Fertility outcomes in men with prior history of anabolic steroid use

Abstract

Objective: To study sperm parameters recovery and fertility outcomes in men with azoospermia or severe oligospermia caused by anabolic steroid use who underwent a standardized treatment regimen for spermatogenesis recovery.

Design and subjects: A retrospective analysis of a cohort of men with a prior history of anabolic steroid use and infertility complaints (between 2018 and 2022) was conducted.

Exposure: The standardized treatment approach involved discontinuing testosterone replacement therapy and administering a combination regimen of clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin for a minimum of 3 to 6 months.

Main outcome measures: The main outcome measures included changes in sperm parameters, predominantly sperm concentration, and subsequent pregnancy outcomes.

Results: A total of 45 men (median age 37 years, IQR 32-45) met the inclusion criteria for this analysis. Median duration of prior T use was 4 years (IQR 1.3-10), with the 2 most common modalities consisting of injection therapy (43.5%) and oral therapy (34.8%). The median initial sperm concentration was 0 million/cc (IQR 0-1.15), and 23 (51.1%) men initially presented with azoospermia. The median duration of combination human chorionic gonadotropin/clomid therapy was 5 months (IQR 3-12). In initially azoospermic men (N: 23), 5 were lost to follow-up, 6 (33.3%) progressed to severe oligospermia (<5 million/cc), 6 (33.3%) to oligospermia (<15 million/cc), 1 (5.6%) to normozoospermia (>15 million/cc), and 5 (27.8%) remained azoospermic after medical treatment for 6 months. Among the 24 couples who responded to the follow-up call, a total of 9 (37.5%) achieved a successful subsequent pregnancy. Of these, 33.3% (3 couples) used assisted reproductive technology, whereas 66.7% (6 couples) conceived naturally. On logistic regression analysis, no significant predictors for improved sperm parameters or successful pregnancy were identified.

Conclusion: Despite appropriate treatment regimens, a significant proportion of men with a prior history of anabolic steroid use continue to exhibit severe oligospermia, with more than half showing limited improvement in semen parameters after 6 months of treatment. Only a fraction of men achieves normozoospermia after treatment. Further research is needed to explore predictors for improved sperm parameters and successful pregnancy outcomes in men with a history of anabolic steroid use.

Keywords: Anabolic steroid abuse; infertility; oligospermia.