Side Effects of Steroid Use
The side effects of steroid use, they include tumors, cancer, heart attacks, seizures, uncontrollable psychotic behavior and even death. These are the side-effects of steroid use, well, they're the ones many of you want to hear, and now that we've gotten that out of the way we're going to discuss the actual side-effects of steroid use. It may interest you to know, in-fact it may shock you to know none of the side-effects listed above are side-effects due to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids. Make no mistake, there are side-effects of steroid use and to imply otherwise would not only be irresponsible, but it would be a lie. As that would be an irresponsible lie, equally irresponsible is implying anabolic steroids can cause side-effects that are of an impossible nature; there's never any point in distorting the truth as this helps no one.
The truth in regards to anabolic androgenic steroids is rather straightforward; yes, there are side-effects to steroid use, and we're going to go over them here today, but for the healthy adult male, they can largely be avoided even in performance level doses. Further, regardless of the dosing, no one has ever died from the use of anabolic steroids; this is important to note as death is often purported to be a massive concern. Sure, there have been plenty of people who've died with steroids in their system, there've been people who've died with bread in their stomach, but this doesn't mean the bread killed them. Again the truth is straightforward; with nearly a century of use behind us, there has yet to be a recorded death directly linked to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids. If someone dies due to unsanitary injection protocol, this isn't the steroids fault; if someone dies due to purchasing contaminated steroids, this isn't the fault of anabolic steroids but the bacteria within due to an irresponsible purchase. With all this in mind, let's take a look at the side-effects of steroid use and the truth you'll finally hear for the first time.
The Negated Factor
If you put it into your body, side effects can occur, this applies to nearly all things in life. For example, NSAID painkillers, Aspirin, Ibuprofen and things of that nature are relatively safe for most of us; the majority can use NSAID painkillers if they do so responsibly. Even so, these items carry some horrific possible side-effects; in-fact, NSAID painkillers claim the lives of more than 16,000 people every year, compare that to direct anabolic steroid deaths and it's mind-blowing. Even so, as it pertains to anabolic steroids, there are a few negated factors rarely addressed; even if the actual side-effects of steroid use are listed they are often done so in a way that distorts the truth.
What are the negated factors; the biggest of all, the most important is probability; if there is a specific side-effect what is the probability of that side-effect occurring? Further, what issues surround the increasing or decreasing the probability; what can we do to avoid such side-effects or combat them should they occur? Of equal importance is individual health; what is the state of health of the individual before supplementation begins; if he's unhealthy does it not stand to reason side-effects might be more problematic than they would be otherwise? These are questions that must always be considered, but for reasons that largely hold no validity they're often ignored. As we discuss the side-effects of steroid use, you will find we keep the above in mind, and as you continue reading you should too if you are to garner a true and reasonable understanding.
Predominant Side Effects of Steroid Use
The predominant side effects of steroid use are just that; the most common and most important as they represent the brunt of concern for the majority of those who supplement. Of the predominant side-effects, many of them are brought on by an anabolic steroids ability to aromatize which simply refers to testosterone converting into estrogen; as estrogen levels increase, some of the most commonly associated anabolic steroidal side-effects can occur. Of course, not all anabolic steroids aromatize, and of the ones that do they do not all aromatize equally; some do far more than others. Further, total dosing must be considered, as the more we supplement with the more there is to aromatize, but in any case, there is hope. Your overall sensitivity and dosing will play a massive role, but in-order to provide protection we can provide such protection through the use of Aromatase Inhibitors (AI's) as AI's do exactly what their name implies. AI's can be very beneficial, as aromatizing steroids can lead to Gynecomastia, excess water retention, and can even have a negative effect on blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It must be noted; steroids that do not aromatize yet carry a progestin nature can cause Gynecomastia in those who are sensitive to the condition; there are numerous items that can give us protection in this case, but as was with aromatizing steroids AI's will protect against progestin induced Gynecomastia.
Beyond Gynecomastia, water retention, blood pressure and cholesterol issues can all be protected with AI use; however, there are other things to note. First and foremost, there are non-aromatizing steroids that can affect blood pressure and cholesterol; however, in most all cases it will only be aromatizing steroids that can cause water retention. In either case, it is extremely important that you live a healthy lifestyle and control your diet; if you control your diet water retention should rarely be an issue, especially if you're using an AI. As for the other two, assuming your blood pressure and cholesterol levels were of a proper range before supplementation began, if you supplement with responsible and reasonable doses and consume a diet that is friendly to blood pressure and cholesterol most all who supplement will be fine. Even so, due to genetic response some may still have a problem, just as some have problems with NSAID's, but for the average healthy adult male, he should be able to maintain proper levels.
Genetic Predisposition
Your overall genetic response to various anabolic steroids will determine how sensitive you are to the overall side-effects of steroids; however, when it comes to our genetics, there are two possible side-effects of steroid use that are based on the genetic factor more so than others; hair-loss and acne. When it comes to hair-loss, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derived anabolic steroids are the main culprits; there are a few non-DHT steroids that can also promote hair loss but not to the same degree. In any case, those who are predisposed to male pattern baldness may find certain steroids cause them to lose some of their hair; they didn't create the hair-loss, it was going to occur anyway, but they can speed up the process. If you're not predisposed to male pattern baldness, you will not lose any hair; you can't if you are not genetically predisposed. It should be noted; those who are predisposed, you can try using a Finasteride product such as Proscar or Propecia to protect your hair-line. Finasteride can work quite well; however, it can also create a hormonal imbalance if you're not careful, and responsible use should be exercised.
Largely the same can be said of acne; those who are sensitive to acne will be the first to breakout, and DHT compounds are commonly the culprit. Testosterone based compounds can also cause acne, in truth, almost any steroid can, but DHT steroids appear to have this effect to the largest degree. If you are not sensitive to acne, it is unlikely you'll have a problem with any steroid, very unlikely, but if you are sensitive you may wish to exercise a little caution. Keeping your skin very clean is beyond important; this means showering often and more than once a day if necessary. Further, and this is very important, when your shirt becomes sweaty change your shirt; breakouts most commonly occur on the back or shoulders, and if you're clean and always wearing clean, dry clothes you'll provide some protection. Further, and this is beyond important, many who breakout due to the use of anabolic steroids do so because their steroids are not clean; they have purchased a cheap or improperly made compound that contains bacteria. If your product is clean and you're clean as well, unless you are overly sensitive you should be in the clear; no pun intended.
