Women and Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids have been around for more than 70 years. The predominant users of these steroids have been men but over the past 30 years, women have also started to abuse these drugs. In fact, it is widely believed that many female athletes from the Eastern bloc countries in the 70s and 80s were loaded with anabolic steroids during sporting events. In North America, use of anabolic steroids is common but not often reported. Since the screening has become more rigid, many women are discreet about their usage patterns.

It is estimated that about 7% of high school girls have tried anabolic steroids and this number increases slightly over time. In sports, the number of women who take anabolic steroids is not really known but is believed to be quite high. Many women now seem to be taking anabolic steroids at a younger age. Once the body is built they enter professional sports where they only need maintenance treatments to keep up their physique.

The Problem
All the available anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of the male sex hormone, testosterone.  These drugs posses both anabolic and androgenic properties. Men take anabolic steroids to build muscle. Females take anabolic steroids for many more reasons.

Like men, women use anabolic steroid to build their body and also be competitive in the field of sports. There is also one important fact which all females have to know- the side effects and complications of anabolic steroids are much worse in females than in males.

Availability of anabolic steroids

Over the years, countless anabolic steroids have been developed and many have been discontinued by the pharmaceutical companies. Today, the majority of anabolic steroids are available only for hospital use to treat certain medical disorders.

Anabolic steroids for personal use are only available through illegal means. Some women get their steroids from foreign countries like Mexico, Thailand, Europe or over the internet. In each and every case, the quality and purity of these illegally acquired anabolic steroids remains questionable. Plus, many of the illegally acquired anabolic steroids have contaminants and fake products are also common.

The most popular anabolic steroids used by women include:
     
    Winstrol
    Depo testosterone
    Halotestin
    Anadriol
    Stanozolol
    Equipose
    Oxandrin

Most women usually start off with the low doses and generally take the drugs for a few months. Unlike men, the dose in women does not have to be high to produce the anabolic effects. When the dose is increased, many of the anabolic steroids have undesirable side effects which are not always reversible. Women who take these steroids see a noticeable effect in their body after about 3-4 weeks. The initial weight gain is usually from water retention and then the muscle mass build up follows. A female must exercise in order to build the body. Taking anabolic steroids without any formal exercise program only leads to obesity.

Most women who take anabolic steroids develop increased protein mass and reduced body fat. Women who have used anabolic steroids in the past claim that these drugs create a positive euphoria and increased awareness. Besides developing a sexy and trim body, these women also notice the obvious increase in strength. Unlike men, women experience a heightened sexual arousal when taking anabolic steroids.
Dose

Unlike men, the amount of anabolic steroid required to build the body is significantly much less in women. Women also tend to build the body faster then men. The key for all women who take anabolic steroids is to start low. The low doses mean fewer chances of side effects and minimal complications.
Side effects

Like all drugs, side effects also occur with anabolic steroids. The most common side effects seen in women who take these drugs include the following:

These side effects do not occur in all women nor do they all occur at the same time. Estimates indicate that about 1-5% of women suffer from some type of side effect. However, with long term use, a high proportion of women do develop mental issues which often never reverse. When the drugs are discontinued, unfortunately, not all the side effects are reversible.
Why women take anabolic steroids

Unlike men, women take anabolic steroids for several reasons. Some women have a body dysmorphic disorder- meaning they look at themselves in the mirror and are unhappy at what they see. Other women who take anabolic steroid to get bigger and stronger so that they can protect themselves. Others take the steroids to become competitive in sports.
Steroid abuse

The exact data on steroid abuse in women are unknown; every now and then a female athlete is caught with steroids in the body. Because of stringent screening criteria, the numbers of users are down but by no means eliminated. Many women take these steroids during the off season or while away on vacation.
Final point

Anabolic steroid use is common among women. Even though women are new to the body building scene they do know what it takes to build a body faster. There are some researchers who now indicate that women should abstain from use of anabolic steroids. Proper exercise and nutrition should be encouraged because the long term mental problems lead to disturbances in lifestyle.

Overall, most women who have taken steroids in the past now claim that the use of anabolic steroids never enhanced their competitive potential, but made a big difference in their sexuality.