Steroids

Anabolic steroids were developed in the 1930s to promote growth of skeletal muscle and to develop male sexual characteristics. They have since been used for numerous medical purposes including stimulation of bone growth, appetite, puberty, and muscle growth. The most wide spread use of anabolic steroids is their use for chronic wasting conditions including cancer and AIDS. Today, anabolic steroid use is a controversial in the world of sport. It is commonly associated with bodybuilders, weightlifters, and other male and female athletes because of their ability to improve performance by increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat. Steroid use in sport is illegal and international athletes are tested to prevent some gaining an unfair advantage. Anabolic steroids are used, especially by men, to change their body shape towards more muscular physique.

Anabolic steroids can be taken orally, by injection or in creams or gels. In the illegal use of this group of steroids dosages are highly variable and can be 10 to 40, sometimes a 100 times higher than the recommended dose. The side effects of anabolic steroids are serious and not uncommon. In general oral anabolic steroids have more side effects and those containing 17-alky have potentially more adverse side effects. Some side effects are reversible but some can cause permanent damage.

Anabolic steroids reduce the livers excretory function. This is particularly so with the steroids containing 17-alky. The liver can suffer from a bleeding cystic condition that is potentially fatal. Use of anabolic steroids has also been linked to liver cancer, although this is very rare. They can also have adverse effects on the heart and cardiovascular system as they can cause problems with blood pressure and lipoproteins such as cholesterol. There is also evidence that they can cause structural changes to the heart and that heart disease and strokes are a possibility.

As anabolic steroids are so strongly associated with male traits such as strength and muscles they have particular effects of the men. They frequently cause erectile dysfunction, even though sexual desire is increased. They may lead to Gynecomastia (growth of the breasts) a condition that is generally irreversible and plastic surgery is required to remove the breasts. Atrophy or shrinkage of the testicles can occur and is reported usually with high dose use of anabolic steroids. Extreme, uncontrolled bouts of anger, known as “roid rage" can also be a common side-effect of long-term steroid use.

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