Hepatotoxic
Of all the side effects of steroid use, there is one that is far more concerning than most, and it is most commonly found with C17-alpha-alkylated (C17-aa) anabolic steroids. The C17-aa nature refers to the hormone being structurally altered at the 17th carbon position in-order for it to survive the first pass through the liver; without this change, the hormone would be destroyed before the body could use it. Fortunately the C17-aa nature protects the hormone; however, unfortunately, this nature also makes the steroid toxic to the liver. There are a few injectable steroids that carry a C17-aa nature, but by-and-large this will be a trait held by oral steroids; oral steroids that are not C17-aa anabolic steroids you will find to be very weak in-terms of anabolic action due to them being largely destroyed by the liver.
Due to the hepatotoxic nature of some anabolic steroids, primarily oral steroids, when such steroids are used your liver enzyme values will increase due to the stress on the liver. The hepatotoxic nature of the steroid will vary from one to the next, often tremendously, and as you may have guessed there are several important notes. If we supplement responsibly, assuming our liver was healthy to begin with it is very unlikely any permanent damage will be done; in most case, once all C17-aa steroids have been discontinued your liver enzyme values will return to normal. In-order to achieve this successful end, it is imperative you avoid heavy alcohol consumption when supplementing with C17-aa steroids, as this is far more stressful to the liver; in-fact, it's probably not a bad idea to avoid alcohol altogether. This really shouldn't be all that hard to do; after all, one of the main reasons people supplement with anabolic steroids is to improve their physique, and alcohol, in no way, promotes this end. Further, avoiding all over the counter (OTC) medications where possible is highly advised, as many OTC medications are far more toxic to the liver than the vast majority of anabolic steroids. This does not mean you cannot use any OTC medications, but they should be few and far-between, and only when absolutely necessary. Last but certainly not least, when supplementing with C17-aa steroids use should in most cases be limited to 6 weeks; if it's an extremely hepatotoxic steroid 4 weeks should be the max with mild steroids being acceptable for 8 weeks. These time frames do not mean your total cycle cannot extend past these points of use; it simply means this should be the maximum time frame of C17-aa steroid use. If you can do these things, if your liver was healthy before supplementation began and you supplemented with responsible doses most all will find their liver to be unharmed. If you do not head to all this advice, you may find you severely damage one of the most important organs your body desperately needs; no, you do not have to supplement with C17-aa steroids to garner success, but if you do you should head these notes of caution.
Testosterone
Of all the side effects of steroid use, there are only two that are absolutely guaranteed in all men who supplement and they are interconnected; testosterone suppression and testicular atrophy. It is true, while liver toxicity is also guaranteed, if you do not supplement with C17-aa anabolic steroids this toxicity is of no concern, but testosterone suppression and testicular atrophy will occur in every man who supplements with any anabolic steroid. When we supplement with anabolic steroids, this signals to the body it no longer has a need to produce testosterone, and as such total production is suppressed. The rate of suppression will vary from steroid to steroid, but it will occur in all men. As this occurs, as testosterone is manufactured in the testicles and this production has been suppressed your testicles will shrink; no, they will not disappear; they will merely lose a little of their fullness. Once use is discontinued, and all anabolic steroids have cleared your system, your natural testosterone production will begin again; your testicles will return to their normal size, and all will be as it once was.
As testosterone is an essential hormone to our health, one of the most important hormones we produce, when we supplement with anabolic steroids it is very important that we include exogenous testosterone. For many men, this will be the only steroid they use, but if other steroids are used, you should ensure you're providing enough testosterone for proper bodily function. This will ensure you stave off a low testosterone condition which is not only uncomfortable and bothersome, but it can be tremendously unhealthy. In any case, the form of testosterone you choose, while there are several forms the form is of no concern; all that matters is you provide your body enough of this primary androgen.
Unpredictable
There are a few possible side-effects of steroid use that are largely unpredictable, and will largely revolve around the types of steroids you choose, the total dosing and most importantly your individual response to the hormone in question. Such side-effects of steroid use include anxiety, insomnia, night sweats and rapid heart rate. In most cases, if you are a healthy adult male and you supplement with responsible doses and live a healthy lifestyle such effects will never occur; however, they are mentioned due to their possibility even if somewhat rare. In any case, the vast majority of anabolic steroids cannot cause such effects, but some of the stronger and more powerful hormonal compounds can lead to such effects. If such effects occur, you can try lowering the dosage; in most cases, you'll need to discontinue use of that steroid altogether. If this occurs and you want to try that particular steroid again, you must do so at a lower dose, but if they still occur this means that particular steroid is not for you.
Female Side Effects of Steroid Use
When females supplement with anabolic steroids, water retention, liver toxicity, acne, and blood pressure and cholesterol issues can all be a concern just as they are with men; however, for women anabolic steroids can be far harsher. This is not to say women cannot supplement with anabolic steroids successfully, but far more caution needs to be applied. First and foremost, it's vital to remember anabolic androgenic steroids are based upon the primary male androgen testosterone, and as this is their nature virilizing effects can occur. When virilization occurs, side-effects such as a deepening of the vocal chords, body-hair growth and clitoral enlargement may become a reality. For this reason, it is imperative females choose steroids that carry low levels of virilization probability, and further, supplement with low doses of such steroids. If a female chooses such steroids and supplements responsibly, in most all cases the female side-effects of steroid use can be avoided; however, once again there are notes. If virilization symptoms begin to show, you are encouraged to discontinue use; if you do so at their onset they will dissipate rather quickly. If such symptoms show and you ignore them, this is where many women get into trouble and find the side-effects to set in permanently.
The Total Truth
This encompasses the side effects of steroid use, and as you can see some of them can be quite serious, but by and large successful supplementation can be achieved. As with all things in life, the key to successful anabolic steroidal supplementation is twofold, your personal education and responsible use, and the two go hand in hand. If you can educate yourself on the various hormones you'll be using, you'll understand their full effects, and how best to maximize use while remaining safe. As for responsible use, while there are many ways people can try to define this there is only one definition that makes any sense; responsible use is use that does not cause you harm; if you cause yourself harm this is not responsible. This is it; these are the side-effects of steroid use, and now that you have this information continue your education, and if you choose supplementation supplement wisely.
