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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.