What can anabolic steroid use cause in women?

Anabolic steroids have not been taboo for quite a long time. Although a few years ago even top bodybuilders tried to give the impression that they just follow a carefully set diet and train a lot, today we all kind of know that anabolics play an irreplaceable role in the lives of bodybuilders. And just look at how many famous pros have died in recent weeks. But unfortunately, anabolics are not just a men's thing, they are increasingly making their way into the world of women's sports as well. But do you know what kind of negative effects it can have on the fairer sex? In our article today, we'll be looking at this issue in more detail.

What are anabolic steroids anyway?

First of all, a brief definition of the terms is useful to understand the situation at least briefly. Anabolic steroids are usually understood as substances that are natural to the body, which in our organism are responsible for the proper synthesis of proteins and thus influence not only the growth of muscles, but also of bones. For the purposes of our article today, however, this term means synthetic anabolic steroids - that is, not those that men and women's bodies make themselves, but those that are administered either by injection or orally. Synthetic anabolics are man-made derivatives that are artificially produced but replicate in structure the male sex hormone called testosterone. It performs a number of different functions in the bodies of both men and women, but by increasing its levels (often many times) you are setting yourself up for a number of different complications.

Anabolic steroids are mainly abused for more efficient muscle and strength growth and better fat burning.

What can synthetic steroids do to women?

Men naturally have higher levels of testosterone than women, and this is one of the factors that differentiate the sexes - it is because of testosterone that men have beards, a gruff voice and often a higher sex drive. However, an excess of this hormone is associated with a number of negatives. And for women, this is logically also true. Among the very common (and dangerous) manifestations of synthetic testosterone are:

• Sudden voice change - The voice of a man and a woman can be distinguished very quickly in most cases. If women decide to take anabolics, one of the first negative effects that can be observed is just a change in voice. Women possessing higher levels of testosterone have a much deeper voice.
• Cosmetic flaws - More testosterone in the body can unfortunately manifest itself in a worse complexion. A typical manifestation of high testosterone levels can be acne (both on the face and the rest of the body), but also greasy hair or various red dots and other imperfections.
• Mood swings - Women taking anabolic steroids experience quite frequent mood swings, which have been highlighted in scientific studies. They may also experience irritability, hostility and, in extreme cases, various psychoses. Not to mention the fact that the intake of anabolics can lead to addiction related to the desire to look as good as possible.
• Changes in the menstrual cycle - Hormone levels are important in women because of a proper menstrual cycle. If your body has an excess of testosterone, you may naturally experience irregularities in your menstruation and in extreme cases, of course, you may even lose it completely. This effect can be further compounded by any low percentage of subcutaneous fat that is typical of women competing in bodybuilding.
• Damage to internal organs - As for men, steroid abuse also means an increased risk to internal organs in the case of women. Specifically, your kidneys and liver are at risk, which take a beating especially with orally administered steroids. In the long term, the heart, which is also a muscle, can also be damaged and therefore enlarged as a result of anabolic abuse.

Hair loss, pubic hair growth, breast reduction, clitoral enlargement and other negatives leading to loss of attractiveness.

These effects are, of course, a tax on the desire for a muscular body and are unfortunately overlooked by many women (even very young ones) nowadays. If you consider anabolic steroids as the only possible means to achieve your goal, you should definitely be aware of the individual negatives and ideally consult an experienced professional, ideally with a medical background.

If you have ever thought about taking anabolics, you should consider a number of different negatives.

Why do women reach for anabolic steroids?

There are a number of reasons why women reach for anabolic steroids. The most prominent in most cases is the pursuit of some ideal body, which for many women consists of a chiselled physique. In this case, women reach for various weight-loss doping substances - typical examples include clenbuterol, ephedrine or oxandrolone, which we mentioned in a separate article focusing on specific abused substances. For some, however, a certain desire for a muscular physique and strength, which is of course related to muscles, can also be a motivation.

Many women reach for doping substances in pursuit of some sort of ideal physique. And they can do it reliably without them.

What to take away from today's article?

The main thing you should take away from today's article is that anabolic steroids bring women a huge amount of negatives that all women should be aware of. Prohibited substances belong in elite sport to some extent, which is why many professional female bodybuilders do not undergo doping tests at all, but for recreational female athletes anabolics should be a complete taboo. It is possible to achieve a good physique that others will envy without problems, even without banned substances. All you need to do is eat well, train hard and possibly take some quality supplements.