Dane Fletcher’s Body Blog

Look onstage at any bodybuilding contest, and you will undoubtedly witness physiques constructed with a combination of hard work in the gym, solid nutrition, and the use of anabolic steroids.  While many magazine articles will lead you to believe that it’s possible to achieve a champion physique using only the high-priced supplements they peddle and more work than the guy on the next bench, the reality of the situation is that steroids are a common part of the total puzzle at the top levels of bodybuilding.  But what are the side effects of anabolic steroids?

Testosterone Production Shutdown
Any time you use steroids, the body will sense your elevated testosterone levels and order your testes to halt all natural testosterone production.  When you stop using steroids, if you don’t use any PCT, or post-cycle therapy hormones to slowly rebuild your testosterone levels, you will fid yourself in a situation where your natural production levels are near zero.

Acne
You probably remember those times as a teenager when your acne was perhaps the biggest problem in your life.  At that age, your body’s natural testosterone levels were very high, resulting in oily skin and acne on your face, neck, back and chest.  Any time you use anabolic steroids to raise your body’s testosterone levels to a point equal or above what they were as a teen, you run a substantial risk of acne.  You can use over-the-counter products to reduce outbreaks, but oral solutions such as Retin-A can often be too toxic when used in conjunction with anabolic steroids.

Hair Loss
Ever wondered why there are such a high number of cue-ball heads on the bodybuilding stage – or in your gym for that manner – compared with the rest of the world?  Unfortunately, the higher your body’s levels of testosterone, the more likely you will be to develop male pattern baldness.  Your genetics also have a major say in the matter.  Going bald, or the nonstop receding hairline, is perhaps one of the most feared side effects of anabolic steroids.  If you have a genetic predisposition to lose your hair, AAS will make this happen faster.  This kind of hair loss cannot be reversed when the user halts AAS.  If you go bald from steroids, there’s a good chance you’ll be this way forever.

Gyno
Gynecomastia is unfortunately very real, and will occur if you allow estrogen levels in your body to rise too much during or following your cycle.  Use an anti-estrogen product such as Nolvadex to prevent the tissue underneath your nipples from swelling permanently.

This isn’t to say that the positive side effects seen with the use of anabolic steroids are not a wonderful thing – they are!  Users will make substantial gains in terms of muscle mass and strength.  They will look like an entirely new person when compared with their former self.  And, as long as cycles are relatively short (4 to 6 weeks on orals and 10 to 14 weeks on injectables), you shouldn’t suffer too bad from any of these effects.

This article is provided from SteroidsToday.com, the world’s leading steroids information  project.  You can find more free information about Steroid Profiles, Steroid Q and A’s and Steroids  articles by visiting SteroidsToday.com.