Anabolic steroids are used for aesthetics despite prohibition – 06/27/2023 – Equilibrium

“I use testosterone, GH, sustanon, deca, trenbolone, hemogenin, oxandrolone. I’ve always used all of these for aesthetic purposes. After this resolution [do Conselho Federal de Medicina] Absolutely nothing has changed, because people who buy it in pharmacies don’t reach 5%”, says law graduate Vitor (fictitious name, upon request), 40.

A former jiu-jitsu fighter, Vitor has been using steroids since 2001. According to him, there is no shortage of clandestine manufacturers – and they don’t hide either. “There is an infinity of laboratories that even sponsor great bodybuilders, who advertise these products [nas redes sociais]”, he states.

In April, the CFM (Conselho Federal de Medicina) prohibited the prescription of anabolic androgenic steroids for aesthetic purposes, such as gaining muscle mass. The resolution also targets those who seek to improve sports performance. The guideline was discussed for eight months and had the approval of several Brazilian medical societies.

The facility to buy in the parallel market, however, remains the same. Orders can be placed via Whatsapp. As the chance of consuming something counterfeit also exists, there are also those who seek the originals, creating problems for those who really need the medication.

Hairdresser and athlete Gabriel Tavares, 39, has a medical prescription to replace testosterone since 2021 due to hypogonadism. He claims that steroids are getting more and more expensive and are often unavailable on the market.

“Most take it on their own, without medical advice, buying it on the clandestine market or causing shortages in pharmacies, even paying extra for being without a prescription”, he says. Tavares, a bodybuilding and jiu-jitsu practitioner, says he also sees training colleagues using the products for aesthetics, some even with a medical prescription.

In a note, the CFM points out that the resolutions are valid for all doctors who work in the national territory and that non-compliance can generate a warning and even disqualification from the practice of medicine. Inspection takes place through complaints forwarded to the regional councils, which can conduct investigations on their own. It can also be done by opening an investigation at Codame (Commission for the Disclosure of Medical Affairs).

“The use of anabolic androgenic steroids for aesthetic purposes, performance improvement and muscle mass gain is not supported by current scientific evidence, and is not recommended anywhere in the world”, says Annelise Meneguesso, CFM advisor.

The Brazilian Confederation of Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding and Fitness, associated with the Brazilian Olympic Committee, says it is in line with CFM’s concern “in relation to the inappropriate and abusive use of these substances”.

For Jeferson Queiroz, 48, a jiu-jitsu and self-defense teacher, there is no positive cost benefit in the use of anabolic steroids, which can even hinder sports performance, according to him.

“I already used it, I had side effects, I don’t intend to ever use it again. Aesthetically, I was surprised, but in terms of health I saw that it wasn’t worth it. In the short term there’s irritability, loss of disposition, depending on the type of steroid, loss of sleep. In the medium term, we also notice hair loss, kidney problems”, says Queiroz.

Steroids can be prescribed for what purpose?

The CFM allows the prescription of steroids if the recommendation is supported by scientific studies, which include treatments such as male hypogonadism, hypoactive sexual desire syndrome in postmenopausal women and people in gender transition. It also includes urologic diseases such as male aging androgen deficiency, testosterone hormone replacement therapy, and prostate cancer.

Tomás Tenshin Sataka Bugarin, lawyer and head of the Ethical-Professional Processes Section of Cremesp (Regional Council of Medicine of São Paulo), says that the resolution must be applied following “the principle of prevention”, ensuring that the benefits outweigh the harm.