Electronic Supplementary Material Table S1 Studies characteristics

First author (Year of publication) / Country / N / Participants / Age (years) / Gender / Type of AAS / Dose and route of
AAS use / Duration of AAS use / Type of exercise / Follow-up
Cohort study
Al-Janabi (2011) [45] / Iraq / 24 / 16 subjects taking AAS during their bodybuilding program to increase their muscle mass and physical appearance.
8 subjects who exercised only without AAS use. / Total: 15-28a
Users: 21±1.6b
Nonusers: 21.2±0.8b / Males / MD, ND, TE / 1) Oralc: MD=5 mg, 2) IMc: ND=(25 mg, 50 mg or 25/50 mg), TE=250 mg / NA / Bodybuilding / 12 weeks
Garevik (2011) [41] / Sweden / 35 / A few subjects were referred from colleagues working in emergency medicine, but most were asked to participate when contacting the Anti-Doping Hot-Line, a free telephone counseling service for individuals affected by or people concerned with abuse of AAS. / Total: 26.4±7.2b / Males / TS, ND, ST / IM / NA / Working out at gym facilities / 12 months
Bonetti (2008) [37] / Italy / 20 / Bodybuilders who voluntarily intended to start the self-administration of AAS to increase their muscle mass. / Total: 26.6±6.0b / Males / NAN, NAL, NAND, NALD, AL, AN, DHEAS, MT, MD, OX, ML, NL, ST, TS / 1) Oral (mg)c: NAL=2800, NAND=2800, AL=6350, AN=6900, DHEAS=4095, MST=2465, MD=150, NAN=6350, OX=850, TS=3671, 2) IM (mg)c: ML=1040, NL=1119, ST=1039, TS=3227 / 24 months / Bodybuilding / 24 months
Karila (2004) [39] / Finland / 18 / Power athletes who responded to an advertisement on the bulletin boards of various fitness clubs.
9 minor users; total cumulative dose at or below the median (12,785 mg).
9 major users; total cumulative dose above the median (12,785 mg). / Total: 24-42a / Males / MD, MS, OY, ST, MT, OX, FM, MAN, TU, TES, NL, ML, TR, BU, TS / 1) Oral AAS dose (MD, MS, OY, ST, MT, OX, FM, MAN, TU)c: 6648 mg, 2) IM AAS dose (TES, NL, ML, ST, TR, BU)c: 4655 mg, 3) TS IMc: 6143 mg, 4) Total cumulative AAS dosec: 15278 mg, 5) "Daily AAS dose"c: 97 mg/day / NA / Power athletes / 6 monthsd
Alen (1987) [36] / Finland / 15 / 7 competitive power athletes who had previous experience in the use of AAS in their strength training.
8 men who were training with weights without any competitive purposes, served as control subjects. / Users: 29 (24-34)e
Nonusers: 31 (23-34)e / Males / ST, NL, MD, TS / A) 1) 4 weeks (mg/day)b: ST=7.43+17.8, NL=8.16+13.1, MD=13.6+17.8, TS=18.9+24.9, 2) 8 weeks (mg/day)b: ST= 5.65+10.6, NL=10.1+17.9, MD=20.2+26.5, TS=21.2+27.4, 3) 12 weeks (mg/day)b: ST=7.62+17.5, NL=8.35+12.5, MD=19.7+26.0, TS=14.6+23.1,
B) 1) STc: 50 mg/injection, 1 time/week, IM, 2) NLc: 50 mg/injection, 1 time/week, IM, 3) MD: oral, daily, 4) TSc: 250 mg/injection, 1-2 times/month, consists of 30 mg TP/60 mg TPP/60 mg TI/100 mg TD, IM / 12 weeks / Power athletes / 25 weeks
Martikainen (1986) [46] / Finland / 6 / Power athletes self-administering testosterone and AAS, volunteered for this study. / Total: 30 (24-34)e / Males / TS, MD, ND, ST / 1) 4 weeks (mg/day)f; TS: 19+3.7, MD: 13.6+2.1, ND: 8.26+2.34, ST: 10.3+8, 2) 8 weeks (mg/day)f; TS: 21.3+2.7, MD: 20.3+2.7, ND: 10.2+3.3, ST: 6.67+2.96, 3) 12 weeks (mg/day)f; TS: 14.9+3.8, MD: 19.7+3.3, ND: 8.51+1.99, ST: 8.84+5.06 / 3 months / Power athletes / 15 weeks
Alen (1985) [35] / Finland / 11 / The study group consisted of 5 athletes (3 bodybuilders, 1 powerlifter and 1 wrestler) who were experienced in the use of AAS.
