Effects of Steroids

Side Effects of steroids Effects of Steroids Steroid Side Effects

Steroid Side Effects

Anabolic steroid side-effects, you bet they exist, but if you’re like most people you have absolutely no idea what they are. Sure, you’ve heard the stories about exploding hearts, rotting brains and psychotic rampaging that led to the individual robbing a bank, beating everyone inside to death with a pipe-wrench just before he dove off a 500ft cliff. Fortunately, while that’s a crazy story, it doesn’t represent what anabolic steroid side-effects are at all; in-fact, none of it’s even close. Again, anabolic steroids do carry possible side-effects, “possible” being a key word, and yes, they also carry some adverse effects that can be assured, but there’s an element of strong truth that’s often missing from the conversation. For the healthy adult, male or female safe and successful anabolic steroid supplementation is more than possible; in-fact, in most cases it’s nearly guaranteed if you meet a few key standards. First and foremost, actually being a healthy adult, and that means you do not have high blood pressure, cholesterol or any type of prostate, liver or any other severe issues. Further, it means supplementing like you have a brain; it means educating yourself on the hormones you’ll be using, the possible adverse effects, and what you can do about them to ensure your safety. It means not abusing steroids with no thought of your future, but by-and-large, it all can be summed up by responsible supplementation, and we can define responsible supplementation as any supplementation that does not cause you harm. With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at what the anabolic steroid side-effects might be, and lead you to such successful supplementation.

Caution: anabolic androgenic steroids should not be used by adolescents unless there is a severe need based on strong therapeutic treatment. Adolescent supplementation will severely damage the individual’s developing androgen system; often in an irreversible manner. Further, there is strong evidence that it may lead to a stunting of growth and development, and it can also have horrific effects on the emotional state; adolescents cannot handle a massive influx of hormones, and then their absence; their fragile androgen systems just can’t handle it.

Common Steroid Side-Effects

There are several common steroid side-effects, possible side-effects that represent what the majority will need to be aware of and have to contend with. Each and every one of these effects is 100% avoidable or combatable with responsible use, and that is guaranteed. First is gynecomastia; a condition commonly caused by steroids that convert from testosterone into estrogen via the aromatase process; commonly referred to as male-breast enlargement, Gyno or “Bitch Tits.” Gyno can also be caused by large buildups of progesterone if a steroid carries a progestin nature in men who are sensitive; estrogen or progesterone related it can all be avoided. In-order to combat such a condition, the use of an Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) such as Anastrozole (Arimidex) or Letrozole (Femara) is normally recommended. AI’s will inhibit the aromatase process, reduce the body’s total estrogen levels and even combat progesterone; Letrozole is perhaps the best progesterone combatant. It should be noted; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM’s) such as Tamoxifen Citrate (Nolvadex) can also be used to combat Gyno caused by aromatization; however, it’s not always enough. SERM’s function by binding to the receptors in the place of estrogen, but they do not inhibit aromatase and they do not reduce estrogen levels; further, SERM’s will not protect against Gyno caused by progesterone.

Another side-effect many concern themselves with is excess water retention, and once again aromatase is the culprit and AI’s are the answer; SERM’s will not do a lot in-regard to water retention. Further, controlling your diet, especially your carbohydrate intake is extremely important; excess carbs will cause you to hold water, and if there’s excess estrogen in the body such retention will be even worse. Further, this buildup of estrogen can also have a negative effect on LDL cholesterol levels as well as your blood pressure; if you already suffer from high cholesterol or blood pressure you should not supplement. Once again, AI use can help, but often simply keeping your doses in a proper range and living a healthy lifestyle will protect you more than anything else. It should be noted; steroid side-effects can also include a reduction in HDL cholesterol levels, the good cholesterol; omega fatty acids are advised.

Beyond these effects, steroid side-effects can also include things of a strong genetic predisposition; those who are genetically predisposed to high blood pressure or cholesterol may have a bigger concern than others, but there are two effects that will be truly important here. First is acne and it will normally be caused by the use of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derived steroids in those who are sensitive to acne regardless of supplementation. Acne can also occur in those who are sensitive due to a testosterone to DHT conversion, but DHT steroids themselves are the biggest risk. Keeping your skin clean and dry at all times is important, and so is ensuring you have high quality products that are pure and clean. Then there’s hair-loss, and this is 100% genetically based, and once again normally due to the use of DHT based steroids. Men who are predisposed to male-pattern baldness may lose some of their hair; they were going to lose it any way, but supplementation may speed it up. If this is a concern, avoiding DHT based steroids can offer protection, but so can the use of the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor best known by its popular trade names Proscar and Propecia.

