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Health
consequences associated with anabolic steroid
abuse include:
In boys and men, reduced sperm production, shrinking
of the testicles, impotence, difficulty or pain
in urinating, baldness, and irreversible breast
enlargement (gynecomastia).
In girls and women, development of more masculine
characteristics, such as decreased body fat and
breast size, deepening of the voice, excessive
growth of body hair, and loss of scalp hair, as
well as clitoral enlargement.
In adolescents of both sexes, premature termination
of the adolescent growth spurt, so that for the
rest of their lives, abusers remain shorter than
they would have been without the drugs.
In males and females of all ages, potentially
fatal liver cysts and liver cancer; blood clotting,
cholesterol changes, and hypertension, each of
which can promote heart attack and stroke; and
acne. Although not all scientists agree, some
interpret available evidence to show that anabolic
steroid abuse-particularly in high doses-promotes
aggression that can manifest itself as fighting,
physical and sexual abuse, armed robbery, and
property crimes such as burglary and vandalism.
Upon stopping anabolic steroids, some abusers
experience symptoms of depressed mood, fatigue,
restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced
sex drive, headache, muscle and joint pain, and
the desire to take more anabolic steroids.
In injectors, infections resulting from the use
of shared needles or nonsterile equipment, including
HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and infective endocarditis,
a potentially fatal inflammation of the inner
lining of the heart. Bacterial infections can
develop at the injection site, causing pain and
abscess.
Source: NIDA Community
Drug Alert Bulletin: Anabolic Steroids, April
2000
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