e body to produce their desired effects. Anabolic steroids have dramatic and visible effects, but carry serious risks. There are immediate risks in terms of psychiatric effects such as mood swings, personality changes, and violent outbursts. People with no criminal history have been known to commit murder on steroids. Many users suffer from withdrawal depression if they stop using the drugs, which fosters a dependency on them.
Because testosterone is a male hormone, normally only present in small amounts in females, female athletes taking anabolic steroids develop male characteristics (Freudenrich, 2004; Kowalski, 2003, 8). Their voices grow deeper, and they may grow beards and get more body hair. Steroids also interfere with their menstrual cycle, and they may become infertile. Males, on the other hand, by upsetting the normal hormone balance, become less masculine, and the testicles may shrink, and they can become impotent. Breasts may be enlarged, and their hair may fall out. Acne and stunted growth are problems for both sexes using anabolic steroids. They can cause headaches and muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, and ligament and tendon ruptures (Bruce, 2004). Long-term risks include liver and prostate cancer, and kidney disease (Freudenrich, 2004; Kowalski, 2003, 8). Injecting any drug increases the risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other potentially fatal diseases.
Human growth hormone (HGH) and similar drugs have the effect of prolonging puberty, the time when testosterone production is high, and also promote bone growth (Freudenrich, 2004; Kowalski, 2003, 9). However, growth hormone also causes abnormal growth of the face, hands, a
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