Side Effects of Steroid Use
The side effects of steroid use, they include tumors, cancer, heart attacks, seizures, uncontrollable psychotic behavior and even death. These are the side effects of steroid use, well, they're the ones many of you want to hear, and now that we've gotten that out of the way we're going to discuss the actual side effects of steroid use. It may interest you to know, in fact it may shock you to know none of the side effects listed above are side effects due to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids. Make no mistake, there are side effects of steroid use and to imply otherwise would not only be irresponsible, but it would be a lie. As that would be an irresponsible lie, equally irresponsible is implying anabolic steroids can cause side effects that are of an impossible nature, there's never any point in distorting the truth as this helps no one.
The truth in-regards to anabolic androgenic steroids is rather straightforward; yes, there are side-effects to steroid use, and we're going to go over them here today, but for the healthy adult male, they can largely be avoided even in performance level doses. Further, regardless of the dosing, no one has ever died from the use of anabolic steroids; this is important to note as death is often purported to be a massive concern. Sure, there have been plenty of people who've died with steroids in their system, there've been people who've died with bread in their stomach, but this doesn't mean the bread killed them. Again the truth is straightforward; with nearly a century of use behind us, there has yet to be a recorded death directly linked to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids. If someone dies due to unsanitary injection protocol, this isn't the steroids fault; if someone dies due to purchasing contaminated steroids, this isn't the fault of anabolic steroids but the bacteria within due to an irresponsible purchase. With all this in mind, let's take a look at the side-effects of steroid use and the truth you'll finally hear for the first time.
The Negated Factor
If you put it into your body, side-effects can occur; this applies to nearly all things in life. For example, NSAID painkillers, Aspirin, Ibuprofen and things of that nature are relatively safe for most of us; the majority can use NSAID painkillers if they do so responsibly. Even so, these items carry some horrific possible side-effects; in-fact, NSAID painkillers claim the lives of more than 16,000 people every year, compare that to direct anabolic steroid deaths and it's mind-blowing. Even so, as it pertains to anabolic steroids, there are a few negated factors rarely addressed; even if the actual side-effects of steroid use are listed they are often done so in a way that distorts the truth.
What are the negated factors; the biggest of all, the most important is probability; if there is a specific side-effect what is the probability of that side-effect occurring? Further, what issues surround the increasing or decreasing the probability; what can we do to avoid such side-effects or combat them should they occur? Of equal importance is individual health; what is the state of health of the individual before supplementation begins; if he's unhealthy does it not stand to reason side-effects might be more problematic than they would be otherwise? These are questions that must always be considered, but for reasons that largely hold no validity they're often ignored. As we discuss the side-effects of steroid use, you will find we keep the above in mind, and as you continue reading you should too if you are to garner a true and reasonable understanding.
Predominant Side-Effects of Steroid Use
The predominant side-effects of steroid use are just that; the most common and most important as they represent the brunt of concern for the majority of those who supplement. Of the predominant side-effects, many of them are brought on by an anabolic steroids ability to aromatize which simply refers to testosterone converting into estrogen; as estrogen levels increase, some of the most commonly associated anabolic steroidal side-effects can occur. Of course, not all anabolic steroids aromatize, and of the ones that do they do not all aromatize equally; some do far more than others. Further, total dosing must be considered, as the more we supplement with the more there is to aromatize, but in any case, there is hope. Your overall sensitivity and dosing will play a massive role, but in-order to provide protection we can provide such protection through the use of Aromatase Inhibitors (AI's) as AI's do exactly what their name implies. AI's can be very beneficial, as aromatizing steroids can lead to Gynecomastia, excess water retention, and can even have a negative effect on blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It must be noted; steroids that do not aromatize yet carry a progestin nature can cause Gynecomastia in those who are sensitive to the condition; there are numerous items that can give us protection in this case, but as was with aromatizing steroids AI's will protect against progestin induced Gynecomastia.
Beyond Gynecomastia, water retention, blood pressure and cholesterol issues can all be protected with AI use; however, there are other things to note. First and foremost, there are non-aromatizing steroids that can affect blood pressure and cholesterol; however, in most all cases it will only be aromatizing steroids that can cause water retention. In either case, it is extremely important that you live a healthy lifestyle and control your diet; if you control your diet water retention should rarely be an issue, especially if you're using an AI. As for the other two, assuming your blood pressure and cholesterol levels were of a proper range before supplementation began, if you supplement with responsible and reasonable doses and consume a diet that is friendly to blood pressure and cholesterol most all who supplement will be fine. Even so, due to genetic response some may still have a problem, just as some have problems with NSAID's, but for the average healthy adult male, he should be able to maintain proper levels.
Genetic Predisposition
Your overall genetic response to various anabolic steroids will determine how sensitive you are to the overall side-effects of steroids; however, when it comes to our genetics, there are two possible side effects of steroid use that are based on the genetic factor more so than others, hair loss and acne. When it comes to hair loss, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derived anabolic steroids are the main culprits. There are a few non DHT steroids that can also promote hair loss but not to the same degree. In any case, those who are predisposed to male pattern baldness may find certain steroids cause them to lose some of their hair, they didn't create the hair loss, it was going to occur anyway, but they can speed up the process. If you're not predisposed to male pattern baldness, you will not lose any hair, you can't if you are not genetically predisposed. It should be noted that for those who are predisposed, you can try using a Finasteride product such as Proscar or Propecia to protect your hair line. Finasteride can work quite well, however, it can also create a hormonal imbalance if you're not careful, and responsible use should be exercised.
Largely the same can be said of acne; those who are sensitive to acne will be the first to breakout, and DHT compounds are commonly the culprit. Testosterone based compounds can also cause acne, in-truth almost any steroid can, but DHT steroids appear to have this effect to the largest degree. If you are not sensitive to acne, it is unlikely you'll have a problem with any steroid, very unlikely, but if you are sensitive you may wish to exercise a little caution. Keeping your skin very clean is beyond important; this means showering often and more than once a day if necessary. Further, and this is very important, when your shirt becomes sweaty change your shirt; breakouts most commonly occur on the back or shoulders, and if you're clean and always wearing clean, dry clothes you'll provide some protection. Further, and this is beyond important; many who breakout due to the use of anabolic steroids do so because their steroids are not clean; they have purchased a cheap or improperly made compound that contains bacteria. If your product is clean and you're clean as well, unless you are overly sensitive you should be in the clear; no pun intended.
