ANABOLIC STEROIDS & PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS: HARM MINIMISATION & RECOVERY

  • Are you worried about the side effects of anabolic steroids on your body?

  • Have you tried stopping but been unable to?

  • Are you suffering side effects from anabolic steroids, but been unable to manage them?

  • Finding an informed, supportive, non-judgemental doctor to talk to about your steroid use can be a challenge, but I can help.

Anabolic Steroids Harm Minimisation

There is no safe way of taking anabolic steroids & other performance enhancing drugs. But if after exploring things you decide to continue using AAS/PEDS, there are ways of minimising harm to your health. A harm minimisation plan can include:

  • Making sure you’re educated about the risks involved in AAS/PEDS use

  • Switching to less harmful AAS/PEDS

  • Monitoring for cardiovascular disease

  • Monitoring bone health

  • Monitoring liver and kidney health

  • Treating side effects, including risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gynaecomastia, hair loss and acne, mood changes

Recovery From Anabolic Steroids & PEDS Use

If you decide to stop taking anabolic steroids & other performance enhancing drugs (PEDS) we can make a comprehensive recovery plan:

  • Recovery of natural testosterone production

  • Use of medical TRT where recovery of your own testosterone fails

  • Investigation of cardiovascular disease

  • Investigation of fertility including semen analysis where needed

  • Making a holistic plan for any sexual difficulties

Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease and Anabolic Steroid Use

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Whether you’ve been using testosterone alone or stacking with drugs like Winstrol, Deca or Trenbolone, one of the main risks of anabolic steroids is their impact on cardiovascular health.

Key risks are:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)

  • Cholesterol: hypercholesterolaemia & dyslipidaemia - raised LDL and reduced HDL cholesterol

  • Cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure

  • Coronary Artery Disease leading to myocardial infarction (heart attack)

  • Arrythmia: Irregular heart rhythms, which can lead to sudden cardiac death or increased risk of blood clots and stroke

What blood tests help monitor anabolic steroid use?

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Basic blood tests include:

  • Full blood count

  • Renal and Liver profiles

  • HbA1C and diabetes monitoring

  • Full lipid profile

  • Hormonal profile & assessment of HPG axis

  • PSA

The major life threatening problem is that your bloods and blood pressure can be normal but you have underlying heart disease from anabolic steroid use. There are plenty of case reports of young men with a normal blood pressure, normal lipids, cholesterol and no diabetes, having sudden myocardial infarction (heart attack), or dilated cardiomyopathy.

Comprehensive cardiac assessment after steroid use

At 9 Harley Street, we can perform in depth cardiac testing including:

  • 24 hour Blood Pressure Monitoring

  • ECG & 24 hour ECG to monitor for abnormal heart rhythms

  • Transthoracic echo (ultrasound of the heart) - to screen for damage to the heart, including an enlarged heart or heart failure

  • CT calcium scoring or CT coronary angiogram (to look at the blood vessels around the heart)

  • Cardiac MRI

  • Further assessment by cardiology (heart specialist) where required

Fertility and Anabolic Steroids

A key motivator for men seeking to come off anabolic steroids is oftenwanting children. This can be challenging without medical support particularly if you have been using anabolic steroids for many years.

However it is possible and I’ve had several patients with many years of anabolic steroid use go on to have children.

I’ve seen men die as a result of anabolic steroid use. It’s an issue which involves hard medicine, as well as compassion and understanding. Building a relationship with a doctor who has experience helping men with anabolic steroid recovery and who you can trust is crucial. 

I promise a space where you can be honest about what you’ve been going through, free from shame, and together we will find a way forward.