Abuse Of Illegal Anabolic Steroids
Illegal anabolic steroids affect people in a variety of different ways. Like it or not, steroid use, and indeed steroid abuse, is pretty rampant in countries all over the globe, not to mention is various sports, including professional bodybuilding. This isn’t an article debating whether or not steroids should or should not be used, because the simple fact is that in many countries they are both banned, and illegal. In some countries, it is legal to use them, but not to sell them, and in some, they are strictly prohibited at all times.
Whether you agree with them or not, using illegal anabolic steroids can be incredibly dangerous, especially when you use them incorrectly and abuse them. Illegal anabolic steroids affect individuals in a variety of different ways, though truthfully what it really boils down to is how the steroids are used, and indeed what kind of steroids are being used in the first place.
Make no mistake about it, steroids are amazing when it comes to building muscle, speeding up recovery, and improving athletic performance, nobody is disputing that, but that doesn’t change the fact that abusing them or using them incorrectly, can lead to a number of very dangerous and potentially serious side effects.
Here we’ll be taking a look at 5 potential side effects of steroid abuse so that perhaps you may think twice before using them, or if you do insist on using them, that you use them safely and responsibly.
#1 Gyno
Gyno, or Gynecomastia, is arguably the most common side effect associated with steroid abuse and it affects men in a variety of different ways. Gynecomastia is basically when the body stores fatty deposits on the chest, particularly around the nipples, which basically causes men to grow breasts. This is due to an increase in Estrogen, the female equivalent of testosterone that is still present in men, only ordinarily in small doses.
Many anabolic steroids cause an increase in estrogen levels, which causes the body to store more body fat, particularly on and around the chest, giving men breasts basically. What’s worse is the fact that losing weight or toning up won’t get rid of the Gyno, and the only way of getting rid of it is to have expensive surgery.
To help reduce the likelihood or Gyno and other side effects associated with elevated estrogen levels, many people follow PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) in which they use special compounds such as Nolvadex or Clomid which greatly reduces the risk of unpleasant side effects.
#2 ‘Roid Rage’
Now, before we go any further, first up we need to clear something up. ‘Roid Rage’ as people call it, is not a direct side effect associated with steroids. People think that if you take steroids, you will immediately turn into a raging psychopath that is full of anger and rage, even if beforehand you were the calmest and mildest of a mannered individual.
This is not true. However, what anabolic steroids do, is take certain character traits and amplify them. So, if you were already a pretty angry individual, if you take steroids, you will become even angrier and more stressed. On the flip side, however, a cool, calm, and mild-mannered individual will not suddenly turn into a raging psycho if they take steroids.
#3 Acne
Another of the most common illegal anabolic steroids effects that users need to be wary of being excessive acne. Steroids cause surges in hormone levels, including cortisol and testosterone, which can then lead to outbreaks of excessive acne, all over the body.
One of the main telltale signs of steroid abuse is sudden outbreaks of acne and spots all over the body, not just on the face. The back, for example, is one of the most commonly affected areas of the body, with acne breakouts on the back proving to be pretty severe more often than not. In fact, this side effect is so common, that many steroid users refer to acne breakouts on the back as ‘Backne’.
#4 Low Testosterone Levels
Many illegal anabolic steroids compounds cause all sorts of pretty drastic and radical changes in our hormone levels, causing some to rise, some to dip, and some fall away pretty dramatically. A common misconception surrounding steroids, is that they boost testosterone levels, but that is not the case at all, in fact, many compounds do quite the opposite, and cause them to drop dramatically.
This is often due to an increase in estrogen, and to help counter this, many steroid users will inject testosterone to help balance their hormone levels out. Some will take things further and use testosterone injections to help them pack on even more lean muscle mass in the process.
#5 Infertility
This is again due mainly to the fact that steroids cause such severe drops in testosterone levels, but infertility amongst steroid users is pretty common. Illegal anabolic steroids cause the testicles to actually shrink down and reduce in size, and on top of that, the lack of testosterone and low sperm mobility also often carries over into a low libido and sex drive in the process.
