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True or false? Anabolic steroids can only cause minor harm to the body.
A lot of people dream of the "perfect body" -- some want to be slimmer -- some want larger breasts... ... others wish they were faster... stronger... and that they had bigger muscles. For those who wish they had bigger muscles, it might be tempting to try a substance that improves performance and muscle development: a PED, or Performance Enhancing Drug - to try "doping"...
Among the most common PEDs are anabolic steroids. Just like other performance enhancing substances, anabolic steroids are prohibited, since they cause serious damage to the body. Anabolic steroids are similar to one of the body's own hormones, testosterone. Testosterone is a growth hormone that appears naturally in the body, making us able to build muscle. If you use anabolic steroids, you add artificial testosterone, for the body to build muscle faster.
But what you might not think about is that your body is the expert on its own testosterone. As you grow into an adult, your body deals out testosterone in proper doses, so that you'll grow and develop at the right pace. If you add extra testosterone, you ruin that balance, and that can have serious consequences. For example, when doping, it's common for people to have a bad temper. They get aggressive and find it hard to control their rage.
Many get depressed, and find life to be pointless. The risk of cancer, and cardiovascular diseases increases. PEDs can also inhibit growth. That's because the body turns off its own production of testosterone when you add artificial doping substances. For example, the legs may stop growing.
Then you'll get really weird proportions. And that can't be fixed later in life. Other common side effects are: Reduced libido -- impotence that is: the inability to get an erection, if you're a guy. Also the testicles may atrophy - or shrink - so the production of sperm is affected. This can lead to infertility, so you can't have children.
Women who use doping substances may experience irregular menstruation. If they're pregnant, there's also a risk of birth defects. Anabolic steroids and other doping substances might feel tempting to use if you want to build muscle mass quickly. But remember: they may damage your body in ways you had not thought of. And this damage can't be corrected later.