# Anabolic steroids and bodybuilding? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 6, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365 "2003-12-06T12:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/1 "2003-12-06T12:23:27Z")
Can anyone point me to some good unbiased sites with information on the long- and short-term side effects of anabolic steroid use for bodybuilders? My 17 year old son is very interested in bodybuilding. He has shown me a couple of sites and messages on message boards that seem to indicate that steroids can be used responsibly. The health class I took in college said different – it said that anabolic steroids are always bad, all the time, and listed a number of nasty-sounding side effects such as severe acne, increased aggression, major organ damage and shrunken testicles. Any similar unbiased sites about the use of other supplements (Creatine being the one he is most interested in) would also be helpful. Most of the information I’ve been able to find seems to come from the supplement companies themselves (or from sites/ magazines that depend on advertising from the supplement companies) and I don’t consider those to be unbiased sources. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/2 "2003-12-06T12:40:57Z")
It doesn’t really matter- anabolic steroids are illegal in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/3 "2003-12-06T12:47:00Z")
So is cocaine, but I doubt that would be our response asking for factual information on the dangers of crack. If Jess’ son is going to do this he is going to do it. It’s hardly in the spirit of the boards to proclaim that it’s illegal so she might as well remain ignorant of the dangers. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/4 "2003-12-06T12:50:05Z")
No, but there could be issues with asking this information on this board. You know, illegal activities. Board policy and such. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/5 "2003-12-06T13:00:57Z")
The Boards have no policy about asking for factual information on the physiological effects of illegal drugs. That has been explicitely stated. With over 1000 posts I’m sure Jess knows this. If you believe any rules have been breached I would have thought that notifying a moderator would have been more helpful than telling a concerned Mom that it doesn’t matter what damage her son is planning to do to himself because it’s illegal anyway. I apologise for the hijack and if this sounds rude, but that came across as rude, uncaring and encouraging ingnorance,. However I can’t be bothered opening a pit thread about something so minor and I doubt you meant it that way anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/6 "2003-12-06T13:10:53Z")
The biggest problem with anabolic steroids for body-building and athletic performance is that they work. That is, they really will enable a person to add muscle, heal quicker, and become stronger. Not only is this process faster than would naturally occur, it also allows greater development than would ever occur without drugs. Short term effects are pretty well known - acne, testicle shrinkage (if he wants kids down the road this may be a problem), “roid rage”, and so forth. You can also have nasty occurances like the attachment points for muscles ripping off the bones, which requires major surgery to repair. Long term damage includes damage to kidneys, liver, heart and so forth. Cancer also seems to crop up. Cataracts and glaucoma. Osteoporosis. One of the things I think you want, and your son should read, are first-person accounts of people, including well-known professional athletes, who used steroids and later paid a rather steep price. I know those accounts are out there, but I couldn’t find them on Google (which is odd, because usually Google is a good searcher) Another big problem is that if your son is interested in bodybuilding competition the only way he is going to be able to compete is to use steroids - it’s impossible to achieve competitor status without it these days. Now, if he just wants to look better and isn’t interested in competing, in other words, if he would be satisfied with what nature gives him, then bodybuilding can be a rewarding activity. Steroids _do_ have legal and legitimate uses for people who have, for instance, suffered traumatic muscle injury (such as serious burns) or in certian other disorders. These are not common conditions. And I don’t think the therapeutic doses are nearly as large as those used by some “athletes”. Any other use is illegal. If your son is caught illegally using steroids, or worse yet, selling them, he will be treated like any other user of illegal drugs. But, if he’s in the gym he going to see guys using this stuff, and those guys are going to get fantastic results - at least in the short term. It’s going to be mighty, mighty tempting. You are correct - the websites sponsored by manufacturers of supplements and steroids are NOT un-biased. I’m sure there are articles in medical journals, but they’ll be a tough read unless you have a medical background. