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Female Side effects of Anabolic Steroid Use
BY A PRO FEMALE BODYBUILDER- NAME WITHHELD FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
 

Apart from all the other potential side effects that both men and women can suffer (headaches, nausea, high blood pressure etc) from AS usage, some are of unique concern or exclusive to female athletes. I have seen so little information out there for females considering taking AS or those on it and wondering if what is happening to them is normal and what, if anything, they can do about it.

One reason is that not many publications have big enough audiences to merit articles for women. The ones that do certainly do not wish to write about such things in case of offence and also in case people actually wake up and realize that just as many female Bodybuilders (and in numerous other sports) are taking some kind of pharmacology and more often than not AS. Sometimes this is because it is embarrassing, females athletes do not like to talk about such effects. The ones with hairy chests, deep voices and huge chins simply bury their heads in the sand. Each to their own but I prefer to be informed.

I wish I would have know what I know now before starting AS in the early 1990s. I would have done a lot differently and saved myself many problems. This article is not to embarrass or offend just to inform as best I can. I thank Area 9 for allowing me to do this article and for helping me write it and checking the science behind what I write. Also for allowing me to remain anon which as I am still competing, take AS personally, and living in the USA is all important.

Therefore I am happy to give my own experience and those around me to try and finally add something to the pool of knowledge for the ladies of sport asking AS. I hope they find it useful.

In no particular order:

HAIR AND SKIN PROBLEMS

Hair loss is bad enough for men. For us women it can be devoting. Most women do not suffer too badly from hair loss as long as they stick to low androgens at low doses. The problems arise when women take low androgens or commonly thought of as ‘safe’ AS for them to take in high doses. In high enough doses even low androgens can turn into high androgens. Most women suffer from drier hair and general thinning all over. Normal hair loss treatments can help a little bit but the best thing to do is to stop the problem before it becomes a problem by taking low/moderate doses or products know to be relativity safe for us women.

The other hair problem is that of increased hair growth. It is not joke or exaggeration to say that many power lifters and female bodybuilding competitors, especially at the higher levels, have to shave every day just like men. This hair grows almost everywhere from the face to the legs to the backside outside and inside!! It is distressing but something most decide is acceptable if they can win because of it. You can however always see that a women shaves, especially on the face it seems because of the hair follicles are still more viable when on AS use. This can happen even on low dose androgens.

In regards to the skin apart from extra sebum production and spots can change to become more ‘manly’ in texture. This usually takes long time on AS or high dose androgens and can take up to 12 months or more to return to normal. It does not affect every woman who takes AS but a large percentage none the less.

DEEPENING OF THE VOICE

This happens with most women who take Anabolic Steroids. The severity is dependant on how much is taken, the duration and also the woman’s own pre-steroid use, voice and voice producing (i.e. voice box etc) structure. This can even happen with low androgens and low dose usage.

Over years of AS high androgen usage the Larynx can enlarge and look like an Adams apple. This is not harmful but not nice to look at either.

Regrettably the voice, rarely, returns to normal after the cessation of anabolic steroid usage.

PROBLEMS ‘DOWN THERE!’

As James joked in his excellent book when mentioning this side effect “I know us men cannot always find the bugger (clitoris) but there are other ways of showing us where it is!”

A slight amount of enlargement of the clitoris is not as bad as some women thinking of taking steroids may think. In fact when it is slight, I emphasise ‘slight’ it makes it easier for you o reach orgasm and you also can have easier ‘multiple orgasms’.

The problem is when the clitoris enlarges so big it looks like a man's penis, albeit a tiny version.  This effect is not harmful but psychologically it cause problems to the women either because she finds it distresses or the reaction she can get from other men who generally find it unattractive to say the least. Anavar, Primobolan and Winstrol is low to moderate doses are considered safe to use if you wish to avoid his problem.

Your monthly periods may become irregular and even stop another when on AS. Some may feel relived at this news but it is a great help to know this fact. I thought I was pregnant when this happened to me in my uneducated days and so it saves a lot of raised expectations, or in other circumstances, stress. This returns to normal once you stop AS usage.

The other common side effect is an odourless discharge (AKA the Drip!) caused by high androgen usage and also dianabol. It is harmless enough but a pain to deal with but easily solved with the usual safeguards that us women (and nowadays most me LOL) know about.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

High androgens can cause aggression in woman just as in men. In some cases women can be more sensitive in early steroid usage because higher testosterone levels gives the user feelings they have not experienced and so therefore they have not managed to learn to ‘deal’ with those feelings whereas men on the other hand have had some experience of natural testosterone highs that have induced more competitive or aggressive behaviour. However many women do handle this very well, after all we all suffer from hormone imbalances regularly so we can often deal with it with no problems.

Just as in men coming off steroids could cause possible depression both physical and mental (due to the muscle and condition loss). Some steroids that are known to cause depression will also effect women users.

Unique psychological concerns for women taking steroids are the masculizing effects they can, and do, promote. For the men out there reading this Imagine how you would feel if you were turning into women with you’re AS use. Okay some of you get Gyno but that can be treated and prevented.

Deepening of the voice, enlarged Adams apple, pointed and square chin as well as clitoral enlargement, hair loss and overall ‘manly’ looking effects. Some of these go over time, others, unfortunately some of the most ‘potentially’ depressing aspects often are permanent.

The degree of how this effect the user is in part personal. There own mental sate and lifestyle. The understanding of family, friend and partners is invaluable. Those that want to look more manly will obviously not be too concerned. Those that did not expect such changes because they listened to uninformed or dishonest sources the results can be devastating. It comes down to simply ‘living with it’ in most cases.

BONE AND CARTILAGE CHANGES

Steroids, and this is not a joke although I admit it does sound funny, causes the cartilage in the ears and nose to grow. This happens in both men and women but women seem to be effected, at least visually, more than men. This however is usually considered to only be a problem if AS use is continued for a number of years.

The chin can also grow and in woman seems to take on either a pointed ‘lantern jaw’ look or can become very square like a typical comic book heroes. Again these changes do not go away after you stop AS usage.

BIRTH PROBLEMS

Taking As during pregnancy can cause the foetus masculizing effects in the female foetus and puberty like effects in the male foetus. I know of no responsible women who takes AS when they know they have been pregnant or even considered but it is important to be informed otherwise how would you know of the potential danger?

Those women taking the hair loss product Propecia or Proscar should also be aware that this can cause birth defects.

On the whole woman concerned with potential virilization effects should stick to:

Winstrol, Deca, Nolvadex, GH, Primo, Proviron, Anavar. Beware that even these can cause unwanted side effects especially when taken in high doses.

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