Steroids

Shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, and increased risk of prostate cancer. Doesn't sound like fun does it? These are some of the risks people who use anabolic steroids have to live with everyday. It's crazy to think that some people would risk all of that just to look better or increase their performance.

Athletes use anabolic steroids primarily to increase their strength and improve their performance. Others may use these steroids simply to improve their physical appearance. Anabolic steroids can be taken orally or they can be injected, usually in cycles of weeks or even months, instead of continuously or on a daily basis. This is referred to as cycling. Cycling normally involves taking many does of steroids over a specified period of time, stopping for a period, and then continuing once again. This may be repeated many times throughout a single cycle. Also, users may often combine several different types of steroids to maximize the effectiveness while minimizing the negative effects. This is referred to as stacking. Although stacking may minimize the negative effects it in no way makes using steroids completely safe.

The major side effects from abusing anabolic steroids may include liver tumors and cancer, jaundice, fluid retention, high blood pressure, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), and decreases in HDL (good cholesterol). Other side effects include kidney tumors, severe acne, and trembling. There are also gender specific side effects. The side effects for men may include shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, increased risk for prostate cancer as mentioned before. For women, growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, and a deepened voice are all common problems. For teens, growth halted prematurely through premature skeletal maturation and accelerated puberty changes.