The control group consisted of 6 athletes (3 powerlifters and 3 bodybuilders) who had decided not to take any AAS during the training and the follow-up period. / Users: 27.0±5.5b
Nonusers: 25.7±5.0b / Males / MD, ST, NL, TS / 1) MDc: slightly increasing doses from an initial daily dose of 0.16 mgxkg-1 to the highest dose of 0.23 mgxkg-1, 2) STc: 50 mg/injection, usually weekly but the frequency of injections increased progressively, initial dose=0.06 mgxkg-1xd-1, highest dose=0.135 mgxkg-1xd-1, 3) NLc: 50 mg/injection, usually weekly but the frequency of injections increased progressively, initial dose=0.03 mgxkg-1xd-1, highest dose=0.07 mgxkg-1xd-1, 4) TSc: 250 mg/injection, initially 2 times/month but at the end of the study 4 times/month, consists of 30 mg TP/60 mg TPP/60 mg TI/100 mg TD / 26 weeks / Bodybuilding, powerlifting, wrestling / 42 weeks
Ruokonen (1985) [44] / Finland / 9 / 4 power athletes who had previous experience in the use of AAS in their training.
5 athletes who did not administer any drugs during training. / NR / Males / MD, NL, ST, TS / 1) MDc: increased daily doses, oral, 2) NLc: 50 mg/injection, 1 time/week, IM, 3) STc: 50 mg/injection, 1 time/week, IM, 4) STc: 250 mg/injection, initially 1 time/month but at the end of the study 4-8 times/month, consists of 30 mg TP/60 mg TPP/60 mg TI/100 mg TU, IM / 26 weeks / Power athletes / 42 weeks
Alen (1984) [47] / Finland / 14 / 7 men who had not taken AAS during the last 8-15 weeks, volunteered as experimental subjects (study group). All of them had decided to take AAS during the next 6 months in combination with heavy resistance strength training.
In the control group, 4 athletes had never taken AAS and 3 others had used AAS earlier, but not during the last 10 weeks preceding the start of the study. These subjects agreed not to take AAS during the study period. / Users: 26±4.8b
Nonusers: 24±3.6b / Males / MD, NL, ST, ML, TS / 1) Oral (mg/day)b: MD=17±8.4, 2) IM (mg/day)b: NL=4±3.8, ST=7±7.3, ML=0.6±1.1, TS=21±12.1, 3) Total (mg/day)b: 50±23.8 / 6 months / Power athletes; bodybuilding (7 subjects), powerlifting (4 subjects), wrestling (3 subjects) / 12 months
Schurmeyer (1984) [34] / Germany / 5 / Men who were active in sports and aware that they were receiving an anabolic steroid, undertook heavy physical training during the treatment phase. / Total: 21-25a / Males / NTH / 1) First 3 weeksc: 100 mg/week, IM, 2) Further 10 weeksc: 200 mg/week, IM / 13 weeks / All subjects were active in sports and undertook heavy physical training during the treatment phase / Up to 37 weeks
Holma (1976)g[24] / Finland / 16 / Well-trained athletes volunteered for the study. All the subjects continued their regular effective training program as they had done for six to seven times a week at least three years before the study. After the baseline measurements of semen specimen, the subjects were prescribed methandienone which was then used regularly during two months. / Total: 30 (19-48)e / Males / MD / 15 mg/dayc, oral / 2 months / Well-trained athletes / 5 months
Cross-sectional study
