Steroids and Their Effects

During World War II, it was discovered that malnourished people could gain weight if they took the male hormone, testosterone. The Soviets were the first to use it for their athletes. During this time the disadvantages were the masculinizing effects on women and the enlargement of the prostate gland in men. An American physician then helped develop and test anabolic steroids, which promoted constrictive metabolism.

            Steroids have androgenic, or masculinizing, effects. These include growth of the penis and other male sex glands, deepening of voice and increased facial hair. Steroids also have anabolic effects which include increased muscle mass and strength and increased size of some internal organs. Other anabolic effects are that it controls the distribution of body fat, increases the building of proteins and increases the calcium in the bones.

            Steroids give a user a stimulant - like high. They can also increase aggression. A drawback of steroid use is the psychological dependence. The user feels good while on steroids, but depressed when off of them. A steroid user can also experience mood swings which can interfere with personal and even professional relationships. A major drawback of steroid use is the manic rage that has come to be known as “roid rage”. Roid rage is under discussion as a legitimate effect and bears having research done. Users that suffer from roid rage describe having violent feelings and actions, which are sometimes uncharacteristic of them.

            Steroids also have physical effects. Steroids can increase the amount of work a user can do and increase the intensity of effort. For younger users who have not reached their full height, steroid use can cause premature closing of growth plates thus limiting adult height. Another physical effect is peliosis hepatitis, which is a bloody cyst in the liver. Steroid use can also affect your cardiovascular system. Such effects are atherosclerosis (thickening of artery wall as result of a build – up of fatty materials), high blood pressure and heart disease. Acne, baldness, partial or complete wasting away of the testes and breast enlargement are all possible effects seen by men. Women have a low dose of testosterone naturally. When steroids are taken, some women experience muscle growth, mild acne, decreased breast size, fluid retention, enlargement of the clitoris, facial hair and deepening of voice. Some of these effects are irreversible.

            When weighing the advantages and disadvantages of steroid use, I must admit that I cannot find one single advantage worth all the disadvantages. I think I can handle gaining strength and endurance the old fashioned way rather than risk any of the negative effects.

References

Hart, C.L. & Ksir, C. (2011). Drugs, Society & Human Behavior (14^th ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw – Hill Companies, Inc.

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