Jose Canseco Suffers From Anabolic Steroid Induced Hypogonadism

Jose Canseco admits to health problems resulting from the discontinuation of anabolic steroids in the A&E documentary “Jose Canseco: The Last Shot” premiering Monday night, October 20th.Jose Canseco, the former baseball superstar who blew the whistle on the game’s steroid scandal, has used steroids himself for the past 24 years. Now Jose wants to finally get clean, but he’s terrified about what may happen when he goes through the process. There has been no medically documented case of someone quitting steroids after using them for so long, and the doctors have different opinions about what Jose will go through physically and mentally. Viewers watch Jose play guinea pig as he tries to end his long addiction.

Canseco has made the decision to permanently stop using steroids for whatever reason. During the documentary, Canseco describes classical post-cessation symptoms of anaboic steroid induced hypogonadism (ASIH) such as low libido and depression (”It’s broke, scared & contrite Jose Canseco in TV documentary,” October 18).

The show also follows Canseco through a series of medical appointments with Santa Monica physician Dr. Brent Michael. Canseco tells Michael he wants to wean himself off steroids for good and restore his testosterone levels, since quitting cold turkey isn’t working.“I have no sex drive whatsoever. Zero,” says Canseco, who is filmed in one sequence meeting Michael with current girlfriend Heidi Northcott present. Canseco admits to bouts of depression and wanting to be left alone.

Our society has demonized anabolic steroids. The highly politicized steroid hysteria has led the medical community to abandon treatment for the non-prescription steroid user. Our society tells steroid users that it is imperative that they stop using steroids immediately to avoid catastrophic damage to their health. But once they stop using steroids, professionals in the medical community are clueless to the consequences of steroid cessation and are ignorant to the treatment options and necessary post cycle therapy (PCT). Then steroid users like Jose Canseco are ridiculed for the post cycle side effects after discontinuing steroids.

Dr. Michael Scally explains the abysmal failure of the medical community to recognize and treat anabolic steroid induced hypogonadism:For the greater part of 10 years I have found that the medical treatment provided for the condition termed anabolic steroid induced hypogonadism (ASIH), is nonexistent or ignored by the great majority of medical professionals. As predicted since my entry into this field in 1995 more and more cases of ASIH would appear due to this negligence. Clear and convincing evidence of this is demonstrated by recent articles in peer-reviewed medical literature affirming concerns for the long term effects of untreated ASIH, rapidity and severity of symptoms in ASIH, and inappropriate treatment with AAS based upon a flawed clinical study design.