t, also in males' testicular shrinkage, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, and development of breast are a factor included in the use of anabolic steroids. The NIDA (1997) also states that, males who take doses of anabolic steroids typically experience changes in sexual characteristics. Although derived from a male sex hormone (testosterone), the drug can trigger a mechanism in the body that can actually shut sown the healthy functions of the male reproductive system. The NIDA also goes on to state possible side effects in males are "difficulty or pain in urinating, and enlarged prostate" (NIDA 1997). Although anabolic steroid abuse has been intensively studied by numerous physicians. Also that with a number of adverse and even fatal effects, the incandesces of serious effects thus far reported has been extremely low, and all of the effects have been demonstrated to be fully reversible within several months after cessation of steroids. Women to have cretin side effects that are in some cases are irreversible. Bahrke (1995) states the following: In women, anabolic steroids have been associated with a number of adverse effects, some of which are not reversible upon discontinuation of steroid use. These include menstrual abnormalities, deepening of the voice, shrinkage of the breast, male-pattern baldness, and increase in sex drive, acne, body hair and clitoris size. In addition, women using steroids experience dramatically elevated testosterone levels and lowered levels of SHBG, follicle-stimulating hormone and thyroid-binding proteins. These and others mentioned in the Merck Manual (1997) reports that adverse side effects some potentially irreversible are alopecia, hirsutism, some atrophy of the vaginal mucosa, and increased aggressiveness and appetite. In women steroid abuse is a greater risk of long term effects, do to the simple fact that some of these harmful effects are irreversible and therefor are not worth the life...
