Are you trying to gain an edge in taking body-enhancing drugs? Learn how these drugs work and how they affect your health.
Many serious athletes have a strong desire to win. And I often have big dreams. Some athletes want to be on a professional sports team. Others want to win medals for their country. Some athletes use drugs that may give them an edge because of the pressure to win. These drugs are called body-enhancing drugs. Using these drugs is known as doping.
However, doping comes with risks. Learn more about the effects of body-enhancing drugs on your health.
anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids are drugs that athletes take to increase their strength and build muscle. These drugs are also called anabolic and androgenic steroids. It is designed to act like a hormone made by the body called testosterone.
Testosterone has two main effects: :
- Build muscle.
- Causes features such as facial hair and deep voice.
Anabolic steroids used by athletes are often in the form of lab-made testosterone.
Some people use anabolic steroids for medical reasons. But doping for sports is not one of the uses the drug is approved for.
Why do some athletes want to use anabolic steroids? These drugs may reduce the damage that occurs to muscles during strenuous exercise. It may help athletes recover faster from exercise. They may be able to exercise harder and more reps. Also, some people may like what their muscles look like when they take these drugs.
A more dangerous type of anabolic steroid is called a designer steroid. Some drug tests may not be able to detect designer steroids in your body. Anabolic steroids have no government-approved medical uses.
risk
Many athletes take anabolic steroids at too high doses. These doses are much higher than those used by medical practitioners for medical reasons. Anabolic steroids also have serious side effects.
possibly male.
- See their breasts grow.
- Note their shrinking testicles.
- Inability to conceive a partner.
- Your health care provider tells you that your prostate is getting bigger.
for women
- Deepen your voice. It may not be reversed by treatment.
- You notice that the part of your genitals called the clitoris is getting bigger.
- Increase body hair.
- Hair falls out. It may not go away even with treatment.
- Your periods have stopped coming or are much less frequent than they used to be.
Many serious athletes have a strong desire to win. And I often have big dreams. Some athletes want to be on a professional sports team. Others want to win medals for their country. Some athletes use drugs that may give them an edge because of the pressure to win. These drugs are called body-enhancing drugs. Using these drugs is known as doping.
However, doping comes with risks. Learn more about the effects of body-enhancing drugs on your health.
anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids are drugs that athletes take to increase their strength and build muscle. These drugs are also called anabolic and androgenic steroids. It is designed to act like a hormone made by the body called testosterone.
Testosterone has two main effects: :
- Build muscle.
- Causes features such as facial hair and deep voice.
Anabolic steroids used by athletes are often in the form of lab-made testosterone.
Some people use anabolic steroids for medical reasons. But doping for sports is not one of the uses the drug is approved for.
Why do some athletes want to use anabolic steroids? These drugs may reduce the damage that occurs to muscles during strenuous exercise. It may help athletes recover faster from exercise. They may be able to exercise harder and more reps. Also, some people may like what their muscles look like when they take these drugs.
A more dangerous type of anabolic steroid is called a designer steroid. Some drug tests may not be able to detect designer steroids in your body. Anabolic steroids have no government-approved medical uses.
risk
Many athletes take anabolic steroids at too high doses. These doses are much higher than those used by medical practitioners for medical reasons. Anabolic steroids also have serious side effects.
possibly male.
- See their breasts grow.
- Note their shrinking testicles.
- Inability to conceive a partner.
- Your health care provider tells you that your prostate is getting bigger.
for women
- Deepen your voice. It may not be reversed by treatment.
- You notice that the part of your genitals called the clitoris is getting bigger.
- Increase body hair.
- Hair falls out. It may not go away even with treatment.
- Your periods have stopped coming or are much less frequent than they used to be.
Show More
