A user of
anabolic
steroids can display obvious symptoms and these
side
effects of anabolic steroids can be gender specific. In
females, the physical
side
effects of steroids are the so-called virilization
symptoms. Since
anabolic
steroids are derived from male androgens, these drugs can
cause growth of male sexual characteristics when taken by women. One
can immediately tell if a woman is taking
anabolic steroids –
she loses the natural curves associated with the female gender. A woman
on steroids has a well-defined and straight physique usually
accompanied by breast shrinkage. Other
side effects of anabolic steroids
are the deepening or hoarsening of voice; excessive hair growth on the
face, chest, and back areas; and male pattern baldness. Puffiness under
the eyes is yet another side effect of anabolic steroids as caused by
sodium retention.
On male users, the most common
side
effects of anabolic steroids are the feminization
symptoms, such as water retention and
gynecomastia.
Water retention occurs when males use highly aromatizable anabolic
steroids, which are converted to female hormone estrogen. This is also
basically the same process that causes gynecomastia, or the growth of
breast tissues in males.
Both genders can experience severe
acne
outbreak and oily skin from using anabolic steroids.
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