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/7 "2003-12-06T13:28:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Long term damage includes damage to kidneys, liver, heart and so forth. Cancer also seems to crop up. Cataracts and glaucoma. Osteoporosis. Really only with overuse and years of massive amounts of steroids is this really a serious issue. The short term side effects like “bitch-tits” and testicular shrinkage are much more of a concern. Unless you are taking massive amounts of steroids the liver damage is slight, same with the heart and kidneys. (alcohol is much worse in this regard) Many of the bodybuilding message boards will oftentimes reflect this, and you will get a much better response than these boards. (biased, because for the most part repeating what they see in books or health classes, where in my experience, the bodybuilding message board oftentimes bring up current research papers and such) When I first read this OP I got the impression that she was looking for some sort of place to buy them, hence my post. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/8 "2003-12-06T13:31:21Z")
Thanks, **Broomstick**. And, to clarify, I _do_ know that anabolic steroids are illegal. The online info my son has shown me seem to be in favor of them anyway. These sites are saying that the warnings against steroid use are overinflated. Now, I’m not worried about my son using steroids at this point – he is only 17, doesn’t have a job, or access to any money other than his allowance which isn’t enough for any illegal drugs, let alone steroids. Also, he is on his school wrestling team and so subject to urine testing (I don’t know whether or not the school actually tests for steroids, but Nick thinks that they do). And, he’s thinking seriously about going into the military after high school and he knows that they also test for drugs. At any rate, most of the pro-steroid sites he’s shown me don’t recommend even considering steroid use until you’ve reached your natural maximum development and he isn’t there yet. However, eventually I know that at some point Nick will have a job, be out of my house, be as big as he can get naturally, and be free of any wories about drug testing. I want to be sure that he has all of the facts _before_ I have to worry about him being willing or able to indulge. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/9 "2003-12-06T13:35:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Epimetheus \* > \*\*…When I first read this OP I got the impression that she was looking for some sort of place to buy them, hence my post. \*\* My god, _no_! I won’t even buy him Creatine or Ripped Fuel! ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/10 "2003-12-06T13:41:39Z")
My appologies then. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/11 "2003-12-06T13:58:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Epimetheus \* > Really only with overuse and years of massive amounts of steroids is this really a serious issue. The short term side effects like “bitch-tits” and testicular shrinkage are much more of a concern. Unless you are taking massive amounts of steroids the liver damage is slight, same with the heart and kidneys. Do I think “moderate” steroid use is _possible?_ Yes. Can I look at someone and predict whether or not they will be _able_ to use moderately? No. Hence, all my cautionary ramblings. The drugs are seductive because they _work_. They give you what you want. There is a very human tendency to want more of what works. Indeed, even on the pro-steroid sites they have a lot of cautionary statements about overuse and side effects. That’s from the PRO side. The temptation to over-use is always there - because in the short term over-use can give you even more of what you want. People DO over use, and do so for years at a time. It’s a real risk. Hence, I mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/12 "2003-12-06T14:02:50Z")
I used various steroids for several years, back in my wild youth, along with several of my friends. Ah, ‘The Juice’. ‘Training with Vigor’. ‘On the Sauce’. Et Cetera. -Your son should not do it. -Some people experience nasty acne breakouts. And I mean _nasty_. I was lucky, but there was this kid at the gym who broke out so bad on his back that his shirt ‘soaked’ through. Utterly disgusting. -All steroids are bad for you, in the long-run, but orals are hell on your liver, and do wicked things to your cholesterol levels. -Hope your son doesn’t mind needles. 