Men's Health > Anabolic's > Steroids

Steroids

The known side effects from anabolic steroid use are a frightening lot: heart, kidney, liver and bone damage, aggression, fertility problems.

And don't forget shrunken testicles for men and beards for women.

But when you consider the benefits — quick and massive gains in muscles and strength — there's little mystery why anabolic steroids prove irresistible to athletes from high school through the pros.

"A lot of the kids I see are aware of most of the side effects of steroids. But it's like smoking: The kids who start know it will kill you," said Dr. Howard Luks, an orthopedic surgeon and the head of sports medicine at the Westchester County Medical Center in Valhalla. With yesterday's report by the San Francisco Chronicle that the Yankees' Jason Giambi testified to using steroids, performance-enhancing drugs are coming under a sharper focus than ever.

The drugs include human growth hormone and testosterone precursors to build muscles, and stimulants like ephedra that speed up the heart rate. Then there is blood doping, which in its simplest form does not involve a drug but transfusing an extra supply of one's own blood just before an athletic competition to boost oxygen to muscles. High school athletes did not need yesterday's report about Giambi to pique their interest in performance-enhancing substances, several local physicians and a coach said.

Roughly once a week, Dr. Eric Small said, he sees a young patient who is searching to enhance his or her athletic performance. Their first thought is not disciplined weight training, said Small, a Mount Kisco physician.

"They don't necessarily ask for steroids, but a pill or vitamin, something that will make them stronger, or make them lose weight, or get them to gain weight," said Small, who specializes in sports medicine. "And they want to do it in a month"

After explaining the dangers of various performance-enhancing drugs, Small tries to interest them in exercise training and diet. "About half buy into that. The other half are frustrated and are looking for a quick fix," Small said.

What's actually amazing is the high rate of steroid use by young athletes ...

Drew Voight