Steroids

What’s the Score?

Steroids are also known as anabolic steroids, ‘roids, gear, sauce or juice (e.g. ‘on the juice’). They’re made from the male hormone testosterone and help men build muscle - but only if they work out too.

Sex on Steroids

Steroids can make someone feel more sexually confident and boost their sex drive and as a result they might be more likely to risk getting or passing on HIV. But steroids can also weaken a man’s sex drive and cause erection problems. Balls may shrink as the body no longer needs to make its own testosterone. Dick size isn’t affected.

Taking Steroids

Steroids come as pills or a liquid that’s injected into a muscle. It must never be injected into a vein as this can kill. Often steroids are taken in ‘cycles’ of weeks on, followed by weeks off, then on again. They are also used for ‘stacking’, which is where you take several types of steroids together to strengthen their effects.

Highs and Lows

Steroids can help a man grow muscles bigger than he could if he trained without them. Big muscles can make him feel more confident and give him a buzz from feeling lusted after, accepted and part of a group of other muscled men.

Nearly all users experience some side effects. These include acne (especially on the back), trouble sleeping, gut problems, permanent hair loss, growth of breast tissue (‘bitch tits’), testicles getting smaller, water retention, high blood pressure (with a risk of stroke), raised cholesterol (fat in the blood), liver and heart damage, and prostate problems.

Users can experience mood changes, irritability and aggression (‘roid rage’). Coming off steroids can lead to depression and for some men possibly thoughts of suicide.

Injecting steroids carries its own health risks, such as skin abscesses or infections, and sharing injecting equipment spreads serious infections like HIV and hepatitis C.

A Long Term Relationship?

Serious health problems are more likely the longer you take steroids and the bigger the dose.

Using them can feed a body disorder where men see themselves as smaller than they really are and become obsessed about their size. In the short term steroids might seem to help with low self-esteem but long term can make insecurities worse.

Steroids with Other Drugs

HIV drugs – steroids and some HIV drugs both raise levels of cholesterol (fat in the blood), so if you’re being treated for HIV you should be careful about using muscle-building drugs. A doctor should check your cholesterol levels as taking steroids when on HIV drugs puts extra strain on your liver. If you’re on some HIV meds they can cause raised levels of steroids in the blood, making side effects more likely. Ask your HIV doctor for advice.

Ecstasy, speed, crystal meth and cocaine – these chems wipe out your energy levels and interfere with gym work outs - and make you lose weight when you’re trying to bulk up.

Taking any drug while using steroids puts extra strain on your liver. As steroids can affect your mood it is advisable to avoid other drugs that change your mental state.

Useful to Know

• Illegally sold steroids can be contaminated, diluted, fake, or made for use with animals.
• Before starting steroids and while you’re on them it’s a good idea to have your heart, liver and kidney function and cholesterol levels monitored.
• Drinking lots of water (up to three litres a day) is important to clear from the body waste products caused by steroids.
• Steroids should be avoided if you have conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, mental health problems or anything wrong with your heart.
• Steroids can stunt growth, so men under 24 are advised not to use them.

The Law

Steroids are prescription-only drugs controlled by the Medicines Act. They’re also Class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Possession of steroids for personal use isn’t illegal in the UK. Intending to supply to others is against the law and can mean up to 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Possession of steroids is illegal in many other countries.