Steroid misuse
Side effects of anabolic steroids
Regularly taking anabolic steroids causes a range of male features, not just increased muscle mass. It can also lead to potentially dangerous medical conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart attacks .
Physical effects
Effects of anabolic steroids in men can include:
- reduced sperm count
- infertility
- shrunken testicles
- erectile dysfunction
- baldness
- breast development
- increased risk of developing prostate cancer
- severe acne
- stomach pain
In women, anabolic steroids can cause:
- facial hair growth and body hair
- loss of breasts
- swelling of the clitoris
- a deepened voice
- an increased sex drive
- problems with periods
- hair loss
- severe acne
In addition, both men and women who take anabolic steroids can develop any of the following medical conditions:
- heart attack or stroke
- liver or kidney tumours
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- blood clots
- fluid retention
- high cholesterol
Psychological effects
Misusing anabolic steroids can also cause the following psychological or emotional effects:
- aggressive behaviour
- mood swings
- manic behaviour
- hallucinations and delusions
Stuntedgrowth in adolescents
Anabolic steroids accelerate bone growth, so if they're misused by adolescents who haven't yet had the growth spurt associated with puberty , the drugscan cause premature ageing of the bones and restricted growth .
Sharing needles
As anabolic steroids are often injected, there are risks associated with sharing needles. These are the same risks associated with recreational drug use, and include:
- damage to veins, leading to ulcers or gangrene
- hepatitis B infection
- hepatitis C infection
- HIV transmission
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Anabolic steroids are prescription-only medicines that are sometimes taken without medical advice to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance.
Are anabolic steroids illegal?
Anabolic steroids are class C drugs, which can only be sold by pharmacists with a prescription. It's not illegal to possess anabolic steroids for personal use. They can also be imported or exported,
Why people misuse anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids are performance-enhancing drugs that increase muscle mass and decrease fat, as well as causing many undesirable effects. Some athletes, weightlifters and bodybuilders take them regul
How anabolic steroids are taken
Anabolic steroids are usually injected into the muscle, but some are available intablet form,or as creams or gels that areapplied to the skin. Most people who use anabolic steroids are aware of the d
Side effects of anabolic steroids
Regularly taking anabolic steroids causes a range of male features, not just increased muscle mass. It can also lead to potentially dangerous medical conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertens
Addiction
Like many other substances, anabolic steroids are addictive. This means you can crave the drug, require more to get the same effect, and have withdrawal symptomsifyou suddenly stop taking them. A per
Getting help
You should see your GP if you think you're addicted to anabolic steroids. Treatment for an addiction to anabolic steroids will be similar to that of other types of addiction. Your GP may refer youto
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