Adverse Side Effects of Taking Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids use has been linked to a wide range of adverse side effects. Most are reversible if the taking of the drug is stopped. However, some are permanent, such as voice deepening in females.

Mostly the long-term effects of anabolic steroids comes from case reports rather than formal epidemiological studies.

Anabolic steroids use disrupts your normal production of hormones, causing both reversible and irreversible changes. Changes that can be reversed include reduced sperm production and shrinking of the testicles. Irreversible changes include male-pattern baldness and breast development in men.

In the female body, anabolic steroids causes masculinization:

  • voice deepens
  • clitoris enlarges
  • body fat decrease
  • smaller breast size
  • skin becomes coarse

Women may experience excessive growth of body hair but lose scalp hair.

Anabolic steroids use has been associated with cardiovascular diseases by changing the levels of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol in your blood. In particular, oral steroids increase the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and decrease the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

High LDL and low HDL levels increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty substances are deposited inside arteries and disrupt blood flow. If blood is prevented from reaching your heart or your brain, your are at risk for a heart attack or stroke.

Anabolic steroids also may increase your risk for damaging the heart muscle so that it does not effectively pump blood.

Steroid use may be involved with liver tumors, which can rupture and cause internal bleeding. It can also cause:

Now let’s talk behavior. Increased irritability and aggression seems to be involved with high dose usage of anabolic steroids. Look to your significant other for the voice on this.

With all these adverse side effects, why risk it for a silly game or looking manly-man. Prevent the preventable by living a healthy lifestyle.

Filed under: Anabolic Steroids

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