Steroids are widely used among athletes, as they offer easy muscle gains. Unfortunately, the extended use of steroids can have several effects on the human body.
One such impact that it can have is that steroids can cause erectile dysfunction.
Of course, most men will be put off using steroids if they have such a negative effect. Luckily, there are some steps that you can take to reduce the risk of steroids causing erectile dysfunction.
This informative guide will tell you everything that you need to know!
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction, also known as ED, is a condition that affects millions of men. This condition makes it difficult for people to have or maintain an erection. There are numerous causes of erectile dysfunction, both physical and psychological.
Do Steroids Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
To answer this question, we need to dive somewhat into the two different forms of steroids.
The first form is corticosteroids, which are used as medicinal treatments thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. These corticosteroids have numerous side effects, such as increased appetite. But generally, they do not cause erectile dysfunction.
On the other hand, anabolic steroids can lead to ED. Anabolic steroids are a form of synthetic testosterone, which should only be used in medical situations. However, anabolic steroids are widely used to enhance muscle mass, thus boosting athletic performance.
High quantities of anabolic steroids may cause erectile dysfunction. This synthetic testosterone affects the body’s production of hormones. This can result in a range of unpleasant symptoms, such as shrinking testicles and reduced sperm count.
Even if you stop using steroids after you have experienced erectile dysfunction, it can take a long time for your body to recover. As a consequence, you can experience this health problem for a long time.
How To Avoid Erectile Dysfunction On Steroids
Now that you know that the use of anabolic steroids can trigger erectile dysfunction among men, you may be wondering how you can prevent this from happening.
The most obvious way of preventing this is to stop your usage of anabolic steroids. In the majority of cases, these anabolic steroids are not taken because they are medically essential. Instead, some people misuse steroids in an attempt to quickly improve their muscle mass.
Of course, if you need to use anabolic steroids for medical reasons, this method will not be suitable. Not to mention, even if you immediately terminate your usage of anabolic steroids, it can take multiple months for your testosterone levels to return to normal.
Alternatively, you can seek treatments for erectile dysfunction (Find out How Can I Help My Partner With Erectile Dysfunction?). There are lots of different treatment options available for this condition. If you are unsure as to which of these treatments is best for you, it’s best to talk to a medical professional.
The main way that ED is treated is through the use of PDE-5 inhibitors. These inhibitors are designed to increase the blood flow to the penis, thus allowing it to work as usual. PDE-5 inhibitors come in numerous forms, such as Viagra and Spedra.
Doctors can not only provide a prescription for these treatments but can also explain the possible side effects.
Is It Legal To Take Steroids?
So long as you have a medical prescription to use steroids, then they are entirely legal. However, the use of anabolic steroids without a legitimate prescription is illegal in the majority of places, including the United States.
Anabolic steroids are illegal if you are caught possessing or supplying them.
The primary reason why anabolic steroids are illegal is that they have numerous harmful side effects (more on that later).
Another reason why these anabolic steroids are illegal is that they are banned in the majority of sporting competitions. The reason for this is that they enhance athletic performance, which would give certain athletes an unfair advantage.
What Are The Side Effects of Steroids?
The reason why steroids are dangerous when misused is that they are linked to lots of different side effects. These effects simply are not worth risking in the majority of cases. Among the different side effects of steroids are:
High blood pressure
Infertility and erectile dysfunction
Reduced sperm count
Hair loss and baldness
Shrunken testicles
Stomach pain
Acne
Heart attacks or strokes
High cholesterol
Heightened risk of testicular cancer
If you have been taking steroids and noticed any of these symptoms, you may need medical help. These side effects suggest that you are suffering from anabolic steroid misuse.
How Is Erectile Dysfunction Treated?
As mentioned previously, ED can be treated via numerous different treatments. The most common treatment is PDE-5 inhibitors, but you can also treat this condition through other means.
Vacuum pumps have a similar impact as these inhibitors, as they increase the blood flow to the penis. Thus, it’s easier to achieve a full erection. These vacuum pumps are primarily used when medicine fails.
Since psychological factors, such as stress and anxiety, can worsen ED, it’s worth trying to improve your mental health. You should attempt to create a living environment that’s calm and relaxing. Doing so can help to reduce the effects of ED.
Moreover, you should improve your overall health. This can be as simple as maintaining a balanced diet or participating in more exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Drink Coffee While Taking Steroids?
Technically, it is safe to consume coffee while you are taking steroids. However, this increased caffeine can result in insomnia. Therefore, you should consume coffee in moderation.
Do Steroids Cause Fatigue?
Usually, fatigue is not a direct side effect of the use of steroids. Yet, you may still be fatigued when you take them. This is because they can worsen other conditions, such as the aforementioned insomnia.
Final Thoughts
Erectile dysfunction is a serious condition that can seriously affect your life. Given the numerous negative side effects that steroids can have, users seriously need to question whether or not anabolic steroids are worth it.
In the majority of cases, your best bet is to stop using anabolic steroids and consult a doctor for further advice.
Hello, my name is Amelia Martin and I am a relationship columnist. As part of my job, I like to talk about all the things that come with relationships, intimacy, communication, health, and all the nitty gritty details that come with it.
As an adult, I cannot believe how many people struggle to open up about their sexual health problems, and don’t have the knowledge and advice they need to solve them.
That’s why I have created babyboomerdaily.com. In all of my years dealing with relationship advice, you would be surprised how much information I’ve gathered when it comes to the sexual health issues that are incredibly common, but we don’t like to talk about them.
Hopefully, we can learn new things together, and open up a friendly discussion about how to deal with these topics!
