Are Steroids Bad for You? (11 Shocking Side Effects)

When used correctly, the right steroid doses can have medical benefits. Even when taken illegally (without a doctor’s prescription), steroids have muscular and athletic-related benefits.

Let’s delve into each of them.

Medical Intervention

Doctors prescribe steroids to help treat certain medical conditions. Here’s a list of some of those conditions:

• Delayed puberty: Anabolic steroids can be used to treat young boys experiencing delayed growth and puberty. A 1994 study found treatment using anabolic steroids promoted significant growth acceleration for such patients [4].
• Muscle-skeletal damage: Anabolic steroids can be highly effective in aiding the orthopedic repair of damaged bone and muscle tissue [5].
• Muscle-wasting diseases: Conditions like COPD, AIDS, cancer, and kidney and liver diseases can lead to muscle loss. Anabolic steroids may treat such symptoms by preserving muscle mass [6].

Enhanced Muscle Growth and Strength

Anabolic steroids are commonly used in strength sports like powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and bodybuilding to increase strength, muscle mass, and power [7].

Since many federations don’t test for steroids, their use and abuse are common among many athletes.

Related Articles:

• How Fast Do Steroids Build Muscle?
• Do Steroids Work Even if You Don’t Work Out?

Enhanced Athletic Performance

Many athletes struggle with plateaus in their athletic performance and look for ways to overcome barriers and beat the competition. Some resort to taking anabolic steroids to improve their speed and power output.

Studies show that steroid use can increase muscle mass, enhancing a user’s speed and power output [8]. But most athletes seem to take steroids for better recovery and power than for gaining lean muscle mass [9].

Although medical and athletic use of steroids can be beneficial, their use and abuse can cause various side effects.

Men

• Breast-tissue development: Consistent steroid use can lead to hormonal imbalances, which can trigger the growth of male breasts [10].
• Testicular atrophy and reduced sperm count: Drug abuse, especially with steroids, is associated with impaired male reproductive function, testicle shrinkage, and genetic sperm damage [11] [12].
• Erectile dysfunction: While steroids increase testosterone levels, they can lead to erectile dysfunction once you’re off the cycle [13].
• Increased risk of prostate cancer: Using steroids can cause cancer which may lead to tumor growth or enlargement of the prostate [14].

Women

• Body hair growth and scalp hair loss: Women who use steroids may experience excessive growth of body hair and lose hair from their scalp; continued administration can make these effects permanent [15].
• Facial hair growth: In addition to increased body hair, women who use steroids may also experience growth in facial hair [16].
• Male sex characteristics: Women who use steroids tend to experience male sex characteristics like a deepened voice, a smaller chest, and increased facial hair [17].
• High sex drive: Research has shown that while men experience lower libido from steroid use, women experience a heightened sex drive when taking steroids [18].

Both Sexes

• Aggressive mood swings: Commonly called "roid-rage", steroid-induced aggression can occur in individuals taking large doses of steroids over an extended period [19].
• Liver disease: Research has shown that using steroids can lead to severe liver toxicity [20].
• Altered immune system: While many claim that steroids can affect your immune system, this area still needs more research [21]. But it’s best to err on the side of caution.

“There are a lot of side effects of steroids. They are not good for you. It is like Russian roulette. Five people may take them and have no long-term problem. The sixth may end up dead.”

- Dr. Kenneth Mautner, MD, Physiatrist, Emory University

Yes, there are better and safer alternatives to steroids: they’re called legal steroids. While they might be as effective in increasing muscle mass, they’re definitely a much safer option in the long run.

Let’s take a quick look at them.

Natural Testosterone Boosters

Natural testosterone boosters like vitamin D, ashwagandha, zinc, and protein are safe, natural, and effective ways to boost your natural testosterone levels [22].

Their only downside is that they won’t naturally increase your T-levels past your genetic and age capacity. For example, a 30-year-man won’t have his testosterone boosted beyond the average level for his age group.

On the plus side, these supplements don’t carry any negative side effects.

Natural Bulking Stacks

Natural bulking stacks are a safe, natural, and effective way to enhance your gains in the gym.

They contain powerful blends of natural testosterone-boosting ingredients that can help you push genetic muscle-building barriers and achieve your fitness goals safely. And they don’t have the nasty side effects of illegal steroids.