Hepatotoxic
Of all the side-effects of steroid use, there is one that is far more concerning than most, and it is most commonly found with C17-alpha-alkylated (C17-aa) anabolic steroids. The C17-aa nature refers to the hormone being structurally altered at the 17th carbon position in-order for it to survive the first pass through the liver; without this change, the hormone would be destroyed before the body could use it. Fortunately the C17-aa nature protects the hormone; however, unfortunately, this nature also makes the steroid toxic to the liver. There are a few injectable steroids that carry a C17-aa nature, but by-and-large this will be a trait held by oral steroids; oral steroids that are not C17-aa anabolic steroids you will find to be very weak in-terms of anabolic action due to them being largely destroyed by the liver.
Due to the hepatotoxic nature of some anabolic steroids, primarily oral steroids, when such steroids are used your liver enzyme values will increase due to the stress on the liver. The hepatotoxic nature of the steroid will vary from one to the next, often tremendously, and as you may have guessed there are several important notes. If we supplement responsibly, assuming our liver was healthy to begin with it is very unlikely any permanent damage will be done; in most case, once all C17-aa steroids have been discontinued your liver enzyme values will return to normal. In-order to achieve this successful end, it is imperative you avoid heavy alcohol consumption when supplementing with C17-aa steroids, as this is far more stressful to the liver; in-fact, it's probably not a bad idea to avoid alcohol altogether. This really shouldn't be all that hard to do; after all, one of the main reasons people supplement with anabolic steroids is to improve their physique, and alcohol, in no way, promotes this end. Further, avoiding all over the counter (OTC) medications where possible is highly advised, as many OTC medications are far more toxic to the liver than the vast majority of anabolic steroids. This does not mean you cannot use any OTC medications, but they should be few and far-between, and only when absolutely necessary. Last but certainly not least, when supplementing with C17-aa steroids use should in most cases be limited to 6 weeks, if it's an extremely hepatotoxic steroid 4 weeks should be the max with mild steroids being acceptable for 8 weeks. These time frames do not mean your total cycle cannot extend past these points of use; it simply means this should be the maximum time frame of C17-aa steroid use. If you can do these things, if your liver was healthy before supplementation began and you supplemented with responsible doses most all will find their liver to be unharmed. If you do not head to all this advice, you may find you severely damage one of the most important organs your body desperately needs; no, you do not have to supplement with C17-aa steroids to garner success, but if you do you should head these notes of caution.
Testosterone
Of all the side-effects of steroid use, there are only two that are absolutely guaranteed in all men who supplement and they are interconnected; testosterone suppression and testicular atrophy. It is true, while liver toxicity is also guaranteed, if you do not supplement with C17-aa anabolic steroids this toxicity is of no concern, but testosterone suppression and testicular atrophy will occur in every man who supplements with any anabolic steroid. When we supplement with anabolic steroids, this signals to the body it no longer has a need to produce testosterone, and as such total production is suppressed. The rate of suppression will vary from steroid to steroid, but it will occur in all men. As this occurs, as testosterone is manufactured in the testicles and this production has been suppressed your testicles will shrink; no, they will not disappear; they will merely lose a little of their fullness. Once use is discontinued, and all anabolic steroids have cleared your system, your natural testosterone production will begin again; your testicles will return to their normal size, and all will be as it once was.
As testosterone is an essential hormone to our health, one of the most important hormones we produce, when we supplement with anabolic steroids it is very important that we include exogenous testosterone. For many men, this will be the only steroid they use, but if other steroids are used, you should ensure you're providing enough testosterone for proper bodily function. This will ensure you stave off a low testosterone condition which is not only uncomfortable and bothersome, but it can be tremendously unhealthy. In any case, the form of testosterone you choose, while there are several forms the form is of no concern; all that matters is you provide your body enough of this primary androgen.
Unpredictable
There are a few possible side-effects of steroid use that are largely unpredictable, and will largely revolve around the types of steroids you choose, the total dosing and most importantly your individual response to the hormone in question. Such side-effects of steroid use include anxiety, insomnia, night sweats and rapid heart rate. In most cases, if you are a healthy adult male and you supplement with responsible doses and live a healthy lifestyle such effects will never occur; however, they are mentioned due to their possibility even if somewhat rare. In any case, the vast majority of anabolic steroids cannot cause such effects, but some of the stronger and more powerful hormonal compounds can lead to such effects. If such effects occur, you can try lowering the dosage; in most cases, you'll need to discontinue use of that steroid altogether. If this occurs and you want to try that particular steroid again, you must do so at a lower dose, but if they still occur this means that particular steroid is not for you.
Female Side-Effects of Steroid Use
When females supplement with anabolic steroids, water retention, liver toxicity, acne, and blood pressure and cholesterol issues can all be a concern just as they are with men; however, for women anabolic steroids can be far harsher. This is not to say women cannot supplement with anabolic steroids successfully, but far more caution needs to be applied. First and foremost, it's vital to remember anabolic androgenic steroids are based upon the primary male androgen testosterone, and as this is their nature virilizing effects can occur. When virilization occurs, side-effects such as a deepening of the vocal chords, body-hair growth and clitoral enlargement may become a reality. For this reason, it is imperative females choose steroids that carry low levels of virilization probability, and further, supplement with low doses of such steroids. If a female chooses such steroids and supplements responsibly, in most all cases the female side-effects of steroid use can be avoided; however, once again there are notes. If virilization symptoms begin to show, you are encouraged to discontinue use; if you do so at their onset they will dissipate rather quickly. If such symptoms show and you ignore them, this is where many women get into trouble and find the side-effects to set in permanently.
The Total Truth
This encompasses the side-effects of steroid use, and as you can see some of them can be quite serious, but by-and-large successful supplementation can be achieved. As with all things in life, the key to successful anabolic steroidal supplementation is twofold; your personal education and responsible use, and the two go hand-in-hand. If you can educate yourself on the various hormones you'll be using, you'll understand their full effects, and how best to maximize use while remaining safe. As for responsible use, while there are many ways people can try to define this there is only one definition that makes any sense; responsible use is use that does not cause you harm; if you cause yourself harm this is not responsible. This is it; these are the side-effects of steroid use, and now that you have this information continue your education, and if you choose supplementation supplement wisely.
