The side effects of steroids can be potentially life threatening to people who use them in the high doses necessary to increase their muscle mass as well as performance. While the side effects of steroids are possible when used for medical treatment of ailments, the likelihood of life threatening or permanent damage from the side effects of steroids isn't as high because the doses are smaller and the users are often closely monitored by medical professionals.
Men may experience specific side effects of steroids. These side effects of steroids include the inhibition of natural hormone production in the body. This side effect of steroids is often temporary, but the more steroids a person takes and the longer the regimen, the longer it takes the body to return to normal production. Men also experience other side effects of steroids including testicular shrinking, decreased sperm count and impotence, premature balding, gynocomastia (the development of breast tissue) and an enlarged prostate.
Women who take steroids experience different side effects of steroids. These include virilization (the appearance of male secondary sexual characteristics including facial hair and body hair), decreased or ceased menstrual cycles, a deepening of the voice and an enlarged clitoris.
Adolescents may experience a completely different set of side effects of steroids. They include stunted growth, precocious sexual development and hypervirilization (the appearance of extreme secondary sexual characteristics).
Some side effects of steroids manifest regardless of gender. These include increased acne, jaundice, elevated levels of cholesterol, increased blood pressure, liver and kidney damage and cardiovascular diseases.
People who use steroids for non-medical purposes have found ways to minimize the side effects of steroids by self-monitoring signs of appearing side effects of steroids, taking medications to counteract side effects of steroids and by stacking and cycling specific steroids to best minimize the side effects of steroids.
