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Anabolic steroid use and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) have been found to cause testicular atrophy through similar mechanisms. [2] [1] [17] Anabolic steroids and TRT are both used (either by prescription or illicitly) to mimic the effects of testosterone produced by the body, such as building muscle and maintaining sex drive.
A small risk of gynecomastia has been associated with 5α-reductase inhibitors (1.2–3.5%). [ 36 ] [ 41 ] Based on reports of 5α-reductase type 2 deficiency in males and the effectiveness of 5α-reductase inhibitors for hirsutism in women, reduced body and/or facial hair growth is a likely potential side effect of these drugs in men.
These chemicals are not biologically active until puberty when sex steroids influence their activity. [5] The activity change during puberty suggests that humans communicate through odors. [4] Several axillary steroids have been described as possible human pheromones: androstadienol, androstadienone, androstenone, androstenol, and androsterone.
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and androgen in males. [3] In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as testicles and prostate, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle and bone mass, and the growth of body hair.
Androstanolone, or stanolone, also known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and sold under the brand name Andractim among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication and hormone which is used mainly in the treatment of low testosterone levels in men. [2] It is also used to treat breast development and small penis in males. [2]
The use of any steroid such as testosterone incurs risk as these compounds can have systemic effects. While the systemic effects of testosterone are both expected and desired in both trans men and non-binary people using it, cisgender women generally do not want the other masculinizing effects of systemic testosterone.
Some examples of virilizing effects are growth of the clitoris in females and the penis in male children (the adult penis size does not change due to steroids [medical citation needed]), increased vocal cord size, increased libido, suppression of natural sex hormones, and impaired production of sperm. [141]
Steroids taken for muscle enhancement (especially anabolic steroids) often have the undesired side effect of testicular shrinkage. Stimulation of testicular functions via gonadotropic-like hormones may enlarge their size. Testes may shrink or atrophy during hormone replacement therapy or through chemical castration.