The side effects of steroid use, they include tumors, cancer, heart attacks, seizures, uncontrollable psychotic behavior and even death. These are the side-effects of steroid use, well, they're the ones many of you want to hear, and now that we've gotten that out of the way we're going to discuss the actual side-effects of steroid use. It may interest you to know, in-fact it may shock you to know none of the side-effects listed above are side-effects due to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids. Make no mistake, there are side-effects of steroid use and to imply otherwise would not only be irresponsible, but it would be a lie. As that would be an irresponsible lie, equally irresponsible is implying anabolic steroids can cause side-effects that are of an impossible nature; there's never any point in distorting the truth as this helps no one.
The truth in regards to anabolic androgenic steroids is rather straightforward; yes, there are side-effects to steroid use, and we're going to go over them here today, but for the healthy adult male, they can largely be avoided even in performance level doses. Further, regardless of the dosing, no one has ever died from the use of anabolic steroids; this is important to note as death is often purported to be a massive concern. Sure, there have been plenty of people who've died with steroids in their system, there've been people who've died with bread in their stomach, but this doesn't mean the bread killed them. Again the truth is straightforward; with nearly a century of use behind us, there has yet to be a recorded death directly linked to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids. If someone dies due to unsanitary injection protocol, this isn't the steroids fault; if someone dies due to purchasing contaminated steroids, this isn't the fault of anabolic steroids but the bacteria within due to an irresponsible purchase. With all this in mind, let's take a look at the side-effects of steroid use and the truth you'll finally hear for the first time.
The Negated Factor
If you put it into your body, side effects can occur, this applies to nearly all things in life. For example, NSAID painkillers, Aspirin, Ibuprofen and things of that nature are relatively safe for most of us; the majority can use NSAID painkillers if they do so responsibly. Even so, these items carry some horrific possible side-effects; in-fact, NSAID painkillers claim the lives of more than 16,000 people every year, compare that to direct anabolic steroid deaths and it's mind-blowing. Even so, as it pertains to anabolic steroids, there are a few negated factors rarely addressed; even if the actual side-effects of steroid use are listed they are often done so in a way that distorts the truth.
What are the negated factors; the biggest of all, the most important is probability; if there is a specific side-effect what is the probability of that side-effect occurring? Further, what issues surround the increasing or decreasing the probability; what can we do to avoid such side-effects or combat them should they occur? Of equal importance is individual health; what is the state of health of the individual before supplementation begins; if he's unhealthy does it not stand to reason side-effects might be more problematic than they would be otherwise? These are questions that must always be considered, but for reasons that largely hold no validity they're often ignored. As we discuss the side-effects of steroid use, you will find we keep the above in mind, and as you continue reading you should too if you are to garner a true and reasonable understanding.
Predominant Side Effects of Steroid Use
The predominant side effects of steroid use are just that; the most common and most important as they represent the brunt of concern for the majority of those who supplement. Of the predominant side-effects, many of them are brought on by an anabolic steroids ability to aromatize which simply refers to testosterone converting into estrogen; as estrogen levels increase, some of the most commonly associated anabolic steroidal side-effects can occur. Of course, not all anabolic steroids aromatize, and of the ones that do they do not all aromatize equally; some do far more than others. Further, total dosing must be considered, as the more we supplement with the more there is to aromatize, but in any case, there is hope. Your overall sensitivity and dosing will play a massive role, but in-order to provide protection we can provide such protection through the use of Aromatase Inhibitors (AI's) as AI's do exactly what their name implies. AI's can be very beneficial, as aromatizing steroids can lead to Gynecomastia, excess water retention, and can even have a negative effect on blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It must be noted; steroids that do not aromatize yet carry a progestin nature can cause Gynecomastia in those who are sensitive to the condition; there are numerous items that can give us protection in this case, but as was with aromatizing steroids AI's will protect against progestin induced Gynecomastia.
Beyond Gynecomastia, water retention, blood pressure and cholesterol issues can all be protected with AI use; however, there are other things to note. First and foremost, there are non-aromatizing steroids that can affect blood pressure and cholesterol; however, in most all cases it will only be aromatizing steroids that can cause water retention. In either case, it is extremely important that you live a healthy lifestyle and control your diet; if you control your diet water retention should rarely be an issue, especially if you're using an AI. As for the other two, assuming your blood pressure and cholesterol levels were of a proper range before supplementation began, if you supplement with responsible and reasonable doses and consume a diet that is friendly to blood pressure and cholesterol most all who supplement will be fine. Even so, due to genetic response some may still have a problem, just as some have problems with NSAID's, but for the average healthy adult male, he should be able to maintain proper levels.
Genetic Predisposition
Your overall genetic response to various anabolic steroids will determine how sensitive you are to the overall side-effects of steroids; however, when it comes to our genetics, there are two possible side-effects of steroid use that are based on the genetic factor more so than others; hair-loss and acne. When it comes to hair-loss, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derived anabolic steroids are the main culprits; there are a few non-DHT steroids that can also promote hair loss but not to the same degree. In any case, those who are predisposed to male pattern baldness may find certain steroids cause them to lose some of their hair; they didn't create the hair-loss, it was going to occur anyway, but they can speed up the process. If you're not predisposed to male pattern baldness, you will not lose any hair; you can't if you are not genetically predisposed. It should be noted; those who are predisposed, you can try using a Finasteride product such as Proscar or Propecia to protect your hair-line. Finasteride can work quite well; however, it can also create a hormonal imbalance if you're not careful, and responsible use should be exercised.
Largely the same can be said of acne; those who are sensitive to acne will be the first to breakout, and DHT compounds are commonly the culprit. Testosterone based compounds can also cause acne, in truth, almost any steroid can, but DHT steroids appear to have this effect to the largest degree. If you are not sensitive to acne, it is unlikely you'll have a problem with any steroid, very unlikely, but if you are sensitive you may wish to exercise a little caution. Keeping your skin very clean is beyond important; this means showering often and more than once a day if necessary. Further, and this is very important, when your shirt becomes sweaty change your shirt; breakouts most commonly occur on the back or shoulders, and if you're clean and always wearing clean, dry clothes you'll provide some protection. Further, and this is beyond important, many who breakout due to the use of anabolic steroids do so because their steroids are not clean; they have purchased a cheap or improperly made compound that contains bacteria. If your product is clean and you're clean as well, unless you are overly sensitive you should be in the clear; no pun intended.
