Use of anabolic steroids and associated health risks among gay men attending London gyms.
OBJECTIVE
To examine, by HIV status, the use of anabolic steroids among London gay men and their effect on physical and mental health.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey using self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
Six gyms in central London.


METHODS
772 gay men using the gyms in January-February 2000.


METHODS
Proportion of gay men who reported (i) using steroids, (ii) sharing injecting equipment, (iii) experiencing side-effects and (iv) having suicidal thoughts or feeling depressed.


RESULTS
Of 772 gay men, 117 (15.2%) had used and 90 (11.7%) had injected steroids in the previous 12 months: HIV positive men (steroid use) 31.7% (40/126), HIV negative men 14.5% (69/477), never-tested for HIV 4.7% (8/169) (p < 0.001). No one reported sharing needles or syringes. HIV positive men were more likely to have used steroids for medical reasons than other men (24.3% versus 5.9%, p=0.01). Nearly all steroid users (96.4%) reported side effects including testicular atrophy (51.0%), insomnia (47.7%), depression between cycles (25.2%) and hypertension (19.0%). Steroid users were more likely to have had suicidal thoughts in the previous 6 months than non-users (22.6% versus 11.2%, adjusted odds ratio after controlling for HIV status 1.84; 95% CI 1.10-3.12, p=0.02) or to have felt depressed (49.1% versus 38.5%, adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.01-2.30, p=0.047)


CONCLUSIONS
One in seven gay men surveyed in central London gyms in 2000 said they had used steroids in the previous 12 months. HIV positive men were more likely to have used steroids than other men, some therapeutically. Side effects were reported widely and steroid use was associated with having had suicidal thoughts and feeling depressed, although cause and effect could not be established. Our findings suggest that steroid use among gay men may have serious consequences for both physical and mental health.
Bolding
Graham
G
Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences and Royal Free Centre for HIV Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK.
Sherr
Lorraine
L
Elford
Jonathan
J
D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D015444:Exercise; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D016015:Logistic Models; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016485:Needle Sharing; D016017:Odds Ratio; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology
D045930:Anabolic Agents