Hormonal and Psychological Side Effect of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids among Iraqi People

Anabolic steroids, also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) or performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), are the endogenously or exogenously synthesized derivatives of the male sex hormones (andro-gens), particularly testosterone, that enhance the anabolic effects of androgens and decrease or eliminate the androgenic effects. Some examples of exogenous anabolic steroids are nandrolone, oxandrolone, and tren-bolone and endogenous anabolic steroids are testosterone, androstenediol, androstenedione, and dehydroe-piandrosterone The aim was to identify the prevalence of AAS use among gym attendees in Iraq as well as to identify the related side effects associated with high prevalence. The study starting from 1/11/2021 until the end of April 2022, in AL-Zahrawi University College, include a direct manual questionnaire assay (not use any social media program for the questionnaire) the study depended on describing and answers of participants to questions and we select 150 participants who go to the gym and take anabolic hormones from different prov-inces of central Iraq (Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Al-Najaf, and Diwaniya). The study focuses on the effect of anabolic misuse (most commonly types used in Iraqi gyms) in the male of the Iraqi center and its possible side effects (hormonal, psychological, and others). Our results showed a significant difference between exercise types participants (71.3 %) of them were prefer competitive bodybuilders and 90% of participants played one type of exercise. However, we found a significant difference between the purpose of using anabolic agents, half of them used it to improve physical appearance and about one-third to Increase muscle mass. Also, there is a significant difference between participants depending on: social status (36 %) of them were single while most of them were (64%) were married; age (56%) of them between 21-30 years old as compared with other ages, period of having child Before use (38.7%) while those had children after and at both periods were (3.3%) and (18%) respectively. In conclusion, androgenic steroid agent use in athletes has been linked to hormonal and psychological disorders, as well as reckless behavior, in some predisposed individuals who are more suscepti-ble to developing psychopathology (aggressiveness, mood destabilization, eating behavior abnormalities, and psychosis) as a result of Androgenic steroid abuse/dependence. For anabolic usage prevention, education and awareness are critical strategies. Information activities against androgenic steroid misuse and other testing representatives should be promoted in high schools as long as anabolic steroid usage is prevalent among young athletes. In this respect, public health professionals in all circumstances are important in avoiding the use of androgenic steroids.