Hepatotoxic
Of all the side effects of steroid use, there is one that is far more concerning than most, and it is most commonly found with C17-alpha-alkylated (C17-aa) anabolic steroids. The C17-aa nature refers to the hormone being structurally altered at the 17th carbon position in-order for it to survive the first pass through the liver; without this change, the hormone would be destroyed before the body could use it. Fortunately the C17-aa nature protects the hormone; however, unfortunately, this nature also makes the steroid toxic to the liver. There are a few injectable steroids that carry a C17-aa nature, but by-and-large this will be a trait held by oral steroids; oral steroids that are not C17-aa anabolic steroids you will find to be very weak in-terms of anabolic action due to them being largely destroyed by the liver.
Due to the hepatotoxic nature of some anabolic steroids, primarily oral steroids, when such steroids are used your liver enzyme values will increase due to the stress on the liver. The hepatotoxic nature of the steroid will vary from one to the next, often tremendously, and as you may have guessed there are several important notes. If we supplement responsibly, assuming our liver was healthy to begin with it is very unlikely any permanent damage will be done; in most case, once all C17-aa steroids have been discontinued your liver enzyme values will return to normal. In-order to achieve this successful end, it is imperative you avoid heavy alcohol consumption when supplementing with C17-aa steroids, as this is far more stressful to the liver; in-fact, it's probably not a bad idea to avoid alcohol altogether. This really shouldn't be all that hard to do; after all, one of the main reasons people supplement with anabolic steroids is to improve their physique, and alcohol, in no way, promotes this end. Further, avoiding all over the counter (OTC) medications where possible is highly advised, as many OTC medications are far more toxic to the liver than the vast majority of anabolic steroids. This does not mean you cannot use any OTC medications, but they should be few and far-between, and only when absolutely necessary. Last but certainly not least, when supplementing with C17-aa steroids use should in most cases be limited to 6 weeks; if it's an extremely hepatotoxic steroid 4 weeks should be the max with mild steroids being acceptable for 8 weeks. These time frames do not mean your total cycle cannot extend past these points of use; it simply means this should be the maximum time frame of C17-aa steroid use. If you can do these things, if your liver was healthy before supplementation began and you supplemented with responsible doses most all will find their liver to be unharmed. If you do not head to all this advice, you may find you severely damage one of the most important organs your body desperately needs; no, you do not have to supplement with C17-aa steroids to garner success, but if you do you should head these notes of caution.
Testosterone
Of all the side effects of steroid use, there are only two that are absolutely guaranteed in all men who supplement and they are interconnected; testosterone suppression and testicular atrophy. It is true, while liver toxicity is also guaranteed, if you do not supplement with C17-aa anabolic steroids this toxicity is of no concern, but testosterone suppression and testicular atrophy will occur in every man who supplements with any anabolic steroid. When we supplement with anabolic steroids, this signals to the body it no longer has a need to produce testosterone, and as such total production is suppressed. The rate of suppression will vary from steroid to steroid, but it will occur in all men. As this occurs, as testosterone is manufactured in the testicles and this production has been suppressed your testicles will shrink; no, they will not disappear; they will merely lose a little of their fullness. Once use is discontinued, and all anabolic steroids have cleared your system, your natural testosterone production will begin again; your testicles will return to their normal size, and all will be as it once was.
As testosterone is an essential hormone to our health, one of the most important hormones we produce, when we supplement with anabolic steroids it is very important that we include exogenous testosterone. For many men, this will be the only steroid they use, but if other steroids are used, you should ensure you're providing enough testosterone for proper bodily function. This will ensure you stave off a low testosterone condition which is not only uncomfortable and bothersome, but it can be tremendously unhealthy. In any case, the form of testosterone you choose, while there are several forms the form is of no concern; all that matters is you provide your body enough of this primary androgen.
Unpredictable
There are a few possible side-effects of steroid use that are largely unpredictable, and will largely revolve around the types of steroids you choose, the total dosing and most importantly your individual response to the hormone in question. Such side-effects of steroid use include anxiety, insomnia, night sweats and rapid heart rate. In most cases, if you are a healthy adult male and you supplement with responsible doses and live a healthy lifestyle such effects will never occur; however, they are mentioned due to their possibility even if somewhat rare. In any case, the vast majority of anabolic steroids cannot cause such effects, but some of the stronger and more powerful hormonal compounds can lead to such effects. If such effects occur, you can try lowering the dosage; in most cases, you'll need to discontinue use of that steroid altogether. If this occurs and you want to try that particular steroid again, you must do so at a lower dose, but if they still occur this means that particular steroid is not for you.
Female Side Effects of Steroid Use
When females supplement with anabolic steroids, water retention, liver toxicity, acne, and blood pressure and cholesterol issues can all be a concern just as they are with men; however, for women anabolic steroids can be far harsher. This is not to say women cannot supplement with anabolic steroids successfully, but far more caution needs to be applied. First and foremost, it's vital to remember anabolic androgenic steroids are based upon the primary male androgen testosterone, and as this is their nature virilizing effects can occur. When virilization occurs, side-effects such as a deepening of the vocal chords, body-hair growth and clitoral enlargement may become a reality. For this reason, it is imperative females choose steroids that carry low levels of virilization probability, and further, supplement with low doses of such steroids. If a female chooses such steroids and supplements responsibly, in most all cases the female side-effects of steroid use can be avoided; however, once again there are notes. If virilization symptoms begin to show, you are encouraged to discontinue use; if you do so at their onset they will dissipate rather quickly. If such symptoms show and you ignore them, this is where many women get into trouble and find the side-effects to set in permanently.
The Total Truth
This encompasses the side effects of steroid use, and as you can see some of them can be quite serious, but by and large successful supplementation can be achieved. As with all things in life, the key to successful anabolic steroidal supplementation is twofold, your personal education and responsible use, and the two go hand in hand. If you can educate yourself on the various hormones you'll be using, you'll understand their full effects, and how best to maximize use while remaining safe. As for responsible use, while there are many ways people can try to define this there is only one definition that makes any sense; responsible use is use that does not cause you harm; if you cause yourself harm this is not responsible. This is it; these are the side-effects of steroid use, and now that you have this information continue your education, and if you choose supplementation supplement wisely.