Male Concerns

If you’re a man and you supplement, anabolic steroid side-effects will include testosterone suppression, and as a result testicular atrophy. For this reason, it is imperative you supplement with some form of exogenous testosterone; while the rate of suppression will vary from steroid to steroid, it is normally strong enough to justify testosterone use. If you fail to do so, the odds are strong you will fall into an extremely unhealthy low testosterone condition, and such a condition can result in a host of bothersome and unwanted effects. Of course, if you do supplement with exogenous testosterone, you will not fall into such a condition, and nothing undesirable will occur. Further, once use has been discontinued and all the exogenous steroids have cleared your system, your testicles will return to their normal size as your testosterone production will be back online. Of course, this is all assuming you supplemented responsibly, did not damage your HPTA with abusive practices, and did not suffer from low testosterone prior to supplementation.

Another effect men will need to be aware of is prostate enlargement; it should go without saying, if you suffer from prostate enlargement you should not supplement. At any rate, this condition will occur due to a large buildup of DHT; as you might expect DHT steroids are the prime culprits. For this reason, it is imperative to follow safe and sane dosing protocols as well as time frames of use based on the steroids you’re using. If you do this, assuming your prostate was healthy to begin with you should not have any problems. Even so, there can be exceptions due to other factors, and if prostate enlargement occurs for any reason the use of Finasteride is recommended as it has been shown to significantly reduce prostate enlargement.

The Liver

Anabolic steroid side-effects as they pertain to the liver must be discussed on their own as they are a little unique, and can only be caused by specific steroids. The culprit is the use of C17-alpha alkylated (C17-aa) anabolic steroids, and this includes most oral steroids with the exception of oral Primobolan and Proviron, but also includes injectable Winstrol Depot. At any rate, the C17-aa nature refers to a structural alteration of the hormone at the 17^th carbon position that allows it to survive the first pass through the liver; otherwise, it would be largely destroyed before it could be used in a beneficial way. Unfortunately, this causes C17-aa steroids to carry a hepatotoxic nature, and while such a nature will vary from one to the next, use will cause liver enzyme values to increase. For this reason, it is imperative you avoid excess alcohol consumption, use proper doses for proper periods of time, and avoid all over the counter medications when possible. Further, avoiding all alcohol isn’t a bad idea since its anti-performance to begin with; as for over the counter medications, often they’re just as hepatotoxic if not more so than many anabolic steroids. It should be noted; your liver must be healthy before supplementation, and if it is, and you follow these guidelines you should be fine. Of course, your liver values will still increase, but through proper use they should return to normal shortly after use is discontinued, and no damage will be done.

Females

Females are susceptible to all the anabolic steroid side-effects that have been discussed with the exception of testicular atrophy and prostate enlargement; testosterone suppression and gynecomastia are also non-issues. Even so, they are also susceptible to virilization, which will promote masculine like characteristics; such characteristics can include body-hair growth, a deepening of the vocal chords and clitoral enlargement. For this reason, females must exercise caution if they wish to protect their femininity, and this means using low doses of anabolic steroids that carry a low virilization rating. Anabolic steroids that display large androgenic activity must be avoided, with steroids like Anavar and Primobolan being your best choices, and Winstrol and even Equipoise in some cases being options. If responsible use is followed, most women will be fine, but due to individual responses some may fall prey even with responsible use. If this occurs, discontinue use at the onset of symptoms, and they will fade away; if ignored they may set in permanently.

The Bottom Line

This largely represents the effects of concern; however, we must mention a few that are unpredictable. Anabolic steroid side-effects can include anxiety, insomnia, night sweats and rapid heart rate; in most all cases, such effects are due to a poor genetic response to a particular steroidal hormone or extremely high doses; at any rate, only specific steroids can cause these effects. If you fall prey, simply avoid steroids that cause such effects. In any case, as you can see, we covered a lot of ground and provided a good deal of info, even so, it shouldn’t be hard to see that safe and successful supplementation is not only possible, but it can be a reality, and that’s the bottom line.