Börjesson (2016) [30] / Sweden / 8 / Eight women were recruited to the study between 1998 and 2004 via the Anti-Doping Hot-Line at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, a free telephone counseling service for individuals affected by or concerned with use of doping agents; 5 AAS users. / 23.0±5.7 (16-31)h / Females / ST, ME, NL / NR / NA / Seven subjects were involved in bodybuilding and/or strength training and 4 of them were competing in body-building.
The 8th subject was the only woman that did not report any involvement in strength training but had interest in sport activities including handball. / NA
Kanayama (2015) [53] / USA / 55 / 19 weightlifters who reported at least 2 years of cumulative life-time AAS use and who had discontinued use of supraphysiological doses of AAS at least 3 months before the time of medical evaluation.
36 weightlifters reporting no life-time AAS exposure. / Former users: 42.7±3.8b
Nonusers: 42.9±5.8b / Males / NR / 353,000±300,000b
(cumulative life-time AAS dose) / NA / Weight lifting / NA
Razavi(2014) [56] / Iran / 250 / Participants were recruited from 5 gym clubs in 2 areas of Hamadan, Western Province of Iran; Users: 28.8% (72/250), Nonusers: 71.2% (178/250) / Total: 25.52 (15-45)e
15-20 years: 23.6% (17) of AAS users
20-25 years: 30.6% (22)
25-30 years: 26.4% (19)
30-40 years: 13.9% (10)
>40 years: 5.6% (4) / Males / TS, NL, OY, O / Oral AAS: 18.1%
Injectable AAS: 63.8%
Combination methods: 18.1% / NA / Bodybuilding / NA
Coward (2013) [51] / USA / 80 / An initial retrospective database analysis of all 6,033 patients who sought treatment for hypogonadism from 2005 to 2010 at an academic based urology practice was performed. An anonymous survey was subsequently distributed in 2012 to 382 men who were currently being treated for hypogonadism. This identified 80 patients who had prior AAS exposure. / Total: 40.4±8.4b / Males / ND, ST, MD, TR, OX, OY, DP, BU, ME / NR / NA / NR / NA
Ip (2010) [32] / USA / 748 / A Web-based survey was posted on 38 discussion boards of various fitness, bodybuilding, weightlifting and steroid Web sites; 518 AAS users (current or previous AAS users), 230 non-AAS users. / Male users: 29.3±9.1 (16-73)h
Female users: 32.3±11.7 (16-55)h / Males (506 AAS users)
Females (12 AAS users, 230 non-AAS users) / OX, NL, BO, ST, MD, TP, TE / Injectable AAS
Male AAS users: 90.9% (457/503)
Female AAS users: 58.3% (7/12)
Weekly AAS dose
Male AAS users: 1,188.2±1,077.1 (6.0-12,600.0)h
Female AAS users:151.3±104.0 (35.0-367.5)h / NA / Strength-trained exercise
Male users
Recreational exerciser: 70.4% (356/506)
Competitive bodybuilder: 12.1% (61/506)
Competitive weightlifter: 8.3% (42/506)
Competitive athlete: 9.3% (47/506)
Female users
Recreational exerciser: 33.3% (4/12)
Competitive bodybuilder: 41.7% (5/12)
Competitive weightlifter: 25% (3/12)
Competitive athlete: 0% (0/12) / NA
Taher (2008) [40] / Iraq / 30 / 15 bodybuilders were recruited at local gyms in Baghdad city. Bodybuilders were interviewed concerning their health (current diseases and family diseases), consumption of high protein diet, regular exercise, lifetime steroid abuse, pattern of use and whether other supplements and drugs being used. AAS abusers were selected if they were currently using AAS.
A control group of 15 sedentary males were recruited from the community and historically had not ever used AAS. / Users: 23.27±3.73 (19-32)h
Nonusers: 22.1±3.65b / Males / MD, ML, OY, ND, TP, TB / 1) Oral (mg/kg)c: MD=191, ML=20, OY=150, 2) IM (mg/kg)c: ND=92, TP=50, SN=250 / NA / Bodybuilding / NA
