Anabolic Steroids Case Study

The Usage of Anabolic Steroids
1. In case of muscles, hypertrophy is a process that is characterized by increasing of muscle cross-sectional area and mass. Changes primarily happen because of cells growth, rather than an increase in their number. There are several mechanisms that cause the hypertrophy of skeletal muscles. “The first measurable effect is an increase in the neural drive stimulating muscle contraction” (“Hypertrophy”). The process also includes the genetic response and protein synthesis. The Hypertrophy includes the activation of the family of immediate-early genes that “appear to dictate the contractile protein gene response” (“Hypertrophy”). All these processes are activated by exercises and usage of such drugs as anabolic steroids.
2. This type of medication contains “synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (e.g., testosterone)” (“Anabolic Steroid Abuse”). They are prescribed by doctors to people with the lack
of the natural testosterone and cause the development of skeletal muscles and male sexual characteristics. The list of prescribed steroids includes most forms of the Testosteron, Anavar (Oxandrolone), Stanozolol (Winstrol) and Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca Durabolin). There are also over-the counter steroids that often are sold as dietary supplements. Their examples are include Testosyn, Everlasting T and Testogenix.
3.
Steroids cause the growth of muscle tissues and development of male sex characteristics. These drugs can prevent the formation of breast tumors, like the Nolvadex do. There are other physiological effects of short term and long term anabolic steroid use. The first list includes “acne… shrunken testicles, hair loss, difficulty or pain in urinating, increased risk of prostate cancer, and development of breasts” (“Short and Long Term Effects”). Women often experience changes in their menstrual cycle, decreasing of breasts size and levels of body fat and excessive growth of facial and body hair. Effects of long term use of anabolic steroids include severe forms of acne, “fluid retention, high blood pressure, increased risk of blood clotting, increase in bad cholesterol, decrease in good cholesterol, jaundice, liver cysts and cancer, and kidney cancer” (“Short and Long Term Effects”). Drugs also affect the reproductive system, as studies show the usage of anabolic steroids increases the frequency of erectile dysfunction’s
cases.
4. Mentioned side effects make me think that men should not continue using steroids to enhance muscular development unless drugs were prescribed by doctors. Medications have dangerous side effects, like the increasing risk of prostate cancer or gynecomastia, even in the case of the short term use. Physiological changes and possible risks of cancer development come short of the desirable result (muscle growth). Many men can use longer, but more natural ways to develop their bodies without dangerous, irreversible consequences.
5. Anabolic steroids cause slightly different effects on men and women. In fact, they often affect similar systems, but results are different because of the sex issues. In case of the genitourinary system, men experience infertility, low sperm count, painful urination or the reduction in testicle size. Women, according to the Casa Palmera Staff’s article, have menstrual dysfunction and enlarged clitoris. Men can develop the gynecomastia, while women’s breasts become smaller because of the anabolic steroids’ use. As drugs promote the development of male characteristics, women start to look more like men because of the deeper voice, coarsened skin and appearance of the facial hair. Males’ bodies undergo similar changes because of steroids, but there are often more expectable and desirable than in women’s cases.