22 gauge, 2 inch needles, 3-5 times per week. And I need not even mention the abosolute neccesity of using only new, sterile needles? -Again, I lucked out, but many who inject steroids for a while develop subdermal abscesses. Oh ya, and man-boobs. -A proper ‘stack’ must be planned out, and used over a timed ‘cycle’. I won’t give details here, but depending on what you have, and what you wish to accomplish, you need to plan out the usage. -Roid rage is BS, from my observations. I am a laid-back guy, and never ‘flipped out’ while on. A buddy of mine was a spaz from day one, and continued to be a spaz when on. -He will have to worry about getting popped by the cops, and given the amounts of steroids that you need on hand to ‘properly’ use them, if you do get popped, it will most likely be with an ‘intention to distribute’. -His testicles will shrink while using. (They revert to normal, but come on now, shrunken testicles?) It’s hard to convince the young bucks that it’s not worth it. As has been said, they _do_ work. You’ll get so big, so fast, that stretch marks become a serious issue. Not to mention joint damage, but hey… With hard work and a good diet (so important, yet so often overlooked), I am in plenty good form. As a bonus, I am not putting bovine and equine veterinarinary product in me, several times a week. Not to mention the $1,000-$1,500 for a proper ‘big stack’ a couple of times per year that I am saving. (Mid-90’s prices) I got out of it fairly scot-free. The Governator of California did not, and has had several serious operations to deal with problems from his using days. (To be fair, he also used growth hormones, which are orders of magnitude worse for you than 'roids.) \*I claim no educated medical knowledge, but am just conveying blurbs of my experiences. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/13 "2003-12-06T14:09:17Z")
i can’t think of a good unbiased site most are either pro or anti. However the side effects are generally (im sure there are tons more) Acne hair loss mood changes (anxiety, depression, anger) muscle development testicular shrinkage impotence (from some anabolics) breast development liver damage muscle or joint injury from overwork Elevations in cholesterol, blood pressure & triglycerides. Temporary illness due to fluctuating levels of hormones (ie test flu) To my knowledge there is no evidence saying anabolics cause cancer. Human growth hormone can cause cancer but that is not technically an anabolic steroid. Anadrol, which is a type of anabolic steroid, can cause hypertrophy of the prostate but that is not cancerous. many of these side effects are avoidable with responsible drug use or use of other drugs to counteract these effects. Clomid or HCG to prevent testicular shrinkage, Retin A for acne, Arimidex or Tamoxifen for breast development, avoiding oral anabolics to avoid liver damage, avoiding low androgenic drugs to avoid impotence, etc. etc. etc. Naturally IANAD and im sure doctors on SD will try to rip me a new one for saying this stuff but that is the reality of the situation. the reality is anabolics are dangerous but if used properly with other medications many side effects can be lessened or avoided. ---
**Author:** ![Anal\_Scurvy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@Anal\_Scurvy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anal_Scurvy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/14 "2003-12-06T14:48:09Z")
go to [www.bodybuilding.com](http://www.bodybuilding.com), click on the option “super site” (the other option is “super store”. A page will come up with a tool bar down the left side, the very last link is to a forum. Register, post your message either under “misc” or the steroid forum. And for the record, it is possible to compete without steroids. Natural bodybuilding is taking off now that people like Flex Wheeler have stopped juicing and are competing in a drug-free organization. I’ve never taken steroids, but it’s the kind of thing that can be used responsibly with little danger. The only time you can get away with it with relative safety is when you’ve reached your natural genetic potential. The problem is psychological more than physical if you use responsibly. It’s hard to moderate yourself because steroids give you amazing gains in size and strength, but they disappear when you stop juicing. So why stop and lose all the goodness? What really gives steroid pushers ammo is the complete disinformation of anti-steroid campaigns. People know and it just discredits a good cause. Oh, and I’ve seen a lot of roid rage in martial arts. And a lot of sick shit like people bleeding from their nose for no reason. And when you’ve got them in your guard, that’s just disgusting. Who knows what diseases they have. Protein and Creatine are both fine supplements and are, at the moment, the only two non-anabolic muscle-building supplements that are known to work. Andro, N20, Tribex, etc. etc. etc. It’s hard to really know because your only source of real info is shills. ---