Perry (2005) [52] / USA / 207 / Participants were surveyed using a Web-based application. Potential participants were able to find the address for the survey page through links or postings on various bodybuilding and fitness web pages. / Total: 27.2±7.2
(16-51)h / Males / ND, TB, BO, ST, TR, TS, TC, TE, TP, MD, OX / 1) Oral (mg/day)b: MD=39.8 (12.3), OX=26.9 (12.0), ST=53.4 (23.7), 2) Injectable (mg/week)b: ND=423.3 (195.4), TC=583.0 (301.1), TB=516.0 (323.9), TE=564.0 (211.9), TP=155.8 (54.6) mg every other day, 3) Veterinary injectable agents: BO=507.3 (300.8) mg/weekb, TR=117.1 (48.7) mg every other dayb / NA / Competitive bodybuilding (19 users), competitive weightlifting (16), noncompetitive bodybuilding or weightlifting (174), football (15), hockey (5), wresting , (4), rugby (3), basketball (2), boxing (2), beach volleyball (1), fighting (1), softball (1), military (1), all sports (1), kickboxing (1), firefighter (1), track (1) / NA
Urhausen (2003) [38] / Germany / 31 / 14 athletes who had stopped their self-administered AAS abuse at least 1 year ago.
17 athletes who were current AAS abusers. / Ex-users: 38.0±7.0b
Current users: 30.5±5.0b / Males / DMT, FM, MS, ML, MD, OX, OY, ST, BO, DS, FB, NL, ETT / 1) Ex-users: 720 mg/week for 26 weeks per year over 9 yearsc, 2) Current users: 1030 mg/week for 33 weeks per year over 8 yearsc, 750 mgi / NA / Bodybuilding, powerlifting / NA
Torres-Calleja (2001) [43] / Mexico / 30 / Initial contact with the bodybuilders was established by one of the authors (JTC) who serves as a family practitioner to several of them. They approached him for having undesirable side effects due to the use of steroids.
15 bodybuilders who in addition to exercise, voluntarily took AAS.
15 bodybuilders that only exercised to increase their muscle and mold their bodies. / Users: 26.6±4.1b
Nonusers: 26.0±4.1b / Males / OY, MA, ND, TDP, MS, TE, TP / 1) Oral (mg/week)c: OY=50, MA=128, MS=300, 2) IM (mg/week)c: ND=316.67, TDP=537.5, TE=500, TP=240 / NA / Bodybuilding / ΝΑ
Gruber (2000) [29] / USA / 75 / Athletes were recruited by advertisement primarily from gymnasiums in the Boston, Mass., area.
25 athletes reported current or past AAS use (‘users’).
50 athletes denied AAS use (‘nonusers’). / Users: 31±5.9b
Nonusers: 32.3±7.9b / Females / ST, MA, NL, OX, MS, BO, TES, MD, OY / NR / NA / Athletes who had competed at least once in a bodybuilding or fitness contest or had lifted weights in the gym at least 5 days per week for at least 2 years / NA
Evans (1997) [50] / UK / 100 / AAS users attending weight training gymnasia were surveyed using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. / 16-19 years: 10% of steroid users, 20-24 years: 27%, 25-29 years: 36%, 30-34 years: 14%, 35-39 years: 10%, ≥40 years: 3% / Males / ND, ST, MD, ML, TR, OX, OY, DS, BO, TC, TP, TB, TH, TE, TU / 1) Weekly dose <500 mgc: 50%, 2) Weekly dose 500-1000 mgc: 38%, 3) Weekly dose >1000 mgc: 12%, 4) Minimum weekly dosec: 250 mg, 5) Maximum weekly dosec: 3200 mg / NA / Weight training / NA
Korkia (1997) [33] / UK / 1,669 / Twenty-one gymnasia in England, Scotland and Wales were surveyed by questionnaire; 127 ever users, 83 current users.
The study also investigated patterns of AAS use and perceived side effects in a group of AAS users (110 subjects) who were recruited through social networks. / Total (1,659 subjects)
