To develop a more significant muscle mass more quickly and easily. Anabolic steroids are publicly available, and they’re an easier way to push the human body’s natural limits.
However, given the associated risks, are steroids worth the risks?
Sure, anabolic steroids are well documented and regulated, but does that mean they’re free of risks? Not really.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about steroids, the risks that are often hidden, and if they’re ultimately worth it.
What are Steroids?
The most popular type of steroids is the AAS – Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids and is a form of testosterone created synthetically. Testosterone is the male hormone that is naturally produced by the human body.
That being said, testosterone is also produced in the female body but in much smaller amounts, which is why women take them.
For instance, it is common for both men and women to buy testosterone cypionate and increase their performance when hitting the gym.
However, since the amount produced naturally may not be enough for the fitness goals, some athletes and experienced bodybuilders choose to increase the dose by taking steroids.
Other than affecting the development of muscle mass, these steroids also impact the overall performance, muscle recovery, hair follicles, liver, bones, and even kidneys. Let’s go more in-depth in the following paragraphs.
How Much Testosterone is Normally Taken?
The human body naturally produces testosterone, and we all have different levels. But, when it comes to taking anabolic steroids?
As a general rule of thumb, 300 to 600 mg per week in healthy adult men for about twenty weeks is enough to see great results.
The normal range of natural testosterone men have is between 300 and 1,000 ng/dl as a general rule of thumb. On the other hand, women generally have between 15 and 70 ng/dl.
The standard anabolic steroids dose should be 300 mg or a little more to achieve the best results when within these ranges.
Pros of Taking Steroids
Anabolic steroids are the most common products available, and gym-goers take the substance for several reasons. Of course, the number 1 purpose is to gain muscle mass, but let’s elaborate on the topic.
First and foremost, steroids improve protein synthesis and, therefore, the muscle tissue increases. When muscles grow, no new cell is formed, and, therefore, steroids help the existing ones to grow in size. The process of adding structural protein to the muscles is called hypertrophy, and the cell diameter gets more prominent.
In addition, the body fat percentage decreases, which helps steroids-takers become leaner, which, naturally, gets them closer to their ultimate goal.
Apart from that, the recovery process of injuries and workout sessions becomes easier and quicker when taking steroids. Every bodybuilder that previously experienced Tendinitis or different injuries knows how beneficial this is.
Last but not least, steroids help with bone mineral density making them bigger and much less likely to break.
Naturally, all users can get different benefits from taking steroids based on their activity, overall health, and more. But to know if steroids are worth it, let’s go through the risks.
What are the Risks of Taking Steroids?
As mentioned previously, anabolic steroids impact the overall body condition like hair, bones, livers, and kidneys, other than muscles.
But how exactly are they affected? This is where the associated risks happen. The most common risks of taking steroids include:
- Infertility
- Baldness
- Severe acne
- Getting tendon rupture
- Heart disease and heart attacks
- Experiencing skin yellowing – Jaundice
- Develop aggressive behavior – roid rage
- Increased risks of liver disease and cancer
- Increased risks or kidney issues and failure
It goes without saying that there are more risks, and they can vary between men and women. For instance, men could experience shrunken testicles while women could get excessive body hair.
All in all, despite the benefits of steroids, the risks are also to be considered as they can become severe for your health.
Steroids are Addictive
Another risk of taking that is worth considering is to be addictive. While some users initially plan to take them for a short period, the truth is that many of them can’t stop. According to research, around 32% of anabolic steroids users become dependent or tolerant on the substance which leads to constantly increasing the dose.
Conclusion – Are Steroids Worth it?
Misusing steroids is not illegal, and purchasing or possessing them is not banned either. But, as we’ve seen in this detailed guide, the associated risks are many and sometimes can lead to severe diseases.
All things considered, steroids are not worth the risk of having a heart attack, having to go through surgery, and more.
We all want to become stronger and leaner, but eating a considerable amount of healthy food more frequently and sticking to a gym program can also be very productive in terms of muscle mass.
This was everything you needed to know about the risks of steroids why users find them beneficial, and we hope you’re ready to make an informed decision.
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With the continuous popularity of the substance, the risks of taking steroids must be considered. Are steroids worth it? Let’s find out in this full guide.
