High levels of AASs mimic the body’s natural testosterone and signal the hypothalamus to stop producing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Without GnRH, the pituitary gland halts the release of luteinizing hormone (LH). LH normally travels through the bloodstream to the testes and triggers testosterone production. Without LH, the testes stop producing testosterone.

In males, hCG restores and maintains testosterone production by mimicking LH. It triggers the testes to produce and release tes