If you were taking a low dose of steroids like 5mg per day for replacement therapy (e.g., testosterone), it would be unlikely that you would feel any withdrawal effects if you stopped suddenly; your body is probably used to the lower levels of steroid hormones and will revert quickly once supplementation prevents.
On the other hand, high doses of anabolic steroids like 100mg per day or more are extremely hard on the body and especially the endocrine system (hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis), which regulates hormone balance in the body; sudden discontinuation could cause severe withdrawal symptoms such as loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, lethargy, extreme fatigue and lack of motivation. Of course, this varies with dosage and duration of use, but in most cases, if you want to quit using anabolic steroids, it is advised that you do so under the supervision (and prescriptions) of a doctor!
Also, note that steroid withdrawal symptoms can differ depending on which steroids are used. Water-based or oil-based? Anabolic or androgenic? High doses or low? You will find more information about this topic at the end of the article.
Effect of steroid therapy on spermatogenesis, testicular size, and testosterone levels in men with hypogonadism:
Depending on how things are measured precisely, stopping AAS usually returns to normalcy after one or two months.
However, there appears to be a delay of many months before normalization is reached in some cases.
There are also anecdotal reports of permanent infertility being caused by steroid abuse.
or… “What happens when you stop taking steroids suddenly?”
When abruptly quitting anabolic/androgenic steroids, some adverse effects include loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, restlessness, irritability, and extreme fatigue. The specific time course over which these symptoms manifest can vary depending on what kind of AAS were taken for how long and at what dosage. For example, the amount of time it takes for average testosterone production to resume after prolonged use can range from months to years, with some men experiencing irreversible hypogonadism.
Possible symptoms of steroid withdrawal
Also, note that some psychological symptoms such as depression and lack of motivation can persist after normalization testosterone levels. Still, it is most likely because anabolic steroids affect neurotransmitter levels in the brain rather than endocrine factors involving the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis. Please read my article “Steroid Hormone Conversion.”