Anabolic Steroids – Myths About This Sensitive Topic.
Anabolic steroids are a sensitive topic.
Some people take anabolic steroids at a young age, while others are afraid of using them. Unfortunately, there are many lies and half-truths circulating on this topic too. That is why we want to inform you and provide well-founded facts.
The myths about anabolic steroids.
Myth No. 1: If anabolic steroids are stopped, the side effects disappear again. If you stop at the right moment, even side effects that occur can be avoided.
If anabolic steroids are stopped, the side effects do not disappear immediately.
The following side effects must be expected with use (not exhaustive):
Breast growth in men: The testosterone taken in is partly converted into the female sex hormone oestrogen. In men, oestrogen causes the mammary glands to enlarge and a female-type breast to develop.
Masculinisation in women: In women, anabolic steroids can lead to masculinisation (e.g. facial hair growth or a deep voice). The clitoris can also enlarge.
Reduced fertility: Anabolic steroids cause the testicles to shrink. The sperm count and sperm quality decrease. With prolonged use of anabolic steroids, this can lead to infertility.
Myth No. 2: If muscle mass has been built up through anabolic steroids and strength training, it will remain for a long time.
Muscle mass increases quickly when anabolic steroids are taken. However, the retention of muscle mass is limited in time. After stopping anabolic steroids, the muscle mass gained therefore declines again within 6 to 12 weeks. If testosterone is supplied from outside, the body thus inhibits its own production. This is due to negative feedback. If a lot of testosterone is produced (or supplied from outside), the body's own production is strongly inhibited. If little is produced, the inhibition is only slight. This creates a self-regulating system. The body's own production of testosterone is therefore greatly reduced while anabolic steroids are being used. If muscle mass is to be maintained over years, anabolic steroids must therefore be used again and again.
Myth No. 3: All side effects of anabolic steroids can be suppressed with other medications. It is therefore just a matter of planning and taking the medications.
It is not possible to control the side effects of anabolic steroids. Using medication can prevent individual side effects (e.g. hair loss in men). However, it is not possible to suppress all side effects. In addition, you must be aware that the medications used in turn bring side effects of their own. It is a vicious circle!
Myth No. 4: The ingredients of anabolic steroids sold on the internet or by an acquaintance are the same.
In Switzerland, anabolic steroids are subject to prescription and can therefore only be obtained with a medical prescription. For this reason, anabolic steroids approved by Swissmedic cannot simply be bought.
Anabolic steroids offered on the black market are therefore sometimes manufactured in underground labs without safety precautions. The ingredients and their dosages are therefore also completely unclear. These products may therefore be contaminated and thus pose an enormous safety risk.
According to surveys, approx. 70% of consumers of anabolic steroids buy the products over the internet!
So, keep your hands off anabolic steroids!
Sources:
- Piacentino D, Kotzalidis GD, del Casale A, et al. Anabolic-androgenic Steroid use and Psychopathology in Athletes. A Systematic Review. Current Neuropharmacology. 2015;13(1):101-121.
- Van Amsterdam J, Opperhuizen A, Hartgens F. Adverse health effect of anabolic-androgenic steroids. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2010 Jun;57(1):117-23
