OC53 - Impaired semen quality among previous anabolic androgenic steroids users

Background/Introduction Previous studies have demonstrated irreversible damage on testicular Leydig cell function in previous anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) users but the available knowledge on the Sertoli function is sparse. Minor studies noted impaired semen quality in AAS users but whether previous AAS use is associated with persistent impaired spermatogenesis is not well-understood. Purpose The primary aim was to assess conventional sperm quality in current and previous AAS users compared with controls who had never used AAS. Methods Cross-sectional design including men involved in recreational training, grouped according to their AAS history. Each participant provided a semen sample to assess classical semen parameters. According to World Health Organization 2021 guidelines, impaired total sperm output was defined by using a cutoff below 39 million sperm total concentration, and oligospermia was defined by using a cutoff below 15 million per sperm concentration. Results We included 46 previous and 59 current AAS users, and 46 nonusers. The mean (SD) age of all participants was 34.7 (8.5) years. The accumulated duration of AAS use, geometric mean (95% CI), among current users was 153 (114;207), and among former users, 106 (77;145) weeks, P =0.092. The elapsed duration since AAS cessation, geometric mean (95% CI), was 1.3 (0.9;1.9) years in previous users. Total sperm output <39 million was present higher among current and previous users than in controls (45 (76%) vs 13 (28%) vs 2 (4%), P < 0.001. Furthermore, oligospermia was higher among both AAS groups compared with controls (48 (81%) vs (16 (35) vs 5 (11%), P < 0.001, whereas azoospermia was also present higher in current users than the other 2 groups ( 25 (42%) vs 2 (4%) vs 0 (0%), P < 0.001. Among men with previous AAS use, every doubling of duration since AAS cessation (log2) is associated with almost 50% reduction in the risk of total sperm output< 39 million (odds ratio, 0.55, 95%CI, (0.33; 0.92), P = 0.022). Conclusion(s) Anabolic androgenic steroids use is associated with impaired semen quality among young men with previous AAS use more than one year after cessation.