Males (1,310 subjects): 29.1±9.1b
Females (349 subjects): 27.1±7.4b
Users (110 subjects)
Males (97 subjects): 27.3±7.3 (17-56)h
Females (13 subjects): 25.3±5.3 (18-35)h / Males (1,310 subjects)
Females (349 subjects) / OX, ST, MD, TES, ND / Female users, 13 subjects (mg/week)h
OX (7 subjects)
Low dose: 28±18 (18-70)
High dose: 80±13 (70-105)
ST (4 subjects)
Low dose: 42±20.5 (14-70)
High dose: 95±65 (14-175)
MD (5 subjects)
Low dose: 80±65 (14-175)
High dose: 143±33 (84-175)
Male users, 97 subjects (mg/week)h
TES (52 subjects)
Low dose: 121±158 (12-750)
High dose: 267±192 (24-1200)
ND (51 subjects)
Low dose: 319±171 (40-800)
High dose: 353±177 (40-800)
MD (51 subjects)
Low dose: 356±211 (20-1000)
High dose: 385±242 (20-1000)
Oral AAS:19%
Injectable AAS: 9%
Oral and injectable AAS: 63%
Sublingual AAS: 9% / NA / Subjects attending gymnasia
Users (110 subjects)
Recreational bodybuilding: 57.3%
Competitive bodybuilding: 28.2%
Other competitive sport: 10.0%
Other recreational sport: 4.5% / NA
Pope (1994) [49] / USA / 156 / The authors advertised in 4 gymnasiums in the Boston, Mass, area and in 3 gymnasiums in the Santa Monica, Calif, area to recruit male subjects aged 16 years or older who had lifted weights for at least 2 years.
88 athletes were AAS users (37 current users, 51 past users).
68 athletes were non AAS users. / Users: 25.5±7.0b
Nonusers: 28.3±10.0b / Males / TS, NL, OY, ST, ML, BO, OX, MD, MS, MT, O / 1) Low dose (<300mg/week)c: 12/88 (14%), 2) Medium dose (300-1000 mg/week)c: 51/88 (58%), 3) High dose (>1000 mg/week)c: 25/88 (28%) / NA / Weight lifting / NA
Malarkey (1991) [31] / USA / 16 / 9 female weight lifters using AAS
7 female weight lifters not using AAS / Users: 31.7±2f
Nonusers: 25±2f / Females / MD, ST, ND, OX, TES, MI, MA, TRA, TR / Oral AAS: 1.3±0.2f
Injectable AAS: 1.6±0.3f / NA / Weight lifting / NA
Knuth (1989) [42] / Germany / 82 / 41 athletes from bodybuilding studios for whom history of AAS administration was recorded retrospectively; 19 athletes still taking AAS, 11 athletes with a drug-free interval of <3 months, 11 athletes with a drug-free interval of >4 months.
41 normal, volunteers not using AAS or other drugs / Users: 26.7±0.7b
Nonusers: 25.9±0.5b / Males / TES, NTE, MD, ML, ST, TR, BO, OX, CL, MS, OY / 1) Maximal dose/month (mg)c: TES=10550, NTE=3000, MD=4500, ML=7500, ST=3000, TR=1800, BO=1500, OX=2075, CL=640, MS=1200, OY=3000, 2) Dose/month (mg)f: TES=1226±125, NTE=554±68, MD=690±82, ML=1098±180, ST=937±109, TR=563±103, BO=864±195, OX=759±255, CL=376±97, MS=880±125, OY=1225±522 / NA / Bodybuilding / NA
Yesalis (1988) [55] / USA / 45 / 15 athletes who competed in the 1987 National Championship of the US Powerlifting Federation (USPF) and who had used anabolic steroids
30 athletes who competed in the 1987 National Championship of the USPF and who had not used anabolic steroids / Total: 27 (20-39)e / Males / MD, OX, OY, ST, ML, MS, FM, NE, MT, TES, NDE, TR, TA, BU, FB / Oral AAS
MD: 14/15 (93%), OX: 12/15 (80%), OY: 6/15 (40%), ST: 8/15 (40%), ML: 3/15 (20%), MS: 2/15 (13%), FM: 1/15 (7%), NE: 1/15 (7%), MT: 1/15 (7%)
Injectable AAS
TES: 12/15 (80%), NDE: 8/15 (53%), ST: 6/15 (53%), TR: 7/15 (47%), TA: 5/15 (33%), BU: 4/15 (27%), ML: 4/15 (27%), FB: 1/15 (7%) / NA / Powerlifting; competitors at the 1987 National Championship of the USPF / NA
