Taking steroids is never a wise choiceAccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, doctors never prescribe anabolic-androgenic steroids to young, healthy individuals to help them in building their muscles.

Although steroids can be used in legitimate medical purposes, it is still illegal to dispense the drug for the sole purpose of building muscles.

Sometimes, doctors may prescribe steroids in patients with severe anemia. They may also prescribe the drug in men not producing enough testosterone.

Steroids use especially for prolonged periods could produce adverse effects specific to each gender and age group.

In men, it could produce shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, male pattern baldness, breast development or gynecomastia and an increased risk for prostate cancer.

In women, it could lead to severe growth of facial hair, baldness, changes or abnormality in the menstrual cycle leading to complete cessation, enlargement of the clitoris and deepening of the voice.

Adolescents may run the risk of suffering stunted growth due to premature maturation of their skeletal structures. Puberty changes are accelerated, and they may not reach their maximum height if they take anabolic steroids before or during their growth spurt.

Taking steroids is never smart or healthy. It may shorten your lives instead of prolonging it. It could bring about problems that could hurt you for the rest of your life.

From The Cypress Times:

Steroids do make users bulk up, but the health risks are high. It’s true, on steroids biceps bulge; abs ripple; and quads balloon. But that’s just on the outside. Steroid users may be very pleased when they flex in the mirror, but they may create problems on the inside.