600,000 men are using unregulated steroids that can harm fertility

Brett Cole, his wife, and their daughter Poppy A new study has found that around 600,000 men in the UK are using steroids that are damaging their fertility. Both prescribed steroids and those bought on the black market are being linked to a fall in sperm counts among men. The problem is being made worse by the rise of unregulated steroids, with private clinics able to prescribe them freely for “fatigue” and many users also obtaining them through their local gyms.

A survey by the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health and Examen found that about a third of users are unaware of the effects the drugs can have on fertility. Brett Cole, from Chatham, Kent, was told in 2019 that he had a zero sperm count after he and his wife Ali had spent years trying to have a baby. The 43-year-old was informed that his regular steroid use, which he got from his martial arts gym, had affected his fertility.

He said: “I felt entirely responsible. When you know your poor choices have caused this and then you have to watch your partner go through procedures, even though it’s not their fault, you still feel like you are the cause. That feeling stays with you.” At the gym Brett trained at, steroid use was normalised and seen as the best way to get fit.

These synthetic drugs are used to help the body build muscle, which is why they are popular among gym-goers. The Class C drugs are legal to possess and use, but it is illegal to supply or sell them. Those caught doing so can face up to 14 years in prison.

Brett said: “Like most men, I thought I was invincible. I worked out regularly, but I also had a bad diet and drank at weekends. “I didn’t even know male infertility was a thing until it happened to me.

A phrase I heard from the lads at the gym was about men ‘firing blanked’. “When I realised what was happening, I felt completely alone and disappointed in myself.” Because Brett already had a son from a previous relationship, the couple were not eligible for NHS-funded IVF treatment. They went to a private clinic and underwent several forms of treatment, including a procedure in which a needle was inserted through the skin and into the testicle.

In the end, they welcomed their daughter Polly. Dr Elpiniki Chronopoulou, a fertility consultant, obstetrician and gynaecologist at CRGH, said: “Male fertility challenges can often be overlooked, potentially delaying diagnosis and access to appropriate support. “Ensuring that men feel heard, supported and included is essential every step of the way.”