Strauss (1985) [28] / USA / 10 / Athletes who consistently used AAS were interviewed about their patterns of drug use and the perceived effects. / Total: 33.0±7.8b / Females / MS, MD, MA, MT, OX, ST, BU, ME, ND, SA, TC, MTE / 1) Least amount of AASc: OX, 7 week cycle, 7.5-10 mg/day, oral,
2) Heaviest user (10 week cycle)c: i) ST, 12 mg/day, oral, ii) OX, 10 mg/day, oral, iii) MS, 50 mg/day, oral, iv) ST, 50 mg/2 days, IM, v) ML, 30 mg/2 days, IM / NA / Weight training / NA
Strauss (1983) [54] / USA / 39 / Participants were recruited through several popular gyms by offering free health appraisals and assuring confidentiality; 20 current users, 12 nonusers, 7 never users / Current users: 27.5±7.5b
Nonusers: 30.4±10.4b
Never users: 28.4±6.0b / Males / MD, OX, ST, ET, OY, MT, ND, TC, TE, ME, NP, TRB, TN, HM, THR / Oral AAS
MD: 26 users, OX: 19, ST: 5, ET: 5, OY: 5, MT: 1
Injectable AAS
ND: 24 users, TC: 14, TE: 8, ME: 7, NP: 6, TRB: 2, TN: 1, HM: 1, THR: 1
Maximum dose (Current users)
Oral AAS: 173±45 mg/weekb
Injectable AAS: 202±34 mg/weekb
Total AAS: 375±57 mg/weekb / NA / Bodybuilding, powerlifting / NA
RCT
Remes (1977) [26] / Finland / 12 / The 12 runners were randomly divided into two experimental groups; one group began with methandienone treatment, the other with DHEAS treatment. Placebo treatment was included in both of these treatment regimens. After completing one treatment regimen, the groups changed to the other drug. The five orienteerers only took part in the DHEAS experiment. / Total: 20-28a / Males / MD, DHEAS / MD experiment
1st phase (n=12)
- MD, oral, 5 mg/day, 1 month
- Placebo, 3 months
2nd phase (n=7)
- MD, oral, 10 mg/day, 1 month
- Placebo, 3 months
DHEAS experiment
1st phase
Runners (n=11)
- DHEAS, oral, 20 mg/day, 2 months
- Placebo, 3 months
Orienteerers (n=5)
- DHEAS, oral, 20 mg/day, 3-4 months
- Placebo, 3-4 months
2nd phase
Runners (n=8)
- DHEAS, oral, 40 mg/day, 1 month
- Placebo, 2 months / MD experiment
2 months
DHEAS experiment
Runners: 3 months
Orienteerers: 3-4 months / Long-distance runners or cross-country orienteerers / MD experiment
8 months
DHEAS experiment
Runners: 9 months
Orienteerers: 7 months
Hervey (1976) [27] / UK / 11 / Participants were volunteers, studying physical education in a teacher training course. They embarked on a standardized progamme of weight-training and trained for 2 weeks without medication. Then half of them began taking methandienone and the others took an indistinguishable placebo. After 6 weeks all subjects stopped training and medication for 5 weeks, then trained for 1 week without medication and then undertook 6 more weeks of training and medication with the treatments crossed-over. / Total: 19-25a / Males / MD / 100 mg/dayc / 12 weeks / Weight training / 20 weeks
Aakvaag (1974) [23] / Norway / 21 / 10 subjects who received mesterolone
11 subjects who received placebo / Total: 21-27a / Males / MS / 1) First 4 weeksc: 75 mg/day,
2) Last 4 weeksc: 150 mg/day / 8 weeks / NR / 8 weeks
Non-randomized parallel clinical trial
Johnson (1972) [48] / USA / 31 / 31 subjects were trained with weights for 7 weeks
At the end of the 4th week, 24 subjects were randomly placed in the treatment-placebo group (1:1) which took 2 capsules daily from 24 numbered bottles for 21 days.
The remaining subjects formed the control group. / Total: 18-38a / Males / MD / 5 mg/dayc, oral / 21 days / Weight training / 7 weeks