Side Effects of Steroid Use
The side effects of steroid use, they include tumors, cancer, heart attacks, seizures, uncontrollable psychotic behavior and even death. These are the side effects of steroid use, well, they're the ones many of you want to hear, and now that we've gotten that out of the way we're going to discuss the actual side effects of steroid use. It may interest you to know, in fact it may shock you to know none of the side effects listed above are side effects due to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids. Make no mistake, there are side effects of steroid use and to imply otherwise would not only be irresponsible, but it would be a lie. As that would be an irresponsible lie, equally irresponsible is implying anabolic steroids can cause side effects that are of an impossible nature, there's never any point in distorting the truth as this helps no one.
The truth in-regards to anabolic androgenic steroids is rather straightforward; yes, there are side-effects to steroid use, and we're going to go over them here today, but for the healthy adult male, they can largely be avoided even in performance level doses. Further, regardless of the dosing, no one has ever died from the use of anabolic steroids; this is important to note as death is often purported to be a massive concern. Sure, there have been plenty of people who've died with steroids in their system, there've been people who've died with bread in their stomach, but this doesn't mean the bread killed them. Again the truth is straightforward; with nearly a century of use behind us, there has yet to be a recorded death directly linked to the use of anabolic androgenic steroids. If someone dies due to unsanitary injection protocol, this isn't the steroids fault; if someone dies due to purchasing contaminated steroids, this isn't the fault of anabolic steroids but the bacteria within due to an irresponsible purchase. With all this in mind, let's take a look at the side-effects of steroid use and the truth you'll finally hear for the first time.
The Negated Factor
If you put it into your body, side-effects can occur; this applies to nearly all things in life. For example, NSAID painkillers, Aspirin, Ibuprofen and things of that nature are relatively safe for most of us; the majority can use NSAID painkillers if they do so responsibly. Even so, these items carry some horrific possible side-effects; in-fact, NSAID painkillers claim the lives of more than 16,000 people every year, compare that to direct anabolic steroid deaths and it's mind-blowing. Even so, as it pertains to anabolic steroids, there are a few negated factors rarely addressed; even if the actual side-effects of steroid use are listed they are often done so in a way that distorts the truth.
What are the negated factors; the biggest of all, the most important is probability; if there is a specific side-effect what is the probability of that side-effect occurring? Further, what issues surround the increasing or decreasing the probability; what can we do to avoid such side-effects or combat them should they occur? Of equal importance is individual health; what is the state of health of the individual before supplementation begins; if he's unhealthy does it not stand to reason side-effects might be more problematic than they would be otherwise? These are questions that must always be considered, but for reasons that largely hold no validity they're often ignored. As we discuss the side-effects of steroid use, you will find we keep the above in mind, and as you continue reading you should too if you are to garner a true and reasonable understanding.
Predominant Side-Effects of Steroid Use
The predominant side-effects of steroid use are just that; the most common and most important as they represent the brunt of concern for the majority of those who supplement. Of the predominant side-effects, many of them are brought on by an anabolic steroids ability to aromatize which simply refers to testosterone converting into estrogen; as estrogen levels increase, some of the most commonly associated anabolic steroidal side-effects can occur. Of course, not all anabolic steroids aromatize, and of the ones that do they do not all aromatize equally; some do far more than others. Further, total dosing must be considered, as the more we supplement with the more there is to aromatize, but in any case, there is hope. Your overall sensitivity and dosing will play a massive role, but in-order to provide protection we can provide such protection through the use of Aromatase Inhibitors (AI's) as AI's do exactly what their name implies. AI's can be very beneficial, as aromatizing steroids can lead to Gynecomastia, excess water retention, and can even have a negative effect on blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It must be noted; steroids that do not aromatize yet carry a progestin nature can cause Gynecomastia in those who are sensitive to the condition; there are numerous items that can give us protection in this case, but as was with aromatizing steroids AI's will protect against progestin induced Gynecomastia.
Beyond Gynecomastia, water retention, blood pressure and cholesterol issues can all be protected with AI use; however, there are other things to note. First and foremost, there are non-aromatizing steroids that can affect blood pressure and cholesterol; however, in most all cases it will only be aromatizing steroids that can cause water retention. In either case, it is extremely important that you live a healthy lifestyle and control your diet; if you control your diet water retention should rarely be an issue, especially if you're using an AI. As for the other two, assuming your blood pressure and cholesterol levels were of a proper range before supplementation began, if you supplement with responsible and reasonable doses and consume a diet that is friendly to blood pressure and cholesterol most all who supplement will be fine. Even so, due to genetic response some may still have a problem, just as some have problems with NSAID's, but for the average healthy adult male, he should be able to maintain proper levels.
Genetic Predisposition
Your overall genetic response to various anabolic steroids will determine how sensitive you are to the overall side-effects of steroids; however, when it comes to our genetics, there are two possible side effects of steroid use that are based on the genetic factor more so than others, hair loss and acne. When it comes to hair loss, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derived anabolic steroids are the main culprits. There are a few non DHT steroids that can also promote hair loss but not to the same degree. In any case, those who are predisposed to male pattern baldness may find certain steroids cause them to lose some of their hair, they didn't create the hair loss, it was going to occur anyway, but they can speed up the process. If you're not predisposed to male pattern baldness, you will not lose any hair, you can't if you are not genetically predisposed. It should be noted that for those who are predisposed, you can try using a Finasteride product such as Proscar or Propecia to protect your hair line. Finasteride can work quite well, however, it can also create a hormonal imbalance if you're not careful, and responsible use should be exercised.
Largely the same can be said of acne; those who are sensitive to acne will be the first to breakout, and DHT compounds are commonly the culprit. Testosterone based compounds can also cause acne, in-truth almost any steroid can, but DHT steroids appear to have this effect to the largest degree. If you are not sensitive to acne, it is unlikely you'll have a problem with any steroid, very unlikely, but if you are sensitive you may wish to exercise a little caution. Keeping your skin very clean is beyond important; this means showering often and more than once a day if necessary. Further, and this is very important, when your shirt becomes sweaty change your shirt; breakouts most commonly occur on the back or shoulders, and if you're clean and always wearing clean, dry clothes you'll provide some protection. Further, and this is beyond important; many who breakout due to the use of anabolic steroids do so because their steroids are not clean; they have purchased a cheap or improperly made compound that contains bacteria. If your product is clean and you're clean as well, unless you are overly sensitive you should be in the clear; no pun intended.
