MEN'S HEALTH NEWS LETTER
INDEX Role of Pharmacists in Men's Health............................... Page 1 by: Darine Al Nabulsi Male Sperm Health & Fertility.......................................... Page 2 by: Nourhane Mubasher Anabolic Steroids............................................................... Page 3 by: Hala Khaldoun Awad What is their therapeutic use............................................ Page 4 by: Nour Rehayem Types of Steroids................................................................ Page 5 by: Mehieddine Hajj Why do people misuse Steroids........................................ Page 6 by: Maria Assadourian How do people use Steroids............................................. Page 7 by: Justine Zghaib Side Effects.......................................................................... Page 8 by: Nour Rehayem - Justine Zghaib - Maria Assadourian How to get help................................................................ Page 9 by: Joulana Jalloul
Darine Al Nabulsi +961 81735188 2nd year pharmacy student at Lebanese International University 11930701@students.liu.edu.lb
MEN'S HEALTH Men across most demographic groups are not well knowledgeable about the medical, environmental and psychological factors that are associated with male infertility. That’s why pharmacists as health-care providers should know and study this topic in order to help and provide men with the information, promoting healthy lifestyle, identifying medications that contribute to male infertility, and recommending alternative medications. Pharmacists have a great role in counseling the couple on medications used to treat infertility, because some drugs have side effects on male infertility like testosterone replacement, anabolic steroids, some antibiotics, spironolactone, cimetidine, nifedipine, sulfasalazine, and colchicine. In addition, some patients decide to take non-FDA approved supplements to treat their infertility that might cause harm. As mentioned before, pharmacist should get deeper into such topics and get the most reliable information, since they are the most accessible healthcare for medical advices.
Male Sperm Health & Fertility Name: Nourhan Mubasher E-mail: nourhan.mubasher@hotmail.com Phone number: 70463948 Year of education: 5th year pharmacy student University: BAU
When coming to patients, pharmacists are the first liners to be asked about any health-related issue. Taking responsibility of the trust that we’ve been given, our duty binds us to be have even the slightest idea of any subject of the matter, no matter how the society sees it. Male sperm health and fertility is an important topic to be addressed and generalized, where 20-30% of infertility cases are due to male factors. 1 in 20 men have low sperm count and 1 in 100 has no sperm at all. To help, assist and direct the patients, we need to know!
Types of Steroids Oral Steroids: -Anadrol (oxymetholone) -Anavar (oxandrolone) -Dianabol (methandienone ) -Winstrol (stanozolol) -Restandol (testosterone undecanoate)
Injectable Steroids -Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) -Durabolin (nandrolone phenpropionate) -Depo-Testosterone (testosterone cypionate) -Agovirin (testosterone propionate) -Retandrol (testosterone phenylpropionate) -Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate)
Why Do People Misuse Steroids? Anabolic steroids can be used as performance-enhancing drugs that increase muscle mass and decrease fat, hence some athletes, weightlifters and bodybuilders take them regularly to improve their physical performance and build up their bodies. However, people of all ages have been known to misuse these drugs, including adolescent boys who suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder. This is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others. Boys and men who have body dysmorphic disorder may take anabolic steroids because they don't see themselves as being physically big enough or strong enough. Other people that misuse anabolic steroids believe taking anabolic steroids will help them become “fit and healthy�. That is usually the advice given by gym instructors to the males at the gym which will lead them to use steroids under that misguide. This isn't true: taking anabolic steroids is a Dangerous Drug Habit.
How Do People Use Steroids? Anabolic steroids are usually: -injected into the muscle with the use of hypodermic needles -taken by mouth as tablets -can also come as creams or gels that are applied to the skin. Steroids have an abusive potential and the abusers usually take doses 10 to 100 times higher than the levels prescribed by doctors for medical purposes it is very important to highlight that many people who use anabolic steroids are aware of the dangers of taking them, and believe that by taking the drugs in certain ways they can avoid side effects. Hence, users might: -Take the drugs for a period of time and then stop for a rest period before starting again. This is known as "cycling". -Taking more than 1 type of anabolic steroid at a time, known as "stacking", which they believe makes them work better. -Do a combination of both stacking and cycling known as "pyramiding", where they start off taking a low dose of 1 or more anabolic steroids, and then increase the dose over time up to a maximum dose. They then stop taking them for a rest period to give the body a break before starting the cycle again. But there is no evidence that any of these methods actually reduce side effects from taking anabolic steroids.
Side Effects -Anabolic Steroids effect cause imbalances in the Hormonal System hence can lead to: In men can include: -reduced sperm count -infertility -shrunken testicles (testicular atrophy) -erectile dysfunction -baldness -breast development (gynecomastia) -increased risk of prostate cancer (testosterone will be converted into another male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which stimulates the growth of prostate cells, contributing to benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer) -severe acne -stomach pain In women, anabolic steroids can cause: -facial hair growth and body hair -decrease of breast mass (due to fat loss) -swelling of the clitoris -a deepened voice -an increased sex drive -menstrual cycle problems -scalp hair loss -severe acne -
Side Effects -Cardiovascular System: -high cholesterol (increase the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and decrease the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)) -blood clots -heart attack or stroke -high blood pressure (hypertension) -fluid retention -left ventricular hypertrophy -Hepatic System: -liver damage -tumors -peliosis hepatis (rare case where blood-filled cysts form in the liver, cysts can rupture, causing internal bleeding and even death in rare cases) -Musculoskeletal System: -short stature if taken by adolescents (rising levels of testosterone and other sex hormones normally trigger the growth spurt that occurs during puberty and adolescence. these rising levels of testosterone also provide the signals to stop growth. when a child or adolescent takes anabolic steroids, the resulting artificially high sex hormone levels can prematurely signal the bones to stop growing) -increased risk for tendon injury (weightlifters who misuse anabolic steroids have stiffer tendons)
Side Effects
-Psychological effects Misusing anabolic steroids can also cause the following psychological or emotional effects: -aggressive behaviour -mood swings -paranoia -manic behaviour -hallucinations and delusions -Infections: Result of sharing needles. As anabolic steroids are often injected, there are risks associated with sharing needles. These are the same risks associated with recreational drug use, and include: -damage to veins, leading to ulcers or gangrene -hepatitis B and C infection -HIV transmission -Addiction: Like many other substances, anabolic steroids are addictive. This means you can crave the drug, require more to get the same effect, and have withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking them. A person who is addicted to anabolic teroids will want to keep using them despite experiencing unpleasant physical side effects. When doctors prescribe steroid medication, they always advise coming off the medication slowly by gradually reducing the dose. Coming off anabolic steroids suddenly can result in withdrawal symptoms that include: -depression and apathy -feelings of anxiety and difficulty concentrating -insomnia -anorexia -decreased sex drive -extreme fatigue and headaches -muscle and joint pain
How to Get Help for Anabolic Steroids Addiction You should see your General Physician if you think you're addicted to anabolic steroids. Treatment for an addiction to anabolic steroids will be similar to that of other types of addiction. Your GP may refer you to a specially trained drugs counsellor. They'll discuss your addiction with you, how to safely stop taking steroids, and any obstacles you may face when trying to stop, plus strategies for dealing with those obstacles.