Abbreviations

RCT: randomized controlled trial, AAS: anabolic androgenic steroids, N: total number of participants, NA: not applicable, NR: not reported, IM: intramuscular, SD: standard deviation, SEM: standard error of mean,AL: androstenediol, AN: androstenedione, BO: boldenone, BU: boldenoneundecylenate, CL: clostebol, DHEAS: dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, DMT: 4-dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, DP: drostanolone propionate, DS: drostanolone, ET: ethylestrenol, ETT: different esters of testosterone and trenbolone, FB: formebolone, FM: fluoxymesterone, HM: Hexoxymestrolum, MA: methenolone acetate, MAN: methylandrostenedione, MD: methandienone/methandrostenolone, ME: methenoloneenanthate, MI: mibolerone, ML: methenolone, MS: mesterolone, MT: methyltestosterone, MTE: mixture of testosterone esters, NAL: norandrostenediol, NALD: 19-nor-4-androstenediol, NAN: norandrostenedione, NAND: 19-nor-4-androstenedione, ND: nandrolonedecanoate, NDE: nandrolone esters, NE: norethandrolone, NL: nandrolone, NP: nandrolonephenpropionate, NTE: 19-nortestosterone esters, NTH: 19-nortestosterone-hexoxyphenyl propionate, O: other, OX: oxandrolone, OY: oxymetholone, SA: stenbolone acetate, ST: stanozolol, TA: testosterone aqueous, TB: testosterone blend, TC: testosterone cypionate, TDP: testosterone decanoate and propionate, TE: testosterone enanthate, TES: testosterone esters, TH: testosterone heptylate, THR: Therobolin, TN: Testosterone nicotinate, TP: testosterone propionate, TR: trenbolone, TRA: trenbolone acetate, TRB: Trophobolene, TS: testosterone, TU: testosterone undecanoate.

Footnotes

aValues are expressed as minimum-maximum.

bValues are expressed as mean±SD.

cValues are expressed as mean.

dFollow-up is 6 months for hormone and semen analysis, and 6 years for fertility assessment (number of children conceived and successful pregnancies).

eValues are expressed as mean (minimum-maximum).

fValues are expressed as mean±SEM.

gData of the studies Holma and Adlercreutz [24] and Holma [25], were combined because they referred to overlapping populations and they assessed different outcomes.

hValues are expressed as mean±SD (minimum-maximum).

iValues are expressed as median.