Although steroids can be utilized in legal medical uses, it is still banned to administer the drug for the exclusive intention of working up muscles.

Sometimes, doctors may administer steroids in patients with serious anemia. They may also prescribe the drug in men not creating enough testosterone.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, physicians never prescribe anabolic-androgenic steroids to young, healthy people to aid them in working up their muscles.

Steroids use, particularly for extended periods, could bring about unfavorable results unique to each sex and age group.

In males, it could bring about shriveling of the testicles, low sperm count, sterility, male pattern baldness, breast development or gynecomastia and an elevated risk for prostate cancer.

In females, it could result to noticeable development of facial hair, baldness, shifts or irregularity in the menstrual cycle resulting to total cessation, enlargement of the clitoris and thickening of the voice.

Teenagers may run the danger of sustaining stunted maturation due to early maturation of their skeletal body structures. Puberty changes are rapid, and they may not achieve their utmost stature if they take anabolic steroids before or during their growth spurt.

Taking steroids is never brilliant or sound. It may abbreviate your lives instead of extending it. It could bring about troubles that could injure you for the remainder of your life.

From The Cypress Times:

Steroids do make users bulk up, but the health risks are high. It’s true, on steroids biceps bulge; abs ripple; and quads balloon. But that’s just on the outside. Steroid users may be very pleased when they flex in the mirror, but they may create problems on the inside.

In some countries, obtaining steroid without a doctor’s prescription is illegal. Most societies condemn the use of AAS because of its abuse and negative side effects especially if it is use for non-medical purposes. This study aims to determine the predictors of future AAS use and to resolve issues regarding the risk of having emotional and behavioral problems in the future.

Data collected for the study were from a group of Norwegian adolescents, mostly in high school but some already in college. A survey was taken regarding their age, physical appearance, involvement in sports, satisfaction with their body parts, alcohol and drug use. The study observed adolescents in the age ranging from 15 to 19 years old within a four year study period.

Use of AAS was prevalent among males and those who had previous history of AAS use at a young age. Those involved in power sports and strength training were most likely to use AAS in the future. Other predictors include frequent alcohol intoxication, cannabis use, hard drug use, eating problems, weight problems, and sexual debut before the age of 15. AAS use was found to have no significant association with future emotional or behavioral problems.

According to Medscape:

Purpose: To prospectively study the stability of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use and predictors of AAS use, and to investigate whether AAS use alters the risk of later emotional and behavioral problems.