Here's all the evidence I need:
Abstract 798 MSSE Suppl 2000
Pharmaceutical intervention of anabolic steroid induced hypogonadism – our success at restoration of the hpg axis
Scally C, Street C
High-dose anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) administration results in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). Physical manifestations can include one or more of the following: depression, decreased sexual desire, impotence, feelings of apathy, testicular atrophy, and loss of muscle mass and strength. Due to feedback inhibition, laboratory values drop well below established physiologic norms: leutinizing hormone (LH) > 3.6 IU/L, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) > 2.25 IU/L, and testosterone y 300 ng/dL. A search of the literature reveals an absence of studies dealing specifically with AAS-induced HH, and restoration of normal endocrine function.
We report on two interesting cases of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) using bodybuilders who were brought out of the hypogonadal state. Blood samples were taken in the morning for both subjects and analysed using chemiluminescence (Quest diagnostics, Irving, TX). Post therapy samples were taken 15 days after the last Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) injection.
Case I: 6’0’’ 206 lbs., 33 years old Caucasian male with a 10+ year history of steroid-administration for bodybuilding and Powerlifting. By his own admission he was a “heavy” user, taking from 500 mg/week to 2+ grams/week. Pre-treatment values: LH>1.0 IU/L, T 191 ng/dL. One course of therapy (32 days) was given: 2,500 IU of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) every 4 days (8 injections total), 50 mg clomifen bid and 10 mg tamoxifen qd. Despite massive drug use patient was an exceptionally good responder. Post-treatment values: LH 5.2 IU/L, T 1072 ng/dL.
Case 2: 5’10’’ 184 lbs, 36 years old Caucasian male with a 2 year history of continuous nandrolone use (200-400 mg/week). Pre treatment values: LH >1.0 IU/L, T 45 ng/dL. Treatment I (32 days): 2,500 IU Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) every 4 days (8 total), clomifen 50 mg bid, arimidex 1 mg qd. Post values: LH > 1.0 IU/L, T 38 ng/dL. Treatment 2 (60 days): 5,000 IU Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) every 4 days (4 inj. total), followed by 2,500 IU Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) every 4 d (4 inj. total), clomifen (50 mg bid) and tamoxifen (10 mg qd). Post-values: LH > 1.4 IU/L, T 63 ng/dL. Treatment 3 (32 days): 5,000 IU Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) qod (6 inj. total) followed by 2,500 IU Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) qod (6 inj. total) given simultaneously with menotropins 150 IU qod (6 inj. total), clomifen (50 mg bid) and tamoxifen (10 mg bid). Post-values: LH 9.8 IU/L, T 507 ng/dL.
Restoration of the HPG axis, even in severe cases of hypogonadism, is possible with combined therapies and careful monitoring of the patient. With continued popularity of these drugs, long-term androgen deficiency is a health concern for former Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) users.