Hepatotoxic
Of all the side-effects of steroid use, there is one that is far more concerning than most, and it is most commonly found with C17-alpha-alkylated (C17-aa) anabolic steroids. The C17-aa nature refers to the hormone being structurally altered at the 17th carbon position in-order for it to survive the first pass through the liver; without this change, the hormone would be destroyed before the body could use it. Fortunately the C17-aa nature protects the hormone; however, unfortunately, this nature also makes the steroid toxic to the liver. There are a few injectable steroids that carry a C17-aa nature, but by-and-large this will be a trait held by oral steroids; oral steroids that are not C17-aa anabolic steroids you will find to be very weak in-terms of anabolic action due to them being largely destroyed by the liver.
Due to the hepatotoxic nature of some anabolic steroids, primarily oral steroids, when such steroids are used your liver enzyme values will increase due to the stress on the liver. The hepatotoxic nature of the steroid will vary from one to the next, often tremendously, and as you may have guessed there are several important notes. If we supplement responsibly, assuming our liver was healthy to begin with it is very unlikely any permanent damage will be done; in most case, once all C17-aa steroids have been discontinued your liver enzyme values will return to normal. In-order to achieve this successful end, it is imperative you avoid heavy alcohol consumption when supplementing with C17-aa steroids, as this is far more stressful to the liver; in-fact, it's probably not a bad idea to avoid alcohol altogether. This really shouldn't be all that hard to do; after all, one of the main reasons people supplement with anabolic steroids is to improve their physique, and alcohol, in no way, promotes this end. Further, avoiding all over the counter (OTC) medications where possible is highly advised, as many OTC medications are far more toxic to the liver than the vast majority of anabolic steroids. This does not mean you cannot use any OTC medications, but they should be few and far-between, and only when absolutely necessary. Last but certainly not least, when supplementing with C17-aa steroids use should in most cases be limited to 6 weeks, if it's an extremely hepatotoxic steroid 4 weeks should be the max with mild steroids being acceptable for 8 weeks. These time frames do not mean your total cycle cannot extend past these points of use; it simply means this should be the maximum time frame of C17-aa steroid use. If you can do these things, if your liver was healthy before supplementation began and you supplemented with responsible doses most all will find their liver to be unharmed. If you do not head to all this advice, you may find you severely damage one of the most important organs your body desperately needs; no, you do not have to supplement with C17-aa steroids to garner success, but if you do you should head these notes of caution.
Testosterone
Of all the side-effects of steroid use, there are only two that are absolutely guaranteed in all men who supplement and they are interconnected; testosterone suppression and testicular atrophy. It is true, while liver toxicity is also guaranteed, if you do not supplement with C17-aa anabolic steroids this toxicity is of no concern, but testosterone suppression and testicular atrophy will occur in every man who supplements with any anabolic steroid. When we supplement with anabolic steroids, this signals to the body it no longer has a need to produce testosterone, and as such total production is suppressed. The rate of suppression will vary from steroid to steroid, but it will occur in all men. As this occurs, as testosterone is manufactured in the testicles and this production has been suppressed your testicles will shrink; no, they will not disappear; they will merely lose a little of their fullness. Once use is discontinued, and all anabolic steroids have cleared your system, your natural testosterone production will begin again; your testicles will return to their normal size, and all will be as it once was.
As testosterone is an essential hormone to our health, one of the most important hormones we produce, when we supplement with anabolic steroids it is very important that we include exogenous testosterone. For many men, this will be the only steroid they use, but if other steroids are used, you should ensure you're providing enough testosterone for proper bodily function. This will ensure you stave off a low testosterone condition which is not only uncomfortable and bothersome, but it can be tremendously unhealthy. In any case, the form of testosterone you choose, while there are several forms the form is of no concern; all that matters is you provide your body enough of this primary androgen.
Unpredictable
There are a few possible side-effects of steroid use that are largely unpredictable, and will largely revolve around the types of steroids you choose, the total dosing and most importantly your individual response to the hormone in question. Such side-effects of steroid use include anxiety, insomnia, night sweats and rapid heart rate. In most cases, if you are a healthy adult male and you supplement with responsible doses and live a healthy lifestyle such effects will never occur; however, they are mentioned due to their possibility even if somewhat rare. In any case, the vast majority of anabolic steroids cannot cause such effects, but some of the stronger and more powerful hormonal compounds can lead to such effects. If such effects occur, you can try lowering the dosage; in most cases, you'll need to discontinue use of that steroid altogether. If this occurs and you want to try that particular steroid again, you must do so at a lower dose, but if they still occur this means that particular steroid is not for you.
Female Side-Effects of Steroid Use
When females supplement with anabolic steroids, water retention, liver toxicity, acne, and blood pressure and cholesterol issues can all be a concern just as they are with men; however, for women anabolic steroids can be far harsher. This is not to say women cannot supplement with anabolic steroids successfully, but far more caution needs to be applied. First and foremost, it's vital to remember anabolic androgenic steroids are based upon the primary male androgen testosterone, and as this is their nature virilizing effects can occur. When virilization occurs, side-effects such as a deepening of the vocal chords, body-hair growth and clitoral enlargement may become a reality. For this reason, it is imperative females choose steroids that carry low levels of virilization probability, and further, supplement with low doses of such steroids. If a female chooses such steroids and supplements responsibly, in most all cases the female side-effects of steroid use can be avoided; however, once again there are notes. If virilization symptoms begin to show, you are encouraged to discontinue use; if you do so at their onset they will dissipate rather quickly. If such symptoms show and you ignore them, this is where many women get into trouble and find the side-effects to set in permanently.
The Total Truth
This encompasses the side-effects of steroid use, and as you can see some of them can be quite serious, but by-and-large successful supplementation can be achieved. As with all things in life, the key to successful anabolic steroidal supplementation is twofold; your personal education and responsible use, and the two go hand-in-hand. If you can educate yourself on the various hormones you'll be using, you'll understand their full effects, and how best to maximize use while remaining safe. As for responsible use, while there are many ways people can try to define this there is only one definition that makes any sense; responsible use is use that does not cause you harm; if you cause yourself harm this is not responsible. This is it; these are the side-effects of steroid use, and now that you have this information continue your education, and if you choose supplementation supplement wisely.
