Anabolic Steroids: What it Really Does to Your Body.

Anabolic steroids are natural hormones produced by the body that help build muscle. The male sex hormone testosterone is the most active anabolic steroid in the human body. Men have bigger muscles than women because their bodies produce much more of the male hormone testosterone. During the puberty of males, their testicles grow and start to make more testosterone, which starts a rapid increase in height and muscle.

Testosterone is a normal chemical present in the male body. Though testosterone is present in the body, it is in small amounts. Large amounts of steroids are only needed in the body at three points in a male’s life. First, as they are developing in the womb; second, right after they are born; and t

The reproductive system is directly affected by the use of steroids. Steroids cause many problems, from infertility, to prostrate cancer. Dr. Kuhn states, “Steroids trick the body into thinking that it is producing too much testosterone, and so it stops making testosterone and sperm, and the testes actually shrink. A certain percentage of each dose steroids is converted into the female sex hormone estradiol. This can lead to the development of breast tissue. Cancer in the reproductive system is a major concern. The reproductive system is the most sensitive to testosterone-like hormones” (75-76).

Many people consider steroid use cheating because the many competitive gains it has can give one athlete using steroids an advantage over another that is not using steroids. Steroids give an athlete a physical advantage and, in many cases give an athlete psychological advantages over the athlete who does not use steroids. Steroids are said to make the user more confident because of the muscles that they have. They feel better about themselves and their physical abilities. Now In any sport, these psychological advantages can give athletes the edge over their opponent. Dr. Kuhn states, “They can increase the sense of well-being, and at toxically high doses this can become a hypomania-an elevation of mood and a need to be active that is pathological. (78).

Bodybuilders are the most common group to use steroids. Dr. Lukas states “Steroids are used most commonly among bodybuilders and power lifters. Over 50 percent of male bodybuilders have reported using steroids” (15). Besides bodybuilders, other athletes also use steroids. The number of high school athletes who use steroids is also on the rise. Dr. Kuhn states “Use of anabolic steroids began with elite athletes, but today it includes even high school students who are taking anabolic steroids for cosmetic purposes. Most research estimate that 3 to 5 percent of high school age athletes and 5 to 15 percent of adult athletes use performance enhancing drugs. The level of anabolic steroid use among teenage athletes exceeds the use of any drugs other than alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana” (72).

Some topics in this essay:
Dr Kuhn, Dr Lukas, , anabolic steroids, Steroids Steroids, dr kuhn, dr lukas, increase muscle size, increase muscle, steroids steroids, muscle size, anabolic steroid, steroids increase, reproductive system, steroids affect, steroids steroids cause, dr kuhn “the, effects anabolic steroids, affected steroids steroids,