Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Hospital.
Department of Urology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2023 Dec 1;30(6):285-290. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000834. Epub 2023 Sep 6.
Androgens (also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids; AAS) are increasingly being abused worldwide to enhance body physique or athletic performance. Qualitative studies including interviews provide a wider understanding of androgen abuse and focus specific support needs to this group. This narrative review summarizes recent studies (2021-2023) using interviews with individuals abusing androgens.
Motivations for androgen abuse in men include desires to achieve certain physicality, enhance self-confidence and improve libido. The risks of androgen abuse are justified to achieve these outcomes and men may use other illicit substances as postcycle-therapy to lessen the risks. Some adverse effects may be more pronounced with certain substances. The therapeutic relationship with healthcare professionals is often described negatively by androgen abusers due to stigma and a perceived lack of knowledge. Both healthcare professionals and androgen abusers agree that development of guidelines are needed. Androgen abuse in women is rare however body dissatisfaction and desires for improve appearance and strength are motivators.
Recent qualitative studies have helped further our understanding of men and women who abuse androgens, however the small number of recently published studies confirms there is still a paucity of evidence in the literature. Further research is needed to develop specific harm minimization strategies in those abusing androgens.
目的综述：雄激素（也称为合成代谢雄激素类固醇；AAS）在全球范围内被越来越多地滥用，以增强身体形态或运动表现。包括访谈在内的定性研究提供了对雄激素滥用的更广泛理解，并关注到该群体的具体支持需求。本叙述性综述总结了最近（2021-2023 年）使用与滥用雄激素者访谈的研究。
最新发现：男性滥用雄激素的动机包括渴望达到特定的身体形态、增强自信和改善性欲。为了实现这些目标，滥用雄激素的风险是合理的，而且男性可能会在使用其他非法物质作为循环后治疗来降低风险。某些不良影响可能在某些物质中更为明显。由于污名化和缺乏知识，雄激素滥用者通常对与医疗保健专业人员的治疗关系评价较低。医疗保健专业人员和雄激素滥用者都同意需要制定指南。女性滥用雄激素很少见，但对改善外观和力量的身体不满和渴望是其动机。
总结：最近的定性研究帮助我们进一步了解了滥用雄激素的男性和女性，但最近发表的研究数量较少，这表明文献中仍然缺乏证据。需要进一步研究，以制定针对雄激素滥用者的具体减少伤害策略。
