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Do Low Dose Steroids Impact The Growth Of Sex Organs?

Posted on Thu, 8 May 2014

Question: Dear Dr XXXXXXX Koregal, I would like a clarification on previous discussion we had, and some valued opinions you gave. As discussed, i took some low dose steroids aged 14 to boost height, but worried about impact on sex organs ie possible growth. As per your advice, penile tissue gets replaced in 3-4 months due to ongoing tissue cycle. BUT, ive since found that penile tissue also has muscle cells present, and muscle cells never get renewed. Kindly could you clarify and clear my anxiety. Thanks and Best Regards

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Yes Detailed Answer: Hi, I remember your question asked previously. Glad to see you back I believe you had taken low dose steroids for a short duration of 2 or 3 months. This was also small dose at age 14 years. You are right about fact that muscle cells dont get replaced. But the other tissues in penis which form non muscular parts do get replaced. Even penile muscle cells increase in size as your age was growing and body was growing. The small dose of steroids wont harm. More over if there was any small effect on the penile muscle it would have got corrected in the long run of your growth from 14 years into adulthood as penile tissue grows slowly with age. I hope you are clear of your doubt now. Let me know if you have any more doubts. I request you to be precise on question so that I can give clear answers. Regards, Dr. Mahesh Koregol

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mahesh Koregol (2 hours later)

Dear Dr Koregol, thank you for your valued opinion. When the penile muscle cell size increases, obviously dna always stays the same. But what about the nucleus...does this grow in size too? And is the nucleus renewable? Thansk and Regards, XXXX

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer: No Detailed Answer: Hi, The intracellular organs like nucleus , mitochondria etc.. grow in size with muscle mass and are in proportion to the muscle. They also increase in size along with muscle as advances. But they are microscopic in appearance and hence dont appear big enough as they can only be seen under a microscope and no matter how big they become, they are still microscopic and minute. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mahesh Koregol (19 hours later)

Thanks again Dr Koregol, Are these organelles like nucleus (with exception of DNA) and mitochondria renewable ie constantly being replaced? Reason im asking is i want to be sure any growth caused by the steroids has already been 'renewed' Thanks and Best Regards XXXX

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Yes Detailed Answer: Hi, You are right. There is a process called apoptosis by which these small organelle undergo automatic death and replaced by new organelle. Hence if there was any effect by steroid ( which i dont think ) would have renewed by now. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mahesh Koregol (42 minutes later)

Thanks again Dr Koregol, Ok, so if nucleus organelle undegoes apoptasis, what happens to the DNA ? Or can nucleus renew without compromising the DNA its holding inside of it? Best Regards

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer: No Detailed Answer: Hi, Nucleus contains DNA and it cannot be replaced in a cell. The orgenelle are programmed. They renew but wont harm DNA. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mahesh Koregol (2 hours later)

Thanks again , So does nucleus renew or not? And other than DNA, which parts of the nucleus becomes renewed? I understand they contain proteins...and proteins must degrade at some point? Thanks and Best Regards

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Yes Detailed Answer: Hi, You are right. The parts of nucleus is made up of amino acids of proteins. These get renewed frequently though nucleus does not get disintegrated to replace itself. Renewal of protein occurs regularly without altering the structure and composition of DNA Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar