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Risks and dangerous side effects of abuse of anabolic steroids

Updated on September 17, 2015
Steroids harmful effects
Steroids harmful effects

The Side Effects

The disruption of the natural hormone state in men can produce the following side effects:

  • Accelerated male-pattern baldness
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Reduced sperm counts
  • Breast development
  • Testicle shrinking

While men may experience feminization, women may experience a masculinization with side effects including:

  • Clitoris enlargement
  • Menstrual cycle changes
  • Deepened voice
  • Breast reduction
  • Male-pattern baldness
  • Facial hair

Both sexes put themselves at increased risk for:

  • Skin disease (acne and cysts) -
  • Cardiovascular disease (strokes and heart attacks)
  • Liver disease (cysts and cancer)
  • Psychological effects (from depression to aggression)

The above shouldn't be considered a complete list of the potential side effects of steroids, but rather a partial listing of some of the more common risks

All you can eat Steroid buffet?
All you can eat Steroid buffet?

 Can Steroid Abuse Be Fatal?

In some rare cases yes. When steroids enter the body, they go to different organs and muscles. Steroids are not friendly to the heart. In rare cases steroid abuse can create a situation where the body may be susceptible to heart attacks and strokes, which can be fatal. Here's how: Steroid use can lead to a condition called atherosclerosis, which causes fat deposits inside arteries to disrupt blood flow. When blood flow to the heart is blocked, a heart attack can occur. If blood flow to the brain is blocked, a stroke can result.

Bulking up the artificial way—by using steroids—puts teens at risk for more than cardiovascular disease. Steroids can weaken the immune system, which is what helps the body fight against germs and disease. That means that illnesses and diseases have an easy target in someone who is abusing steroids.

In addition, people who inject anabolic steroids may share non-sterile "works," or drug injection equipment, that can spread life-threatening viral infections such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis, which causes serious damage to the liver.

Are Anabolic Steroids Addictive?

It is possible that some steroid abusers may become addicted to the drugs, as evidenced by their continued use in spite of physical problems and negative effects on social relationships. Also, they spend large amounts of time and money obtaining the drugs and, when they stop using them, they experience withdrawal symptoms such as depression, mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and the desire to take more steroids. The most dangerous of the withdrawal symptoms is depression, because it sometimes leads to suicide attempts. Untreated, some depressive symptoms associated with anabolic steroid withdrawal have been known to persist for a year or more after the abuser stops taking the drugs.

Oral Steroid pills are not candies !
Oral Steroid pills are not candies !
Injectable synthetic steroid
Injectable synthetic steroid

Common steroids in the market

  • Androstenedione (Andro)
    Androstenedione (Andro) is a designer steroid often mentioned in relation with athletes, although there is little scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in improving sports performance. Andro is a supplement made from a naturally occurring steroid hormone. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of Andro due to increasing evidence that showed serious health risks to those using the substance.
  • Primobolan (Methenolone)
    This banned steroid has been linked to several Major League Baseball players, including Alex Rodriguez. It can be injected or taken in a tablet form. Primobolan has been a popular steroid among athletes because it builds strength without muscle bulk, and without many of the negative side effects of other steroids.
  • Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG)
    Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) is another designer steroid that has a similar chemical structure to other banned steroids. It appears that THG was specifically manufactured so it would not be detected in doping tests. The FDA banned the sale of THG in 2003, saying it was not a supplement but an unapproved drug, which makes any sale or use of it illegal.
  • Clenbuterol
    Clenbuterol (Clen) is a selective beta-2 agonist/antagonist and a bronchodilator sometimes prescribed for obstructive pulmonary disease. Like anabolic steroids it can increase lean muscle mass, but it also has potentially serious side effects.Said to be popular in Hollywood.
  • DHEA
    DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a natural steroid prohormone that's produced by the adrenal glands. The body then converts DHEA to male and female sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone). DHEA supplements have been marketed as anti-aging supplements but research on this is limited at this time.

    DHEA supplements were taken off the U.S. market in 1985 and made available only by prescription. DHEA was then reintroduced as a nutritional supplement in 1994 after the passing of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. DHEA is still considered a banned substance by many sports organizations and athletes are cautioned about its use.

 

Other Banned Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids are banned by all major sports bodies including the Olympics, the NBA, the NHL, and the NFL. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) maintains an extensive list of all banned performance-enhancing substances. Some include the following:

Oral Steroids

  • Anadrol (oxymetholone)
  • Oxandrin (oxandrolone)
  • Dianabol (methandrostenolone)
  • Winstrol (stanozolol)

Injectable Steroids

  • Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate)
  • Durabolin (nandrolone phenpropionate)
  • Depo-Testosterone (testosterone cypionate)
  • Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate)

BB = Body Builder or Body Building
BRO = People on this board who help each other out by exchanging knowledge
CLEN = Clenbuterol
CNS = Central Nervous System
CYP = Testosterone Cypionate
DART =Syringe/Needle
DBOL = Dianabol (Methandrostenolone)
DECA = Nandrolone Decanoate
DHT = Dihydrotestosterone
DMSO = Dimethyl Sulfoxide - Topical enhancer
DNP = Dinitrophenol
DRINK WINNY = Yes you can drink Winny
ECA = Ephedrine/Caffeine/Aspirin
ED = Every Day
ENTH = Testosterone Enanthate
EOD = Every other day
EQ = Equipoise (Boldenone Undecylenate)
FINA = Finaplix (Trenbolone Acetate)
GH = Growth Hormone
GYNO = Gynomastica (Bitch tits)

Steroids lingos:

HPTA = Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis
IGF = Insulin Growth Factor
INJ = Inject, Injection
LH = Leutenizing Hormone
MCG = Micrograms
MG = Milligrams
ML = Milliliters
NOLVA = Nolvaldex
OTC = Over the counter
PIN = Needle
PRIMO = Primobolan, Primobolan Depot
PROP= Testosterone Propionate
SLIN = Insulin
SUST = Sustanon
T3 = Thyroid Hormone
TEST = Testosterone
TREN = Trenbolone
WINNY = Winstrol-V (Stanozolol)
17 AA = 17 Alpha Alkylated

AS = Anabolic Steroids
AR = Androgen Receptor


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