ArticleThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2026
Clinical features of androgen abuse withdrawal in men during the first year of cessation: a community dwelling study.
Article in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Post-cycle therapy after androgen abuse: a narrative review of mechanisms, evidence, and clinical perspectives.Endocrine connections · 2026Article
- Management of non-medical androgen use: a position statement by the Society for Endocrinology.Endocrine connections · 2026Article
- Clinical features of androgen abuse withdrawal in men during the first year of cessation: a community dwelling study.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
contextAndrogen abuse is an increasing public health concern, particularly among young men seeking muscular or image enhancement. Although most achieve biochemical recovery within 12 months of cessation, mood disturbances, sexual dysfunction, and fatigue are widely reported for years afterward.
objectiveTo examine symptom severity the relationship to biochemical recovery during the first year after androgen abuse cessation.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling men grouped as nonusers, current users, or past users who had ceased within the last 12 months. Participants completed questionnaires on androgen and substance use and 4 validated instruments assessing mood (Beck Depression Inventory-II), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), sexual function (International Index of Erectile Function-15), and quality-of-life (36-item Short Form). Morning fasted serum hormonal analysis and screening to exclude undisclosed androgen use were performed.
resultsTwo hundred forty-seven men were included: 50 nonusers, 125 current users, and 72 past users. Self-reported psychiatric diagnoses were 2.5-fold higher among current and past users than nonusers. Total testosterone (TT) was highest in current users (P < .001) with no difference between past and nonusers. Past users reported significantly worse mood, anxiety, sexual function, and quality of life vs nonusers. Multivariable analyses showed psychiatric comorbidity was independently associated with depression (P = .001), anxiety (P < .001), and poorer quality-of-life (P < .05). Older age and higher luteinizing hormone were associated with reduced sexual function (P < .05), while lower testosterone showed only a modest association with depressive symptoms (P = .03).
conclusionAmong men in the first year after stopping androgen abuse, psychological symptoms and reduced quality-of-life were most strongly associated with psychiatric comorbidity than biochemical recovery. These findings challenge the assumption that androgen withdrawal symptoms are predominantly driven by hypogonadism and supports developing psychological and behavioral interventions, rather than pharmacological, to support androgen withdrawal in men.
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