Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39022178›Full record

ArticleMethodsX2024

Off-label use of clomiphene citrate to treat anabolic androgenic steroid induced hypogonadism upon cessation among men (CloTASH) - A pilot study protocol.

Ingrid Amalia Havnes, Hans Christian Bordado Henriksen, Per Wiik Johansen, Astrid Bjørnebekk, Sudan Prasad Neupane, Jonny Hisdal, Ingebjørg Seljeflot, Christine Wisløff, Marie Lindvik Jørstad, Jim McVeigh and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in MethodsX, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Health consequences of anabolic steroids: a sexual-medicine perspective.International journal of impotence research · 2026
    Review
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  3. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Ingrid Amalia HavnesDivision of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, PO box 4959 Nydalen, Oslo 0424, Norway.
Hans Christian Bordado HenriksenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, PO box 1171 Blindern, Oslo 0318, Norway.
Per Wiik JohansenNational Advisory Unit on Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, PO box 4959 Nydalen, Oslo 0424, Norway.
Astrid BjørnebekkAnabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, PO box 4959 Nydalen, Oslo 0424, Norway.
Sudan Prasad NeupaneNational Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Sognsvannsveien 21, Building 12, Oslo 0372, Norway.
Jonny HisdalInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, PO box 1171 Blindern, Oslo 0318, Norway.
Ingebjørg SeljeflotInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, PO box 1171 Blindern, Oslo 0318, Norway.
Christine WisløffNational Advisory Unit on Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, PO box 4959 Nydalen, Oslo 0424, Norway.
Marie Lindvik JørstadNational Advisory Unit on Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, PO box 4959 Nydalen, Oslo 0424, Norway.
Jim McVeighSubstance Use and Associated Behaviours Group, Manchester Metropolitan University, Geoffrey Manton Building, 4 Rosamond Street West, Manchester M15 6LL, United Kingdom.
Anders Palmstrøm JørgensenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, PO box 1171 Blindern, Oslo 0318, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Non-prescribed anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use is associated with AAS-induced hypogonadism (ASIH), and metabolic, cardiovascular, and mental health risks. Symptoms of ASIH (fatigue, depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction) are hard to endure following cessation, but there is no consensus on whether endocrine treatment should be used to treat ASIH. This proof-of-concept study aims to explore safety of off-label clomiphene citrate therapy, whether the treatment will reduce the symptoms of androgen deficiency, and to study changes in health risks after cessation. Methods: In this open-labeled non-randomized off-label hormone intervention pilot study, we shall include males with AAS dependence intending to cease use. The 16-week intervention included clomiphene citrate, transdermal testosterone gel for the first four weeks and optional human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from week 4 if low treatment response. Measures of physical and mental health will be examined from ongoing AAS use, during the intervention, and at 6- and 12 months post cessation. Change in self-reported symptoms of hypogonadism and other withdrawal symptoms will be compared with data from a group of men who ended AAS use temporarily without the medical intervention. The study may provide valuable clinical insights and may be used to inform the design of future intervention studies.

Indexed as

Anabolic androgenic steroidsClomiphene citrateHuman chorionic gonadotropinHypogonadismIntervention studyPerformance and image enhancing drugsPilot studyPost cycle therapyProof-of-concept off-label hormone interventionProof-of-concept studyTestosterone

Identifiers

PMID39022178
PMCPMC11253696

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.