrenal or testicular insufficiency (body no longer produces cortisol or testosterone).
- Consult a Healthcare Provider – Professional evaluation can help assess hormonal levels and recommend tailored therapies, especially for adrenal or testicular insufficiency. Doctors can also assess and treat complications that have arisen from steroid abuse.
- Adopt Heart-healthy Habits – Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management support cardiovascular health. It may help counteract some of the damage caused by synthetic steroids which will improve your erectile capacity.
- Address Mental Health – Psychological support may be necessary to manage mood disturbances from steroid abuse and rebuild confidence (which is what caused the steroid misuse in the first place).
- Seek Treatment for ED – Restoring your natural testosterone levels may not be enough to regain your peak erection. Since synthetic steroids can lead to chronic diseases that trigger erectile dysfunction, a comprehensive treatment that examines and addresses all other factors of erectile dysfunction is crucial.
Conclusion
Can steroid use cause erectile dysfunction? Absolutely! If you’re already experiencing erectile difficulties while using steroids, you need to book an appointment with us. The earlier we can do a full assessment of the possible factors of erectile dysfunction that you have, whether caused by steroids or not, the better. By reaching out, you will be taking a big step towards restoring your sexual health and becoming free of steroid dependence!
