Steroids are actually an entire class of drugs that can be prescribed to treat a variety of conditions. The type of steroid used to enhance athletic performance is called anabolic-androgenic. Anabolic refers to the muscle building effects of these drugs. Androgenic is used because these drugs are variants of naturally occurring male sex hormones. In addition to increased muscle mass androgenic-anabolic steroids cause a number of other wanted and unwanted side effects. Women can experience a unique set of side effects, some of which can be quite troubling. The specific side effect and the severity of the side effect that one encounters are likely due to the dosage, duration of use and type of anabolic-androgenic steroid used.
Physical Effects
Physical side effects range from those that are just a nuisance such as acne and oily hair to those that can life threatening like abnormalities of the heart and cancer. Some of the most troubling side effects of steroid use are liver damage--including tumors and jaundice (a yellowing of body tissues)--hypertension, increases in LDL and decreases in HDL and heart attacks. It is possible for younger individuals to have their growth stunted due to premature skeletal maturation and altered puberty changes. The effects of steroids on an individual's rate of growth can be particularly damaging if the drugs are taken before the individual experiences the adolescent growth spurt.
Psychological Effects
Steroids can cause an increase in aggressiveness which can be an advantage for some athletes. Others claim they experience a state of euphoria when taking steroids. Dramatic mood swings that are sometimes described as manic in nature have been attributed to the use of steroids. An individual may also undergo paranoia and experiences hallucinations. These mood swings combined with paranoia or hallucinations can result in violent behavior. Women may find they begin to experience an increase in their anxiety level this can be particularly prevalent as they begin to notice the development of male-like characteristics.
Sex Specific Effects
The increase in synthetic male hormones can cause women to develop male-like characteristics. Some women experience growth of facial hair and other body hair, male-pattern baldness, and a deepening of the voice. In addition the overall physique of the female may become more masculine in nature, including an enlargement of the clitoris. Women also may encounter an altered menstrual cycle. Infertility may also be a result of steroid usage. If a female becomes pregnant or begins taking steroids while pregnant there is a risk for fetal abnormalities including pseudohermaphroditism and reduced fetal growth rate.
