For decades, athletes and bodybuilders around the world have used anabolic steroids as an adjunct to achieve better results. Such actions are quite justified because steroids can quickly build muscle mass, regulate the athlete’s metabolism, and help in increasing endurance.

But there is also a price to pay for steroid use. Moreover, the side effects of such drugs have both symptomatic and cumulative effects. It is best to know in advance about the long-term health risks of steroids.

What Are Main Side Effects of Anabolic Steroids

If we talk about the standard set of side effects that occur during the use of anabolic steroids, then they are as follows:

• The effect of steroid use on mood can range from pleasure to depression or signs of aggression.
• On the part of the skin, acne and swelling are striking side effects.
• The use of steroids leads to impaired liver function. In this regard, persons using steroids often have significant deviations in liver function indicators. The risk of liver tumors increases.
• Steroid use leads to high blood pressure, thickening of the aortic wall, and can also lead to heart problems. The effects of steroid use can include sudden cardiac death.
• With the use of steroids, there is often a significant increase in cholesterol levels (a decrease in the level of “good” cholesterol and an increase in the level of “bad” cholesterol).
• In addition, the risk of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction is significantly increased.
• Sex drive in men may initially increase, but impotence often develops after prolonged use.

And these are just the basic side effects that have been reported in medical studies of steroid use by athletes. Of course, no one will give you a 100% guarantee that it is in your case that a full bunch of side effects awaits you when taking steroids, but it is still worth knowing about them.

Long-Term Health Risks in Steroid Use

The situation with the use of steroids and the prospect of further health is much more complicated and confusing. The fact is that there has been a lot of research but it is still impossible to confirm the 100% health risk when taking steroids. But there are already some intermediate results that can be called valid and worth the attention of athletes.

• With prolonged use of anabolic steroids, serious changes occur in various organs and systems of the athlete’s body. This is confirmed as a result of many years of conducted surveys.
• Up to 80% of athletes taking steroids suffer from liver dysfunctions. Tableted forms of AS lead to disruption of the antitoxic and excretory functions of the liver and the development of hepatitis.
• There is a blockage of the biliary tract, jaundice, and even deaths have been noted.
• There is evidence of the occurrence of oncological diseases of the liver, kidneys, the deposition of stones and disruption of the processes of urine formation.
• It has been proven to have a negative effect on the endocrine system, on carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
• Admission of Testosterone by adult men reduces the secretion of their own hormone, testicular atrophy, suppression of spermatogenesis, a decrease in sperm count, changes in sexual feelings, etc. Develop.

Moreover, it takes 6 or more months to restore the normal level of spermatogenesis, and with prolonged use of steroids, these changes can become persistent and even irreversible. There were signs of gynecomastia, i.e. significant development of the tissues of the mammary glands and nipples, which in severe cases may require surgical intervention.