understandable why your doc did this
but theres no evidence to show steroids effect growth plates in anyone, irrelevant of what age or phase they are in growth, testosterone has no effect on growth plates,
its theorised it could and for medical ethical reasons it's argued it shouldnt be used on adolescents becoz they havent full developed, and thus docs cant determine whether they need testosterone or not as they havent fully developed
but there is still is no evidence to show testosterone effects growth plates, theres more supporting evidence showing test has no effect on growth plates becoz growth plates are influenced more by genetic traits and signals as alot of DNA and genetic signals in the body develop according to time
this is what is shown more recent these days anyways
You may be interested in this. There is in fact evidence as it use to be prescribed to those with tall stature who normally have a young bone age. Although I agree with you, you only grow ( height wise) once in life so as might as well make the most of it and not take any risks.
High-dose sex steroid treatment to reduce final height of tall boys has been widely used. Possibly due to greater social acceptance of tall stature, fewer adolescent boys are treated these days. The treatment of tall stature is based on the understanding that exposure to gonadal steroids leads to epiphyseal fusion of the long bones during pubertal development. Commonly used treatment is an im-injected preparation of testosterone ester mixtures (Sustanon 250; Schering-Plough, Houten, The Netherlands) in a dose of 250 mg/wk for, on average, a period of 1.5 yr.
High doses of androgens are known to greatly reduce sperm production, which is reversible in adult men, although it sometimes may take years until full recovery. However, because in the maturing gonads the initiation of spermatogenesis is stimulated by hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, treatment given during puberty may have lasting effects on pituitary-gonadal functioning. Therefore, several studies have looked at possible side effects of high-dose androgen treatment for tall stature.
Short-term side effects are well documented and include: weight gain, acne, gynecomastia, muscle ache, and edema. A few studies have reported on long-term fertility and reproductive function after a follow-up of up to 10 yr. One study found marginally higher serum FSH levels and lower serum LH levels in androgen-treated boys compared with untreated tall boys at an average follow-up of 10 yr. None have found significant effects on sperm quality or fertility. The aim of this single center retrospective cohort study was to evaluate fertility and testicular function in a cohort of tall Dutch men who did or did not receive high-dose androgen treatment in adolescence.
At a mean follow-up of 21 yr after high-dose androgen treatment, we conclude that fatherhood and semen quality in tall treated men are not affected. Serum testosterone levels, however, are reduced in androgen-treated men.
Hendriks AEJ, Boellaard WPA, van Casteren NJ, et al. Fatherhood in Tall Men Treated with High-Dose Sex Steroids during Adolescence. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010;95(12):5233-40.
Background/Objective: Sex steroid treatment to reduce final height of tall boys has been available since the 1950s. In women, it has been shown to interfere with fertility. In men, no such data are available. We therefore evaluated fertility and gonadal function in tall men who did or did not receive high-dose androgen treatment in adolescence.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 116 tall men, of whom 60 had been treated. Reproductive and gonadal function was assessed by standardized interview, semen analysis, endocrine parameters, ultrasound imaging, and fatherhood. Mean age at treatment commencement was 14.2 yr, and mean follow-up was 21.2 yr.
Results: Sixty-six men (36 treated and 30 untreated) had attempted to achieve fatherhood. The probability of conceiving their first pregnancy within 1 yr was similar in treated and untreated men (26 vs. 24; Breslow P = 0.8). Eleven treated and 13 untreated men presented with a left-sided varicocele (P = 0.5). Testicular volume, sperm quality, and serum LH, FSH, and inhibin B levels were comparable between treated and untreated men. However, treated men had significantly reduced serum T levels, adjusted for known confounders [mean (sD) 13.3 (1.8) vs. 15.2 (1.9) nmol/liter; P = 0.005). In addition, testicular volume and serum inhibin B and FSH levels in treated men were significantly correlated with age at treatment commencement.
Conclusion: At a mean follow-up of 21 yr after high-dose androgen treatment, we conclude that fatherhood and semen quality in tall treated men are not affected. Serum testosterone levels, however, are reduced in androgen-treated men. Future research is required to determine whether declining testosterone levels may become clinically relevant for these men as they age.
Lemcke B, Zentgraf J, Behre HM, Kliesch S, Bramswig JH, Nieschlag E. Long-term effects on testicular function of high-dose testosterone treatment for excessively tall stature. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1996;81(1):296-301.
High-dose testosterone treatment is applied during puberty to reduce the predicted adult height in excessively tall boys. To date it has remained unclear whether this therapy produces any long-term effects on reproductive functions of the patients. To clarify this question, we performed a follow-up study in 47 tall men, determining seminal and hormonal parameters 10.6 +/- 2.5 years (mean +/- SD) after cessation of therapy. The tall men treated were compared with 123 normal men attending the Institute of Reproductive Medicine as volunteers for various clinical studies. Clinicalexamination revealed a significantly higher prevalence of varicoceles and history of maldescended testes in the testosterone-treated tall men compared with the controls. Semen analysis revealed significantly lower progressive motility in the tall men compared with the normal men (49.2 +/- 13.4 vs. 54.3 +/- 12.8%). A nonsignificant tendency towards lower sperm concentration (43.8 +/- 35.4 vs. 57.8 +/- 45.6 mL/mL), lower total sperm count (184.4 +/- 158.0 vs. 225.4 +/- 277.5 mL/ejaculate), and reduced normal sperm morphology (27.6 +/- 12.5 vs. 30.9 +/- 13.1%) was evident in the testosterone- treated tall men. Although there was no difference in testicular volume and FSH between the groups, testosterone was lower in the testosterone- treated tall men (19.9 +/- 7.4 vs. 23.9 +/- 7.0 nmol/L). Statistical analysis of the subgroups of testosterone-treated tall men and control men without varicocele and cryptorchidism revealed no differences in any ejaculate parameter. The small difference in semen variables may be explained by a higher prevalence of varicocele and maldescended testes in the testosterone-treated tall men.
Drop SLS, de Waal WJ, de Muinck Keizer-Schrama SMPF. Sex Steroid Treatment of Constitutionally Tall Stature. Endocr Rev 1998;19(5):540-58. Sex Steroid Treatment of Constitutionally Tall Stature -- Drop et al. 19 (5): 540 -- Endocrine Reviews
I. Introduction
II. Normal vs. Extremes of Growth
_____A. Defining CTS
_____B. Endocrinology of CTS
III. Endocrinology of Bone Growth and Maturation
IV. Sex Steroid Action on Bone Growth and Maturation
V. Height Prediction
_____A. Skeletal maturity or BA
_____B. Computed assisted skeletal age-scoring systems
_____C. Accuracy of height prediction
_____D. New prediction equations in constitutionally tall children
VI. Treatment of CTS: General Concepts
VII. Treatment of Constitutionally Tall Boys
_____A. T treatment modalities
_____B. Height reduction
_____C. Effects on gonadal function
_____D. Other clinical effects
VIII. Estrogen Treatment in Tall Girls
_____A. Estrogen treatment modalities
_____B. Height reduction
_____C. Effects on gonadal function
_____D. Other adverse effects
IX. Alternative Treatment Modalities and Future Research
X. Conclusions and Recommendations