How do steroids lead to “testicular atrophy?”
Ever wondered how anabolic steroids, which mimic the male sex hormone testosterone, can lead to ball shrinkage? Look no further than hormonal feedback systems in your body!
The testicles receive a signal from the brain, in the form of hormones called LH and FSH, that tell them to make testosterone and sperm, as well as grow and develop. If you add a bunch of testosterone (steroids), then these steroids will send a message to your brain saying, “Hey, we’re good here, you don’t need to send more signals to make testosterone.” It’s a negative feedback loop, and over a long period of time this lack of LH and FSH can cause the testicles to just atrophy from lack of activity.
It’s kind of like if you had to walk to work every day to make money, but all of a sudden you win the lottery and never have to leave your couch. You still have just as much money, but your muscles will atrophy from lack of use.
