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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Can you conceive while partner is taking testosterone or anabolic steroids?

41 replies

Summerhut2025 · 19/03/2026 19:29

Can anyone help clear this up between me and my partner please…

Has anyone managed to get pregnant whilst their partner was taking testosterone and/or steroids?

He claims it’s all a myth that they make men infertile but I’m reading that taking either synthetic testosterone or steroids are literally a male contraceptive!

thanks in advance

OP posts:
littlemisssunshine247 · 20/03/2026 11:52

Apologies, I didn’t see one of your updates to say you’re not planning any more children.

ghostyslovesheets · 20/03/2026 11:56

Hoppinggreen · 20/03/2026 11:50

Ask the properly qualified and regulated medical professional who prescribed them for advice

Yes - this

Original poster
Summerhut2025 · 20/03/2026 12:59

GingerBeverage · 20/03/2026 09:52

I did a google search for you.

https://fertilitysolutions.co.uk/dont-use-anabolic-steroids/

The use of anabolic steroids has become one of the main causes of preventable male factor infertility. Increasing numbers of men, including teenagers, are now taking these steroids. They are sourced in the locker rooms, primarily gyms, to help build up muscle bulk in a bid to make themselves look more “manly”.
However, most are unaware of the side effects from these illegal drugs. They pose significant risks to their long term health, and more specifically their future fertility and sperm count. A lot of men believe they can reverse these effects with more hormones such as HMG, but this is not the case. These steroids can cause the testicles to shrink, stopping sperm production. This means that men taking anabolic steroids, and other drugs like them, may have problems starting or adding to their family in the future.
The science behind this is well known: The anabolic steroids increase testosterone production within the body. This helps build up muscle bulk. However, this also blocks the production of testosterone in the testicles themselves, which is a necessary ingredient for sperm production.
If used for long enough and in high enough doses, the damage to male fertility can become permanent. In some case, it may take up to a year for sperm production to return to normal after having stopped taking the anabolic steroids.
We are seeing an increasing number of men at the clinic who simply aren’t aware of the damage that taking anabolic steroids can do to their long-term health and fertility. If you have taken steroids either recently or even years ago, we advise that you get a semen analysis done to understand if your fertility has been affected.
If you are trying to start a family, now or wish to in the future, it is imperative that you look after your health. This means not taking off prescription drugs or “herbal” remedies of any sort without first consulting an expert. Eat well, exercise regularly and look after yourself.
Claire Mooney
Consultant Embryologist

There are lots of other articles. But if you really want to find women who have had babies from men using roids then reddit is a better option.

yes thanks, i'm aware it makes you infertile that's what i'm trying to tell him. But he thinks it's exaggerated as he knows people who have fathered children while on them. That's why i was asking if any females on here had got pregnant whilst their partner uses them. I'm not trying to conceive by the way so it isn't an issue, just a debate between me and him.

OP posts:
GingerBeverage · 20/03/2026 14:40

Right well he sounds as if hearing about someone on MN getting pregnant won't convince him either. Good luck with the debate.

Miraclemuma03 · 21/03/2026 09:09

It wouldnt be something id worry about if your not looking to have more kids honestly. If he wants to think he wont have any side effects then let him think that.. Its not really a fight id be pegging to win. If your happy with how things are and not concerned and he isnt concerned then its just something id let lye .

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 21/03/2026 09:19

He’s confusing anecdotal examples with an evidence based trend. Some people smoke and don’t develop lung cancer, however this doesn’t change the fact that smokers are at far higher risk of lung cancer than non smokers. Same with steroids and male infertility.

strawberryandtomato · 21/03/2026 09:20

No. Lowers sperm count.

lottiegarbanzo · 21/03/2026 09:38

He already knows people who’ve conceived while using them. How will a few more examples of the same thing help your argument?

What he’d need to look at is research-based trends, showing how much fertility is reduced by.

You know fertility is not reduced to zero, based on even one anecdotal example. You’ve read enough to know it doesn’t remain at 100% of its previous level. So what % does it drop to?

You or he could find that out by reading medical studies. He won’t because he already knows all he wants to know. You could if you’re that interested. But will he listen, or care what a more knowledgeable woman says?

WearyAuldWumman · 21/03/2026 09:42

Summerhut2025 · 19/03/2026 19:29

Can anyone help clear this up between me and my partner please…

Has anyone managed to get pregnant whilst their partner was taking testosterone and/or steroids?

He claims it’s all a myth that they make men infertile but I’m reading that taking either synthetic testosterone or steroids are literally a male contraceptive!

thanks in advance

My late husband was a weightlifter and bodybuilder in his youth and trained others.

He used to tell young men to keep well away from "the sweeties" because - at least at that time - it was well known that they caused impotence. (The other giveaway, according to DH, was rapid muscle growth plus water blisters.)

So if DH was right, someone who's consistently taking those drugs will be impotent and unable to father a child.

WearyAuldWumman · 21/03/2026 09:44

Just to add that there are some men who take measured doses of testosterone because of a deficiency. That's an entirely different matter.

The trainer/influencer James Smith has been open about his need to take supplements for medical reasons. He has fathered a child.

WearyAuldWumman · 21/03/2026 09:54

Summerhut2025 · 20/03/2026 07:07

Wake up man millions of sports people and gym goers and fitness people take them, doctors prescribe testosterone to men because it drops when they’re 30 just like women take hrt. He’s not shooting up bloody heroin.

Anyway again it’s a simple question, has anyone got pregnant whilst they’re partner was taking them?

Show quote history

What a bizarre response.

WearyAuldWumman · 21/03/2026 09:57

If your partner is taking testosterone under the supervision of a doctor that is very different from someone who is self-dosing.

Nevermind17 · 21/03/2026 09:57

My friend had to have IVF to conceive because her partner took steroids.

SirChenjins · 21/03/2026 10:02

Why doesn't he ask the GP who's prescribing them for him? Or the community pharmacist he's collecting his prescription from?

Perfect28 · 21/03/2026 10:03

Why is he taking them in the first place?

Perfect28 · 21/03/2026 10:04

He should ask a doctor but can't be ause he shouldn't be taking them

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