Steroids
use can offer benefits to individuals.
Steroids use can
improve protein synthesis and nitrogen retention of
muscle tissues.
These processes can lead to muscle mass and strength gains. However,
steroids use can
also cause bad effects to the users, especially if megadosing and
prolonged cycles are practiced.
In women, steroids use can result to breast shrinkage, hirsutism, and
voice deepening. In men, steroids use can cause low sperm count,
gynecomastia, and hair loss. In adolescents, it can lead to premature
closure of growth plates resulting to stunted growth.
To curb
steroids
use among teens, statewide steroid testing in high school
level has increased. It is reported that prior to 2006, statewide
programs testing
athletes
for these scheduled compounds have been nonexistent. Now, at least 10
states have adopted or are planning to develop such programs.
The side effects of steroids use can be minimized through several means
and foremost of this is the use of what is called as the post-cycle
therapy. The PCT is utilized by many individuals after their steroids
cycle. A PCT is usually made up of
human
chorionic gonadotropin (
HCG),
aromatase inhibitors, or selective estrogen receptor modulators (
SERMs)
to restore the body’s endogenous hormonal balance.