Steroids side effects range from life threatening to simply bothersome. Either way, however, the steroids side effects need to be monitored so that they don't cause permanent or otherwise harmful problems.

Steroids side effects include changes in health. These steroids side effects can range from liver and kidney damage to elevated cholesterol levels and raised blood pressure. Additionally, steroids side effects also include cardiovascular problems.

Steroids side effects can also cause undesirable changes in appearance including acne, premature balding (in men and women) as well as yellowing of the skin (also referred to as jaundice).

Some steroids side effects are gender specific. For example, men who use steroids might experience gynocomastia which shows itself as the growth of breast tissue in men. This steroids side effect is due to the fact that steroids increase the levels of estrogen in men. Men may also experience the steroids side effects of reduced sexual function and infertility. Additionally, steroids side effects in men also include testicular atrophy which is generally a temporary reduction or inhibition of natural hormone production in the body.

Women who use the drugs experience the steroids side effects of virilization which is defined as the appearance of male secondary gender characteristics including increased body hair, a deepened voice and clitoral hypertrophy. Women might also experience the steroids side effects of a decreased or ceased menstrual cycle.

Teenagers sometimes choose to use steroids as well without fully understanding the steroids side effects that could change their lives. For example, teenagers might experience stunted growth due to the steroids side effect that the steroids can prematurely stop the lengthening of bones. They can also experience precocious sexual development as a steroids side effect and hypervirilization (the appearance of extreme secondary sexual characteristics).

There are ways to minimize the steroids side effects from monitoring the appearance of them and taking medications designed to counteract them to taking a variety of steroids in a cycle to help minimize the appearance of these steroids side effects.