Table 2.
Side effects from AAS use
| Whole sample (n = 90) | Treatment group (n = 41) | Non-treatment group (n = 49) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-reported AAS-related psychological side effects | n | % | n | % | n | % | χ2 | p-value | ||
| Fatigue | 43 | 47.8 | 26 | 63.4 | 17 | 34.7 | 7.38 | 0.007* | ||
| Sleep disorder | 59 | 33.3 | 30 | 73.2 | 29 | 50.8 | 1.934 | 0.164 | ||
| Depression | 33 | 36.7 | 20 | 48.8 | 13 | 26.5 | 4.759 | 0.029* | ||
| Mood swings | 61 | 67.8 | 29 | 70.7 | 32 | 65.3 | 0.301 | 0.583 | ||
| Anxiety | 29 | 32.2 | 18 | 43.9 | 11 | 22.4 | 4.704 | 0.030* | ||
| Paranoia | 13 | 14.4 | 9 | 22.0 | 4 | 8.2 | 3.434 | 0.077 | ||
| Irritability | 54 | 60.0 | 23 | 56.1 | 31 | 63.3 | 0.478 | 0.489 | ||
| Short fuse | 55 | 61.1 | 25 | 61.0 | 30 | 61.2 | 0.001 | 0.981 | ||
| Aggression | 38 | 42.2 | 18 | 43.9 | 20 | 40.8 | 0.087 | 0.768 | ||
| Jealousy | 60 | 66.7 | 24 | 58.5 | 36 | 73.5 | 2.234 | 0.134 | ||
| Increased impulsivity | 38 | 42.2 | 15 | 36.6 | 23 | 46.9 | 0.981 | 0.322 | ||
| Reduced empathy | 34 | 37.8 | 15 | 36.6 | 19 | 38.8 | 0.046 | 0.831 | ||
| Reduced memory | 58 | 64.4 | 24 | 58.5 | 34 | 69.4 | 1.147 | 0.284 | ||
| Reduced concentration | 32 | 35.6 | 18 | 43.9 | 14 | 28.6 | 2.29 | 0.130 | ||
| Self-reported AAS-related physical side effects | n | % | n | % | n | % | χ2 | p-value | ||
| Stretch marks | 46 | 51.1 | 23 | 56.1 | 23 | 46.9 | 0.749 | 0.387 | ||
| Acne | 59 | 63.3 | 27 | 65.9 | 32 | 65.3 | 0.003 | 0.957 | ||
| Excessive sweating | 61 | 67.8 | 33 | 80.5 | 28 | 57.1 | 5.57 | 0.018* | ||
| Oedema | 63 | 70.0 | 29 | 70.7 | 34 | 69.4 | 0.019 | 0.890 | ||
| Hair growth | 46 | 51.1 | 25 | 61.0 | 21 | 42.9 | 2.933 | 0.087 | ||
| Hair loss | 29 | 32.2 | 10 | 24.4 | 19 | 38.8 | 2.115 | 0.146 | ||
| Ruptured muscles or tendons | 24 | 26.6 | 12 | 29.3 | 12 | 24.5 | 0.261 | 0.610 | ||
| Injection site pain | 72 | 80.0 | 34 | 82.9 | 38 | 77.6 | 0.403 | 0.525 | ||
| Abscess | 23 | 25.6 | 12 | 29.3 | 11 | 22.4 | 0.546 | 0.460 | ||
| Gynecomastia | 32 | 35.6 | 20 | 48.8 | 12 | 24.5 | 5.748 | 0.017* | ||
| Reduced libido | 30 | 33.3 | 16 | 39.0 | 14 | 28.6 | 1.098 | 0.295 | ||
| Sexual dysfunction | 25 | 27.8 | 14 | 34.1 | 11 | 22.4 | 1.523 | 0.217 | ||
| Testicular atrophy | 63 | 70.0 | 31 | 75.6 | 32 | 65.3 | 1.129 | 0.288 | ||
Data are presented as numbers (n) and percentages (%). *Significant difference between the groups (p ≤ 0.05). Fischer’s exact test was used when the expected number were based upon less than five cases.