Short-Term Effects of Steroids
Anabolic steroids are a chemical cousin of testosterone, a male hormone that promotes muscle growth. More than 100 different types of steroids exist, but only a handful of them can be used by humans. Steroids are a quick and easy way to get that ripped body, but they can have serious effects on your body; even the briefest use can severely damage your health. (See Reference 2.)
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Reasons for Use
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According to the Association Against Steroid Use, many men and a smaller percentage of women choose to take steroids to enhance their athletic performance or their body image. (See Reference 1.)
Methods of Use
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Steroids can be injected directly into the blood stream or into the muscles. There are also steroid pills and gel capsules for oral ingestion. Many users engage in complex patterns of use. With one pattern, called cycling, the user takes steroids over a period of time, then takes a break before starting up again. (See References 1, 2, 3.)
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Men versus Women
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The short-term, more immediate effects are different for men and women. Men can experience acne, shrinkage of the testicles, lower sperm count, enlarged breasts, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, water retention, abnormal liver function and prostate enlargement. Women also might see elevated blood pressure and abnormal liver function, and they risk taking on male characteristics, such as a deepened voice and facial hair growth. (See Reference 1.)
Acne
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Teens get acne because of the hormone surge they experience in puberty. If you take steroids, you introduce a blast of testosterone into your system. As a result, your skin glands enlarge and produce more and more oil. This creates plug formations, the favored meal of bacteria. Soon your body could be riddled with pimples. (See Reference 1.)
Bigger and Smaller
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Excess testosterone in men gets converted into estrogen, which sometimes results in the formation of breast tissue. The medical name for this phenomenon is gynecomastia. Meanwhile, the testosterone surge quickly shrinks another area: the testicles. The testicles cease producing their share of testosterone, because the steroids have filled the tank. Sperm production plummets. (See Reference 1.)
'Roid Rage
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For both men and women, aggression is an unpleasant side effect of steroid use. Steroids interrupt the brain circuitry charged with controlling aggressive response, which can turn a user into the Incredible Hulk. If steroid use continues for a prolonged period, these short-term effects can turn into long-term consequences. (See References 1, 2, 3.)
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References
- Photo Credit Glen Able: stock.xchng, Iwan Beijes: stock.xchng