**Author:** ![Anal\_Scurvy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@Anal\_Scurvy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anal_Scurvy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/15 "2003-12-06T14:53:32Z")
In response to my last post… post your message somewhere other than the steroid forum if you get a bad response. I just realized that I’ve never even browsed through it and have just kind of assumed that it’s full of the same smart, well-informed lifters that proliferate other boards. A lot of the people there fully support clean bodybuilding. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/16 "2003-12-06T14:55:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anal Scurvy \* > \*\* > The problem is psychological more than physical if you use responsibly. It’s hard to moderate yourself because steroids give you amazing gains in size and strength, but they disappear when you stop juicing. So why stop and lose all the goodness? > \*\* i dont really agree with that. From what i’ve seen steroids just make you oversensitive and lower your stress tolerance. If people react to stress with anxiety, the anxiety will be worse. If they react angrily the anger will be worse. The physical side effects are more important IMO. Secondly its not true that muscle built while on steroids disappears when you stop using them. Maybe if someone uses them way too long and way too often then yes but for the occasional user who isnt pushing his body beyond what its capable of then the muscle will probably be permanent. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/17 "2003-12-06T15:56:47Z")
There’s a lot of good steroid info over at [T-mag](http://www.testosterone.net), although you’ll have to search for it. They are owned by a supplement company, but usually recommend that teenagers avoid fancy supplements and just stick to protein and creatine. In particular, your son should read [this article](http://www.t-mag.com/nation_articles/201dawg.html), which details the order in which bodybuilders should concentrate on various parts of their lifestyle. Your son needs to read it. I’ll quote the author’s take on steroid use: > [@](#): > > My personal “rules” for steroid use are as follows: > > • You must have at least five years of real, consistent training under your belt. And no, that two years you spent farting around with those cement-filled weights in high school doesn’t count. And if after five years you’re still making progress, why bother with 'roids? Which leads us to…. > > • You must be truly peaked out genetically. This is probably less than one percent of all gym goers and athletes. > > • You must be over the age of 25. I’m not thinking of physical considerations here, but rather emotional ones. It takes a certain level of psychological maturity to use steroids. I would’ve hated for someone to have handed me a bottle of D-bol when I was 18. Would I have researched it properly? Nope. Cycled it? Probably not. Learned how to eat right to support muscle growth? Uh, does Taco Bell count? > > I also think that to use steroids in an intelligent manner you need to have something to lose. In other words, a person with a career and a family wouldn’t take too many unnecessary risks. He’d be more likely to keep safety in mind, cycle appropriately, and use anti-estrogens. On the other hand, a kid with no responsibilities, a part time job at Burger Barn, no family of his own, and a host of self-esteem issues… well, I think you get the point. That last bullet is the most important. People who start steroid use early don’t need to learn to eat or train properly, and if they ever go off the juice, they’re probably not going to be able to maintain much of anything. Someone who’s gone through the work to get huge naturally has to have a lot of knowledge under his belt, and he’s never going to lose that. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/18 "2003-12-06T21:46:33Z")
Get him a copy of [Muscle](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671701959/qid=1070747022/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-0563780-8486244?v=glance&s=books) by Sam Fussell. It’s a really entertainingly written account of an over-educated scrawny guy’s adventure into bodybuilding. He eventually moves to California to compete and hangs out with other hard-core builders. His descriptions of steroid abuse are fascinating and definitely cover the down-sides of steroid use without being preachy. The books out of print but it’s pretty easy to find a used copy… ---
**Author:** ![ekow2kn3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@ekow2kn3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekow2kn3)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/19 "2003-12-06T22:07:32Z")
What about just using creatine? ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365/20 "2003-12-06T22:35:24Z")
Dont have any sites for you, but can tell you what ive seen firsthand. Been an avid weightlifter for about 10 years now. Ive known a few friends and people who’ve taken steroids during that time. The only thing I ever seen was the bitch tits, the horrible acne, and the occasional chair throwing. Ive stuck with protein shakes and a healthy diet my entire time. Although Im not huge, im definitely not small. Ive tried Creatine as well, but decided to stop using it. It made me gain too much weight while I was on it. I believe your son just wants to get as big quick. Hence the steroid inquiry. But the reality is, weightlifting takes years of discipline and its really kind of a lifestyle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anabolic-steroids-and-bodybuilding/217365.md?page=2)