Question

List the main health risks and side effects of using steroids by athletes and explain how the side effects are different for males and females.

Answer 1

Basically, athletes mostly use anabolic steroids which are testosterone based. Some uses Anabolic Androgen steroids (AAS) i.e synthetic form of testosterone and corticosteroids (secreted in body by adrenal cortex or can be man made also). Anabolic mainly stimulates growth whereas androgen based steroids helps to develop secondary sexual characteristic in male. They have tremendous effect on reproductive system, nrevous system, hair follicles, kidneys, muscles, bones.

Human male naturally tend to naturally produce the harmone testosterone and this levels tend to increase during puberty which develops male traits in them. Taking steroids tend to increase this levels artificially and this primarily increases muscle mas, strength and improves overall performance.

However, apart from benefits it can have harmful life long side effects too on men and women.

Health risks include:

-Increased risk of heart disease (which worsens with exercise by increasing size of left ventricle leading to heart disease ad increase in blood pressure, can lower HDL and raise LDL)

-Liver damage (by improper functioning of liver)

-Kidney and prostrate cancer

-Increased risk of HIV and Hepatitis because of sharing of same needles

-Gynecomastia (breast tissue gets swollen in males because of harmonal imbalance)

-Increased risk of osteoporosis, kidney stones, glucoma

-There can be decreased production of testosterone (hypogonadism-decreased functioning of testes)

-Infertility (harmonal imbalance , due to decreased sperm production)

-Male baldness

Side effects (commonly seen both in men and women)

-emotional and physical problems

-aggressive behaviour

-mood swings

-acne

-oily scalp and skin

-mentally addictive

-weight gain

-stimulate cancer growth

-Depression

-delusions

-Increased appetithe, insomnia and increased blood sugar levels (side effect of corticosteroid)

Side effects specific in men

-muscle dystrophy (weakening and loss of muscle mass)

-lack of sexual activity

-painful erections

-development of breasts

Some specific side effects that are distinct in women than male are:

-Deepening of voice

-excessive body and facial hair growth

-irregular menstrual cycle

-enlarged clitoris*

-decreased breast size

-masculinized female fetus

-Verilization

-Steroids during pregnancy can lead to abnormal fetus development