Women athletes certainly do need to take a different approach to steroid use than males do. There are only a limited number of the drugs listed in this text that a woman would even want to consider. Among those are Primobolan, Proviron, Nolvadex, Nandrolones, Anavar, Winstrol, and synthetic Growth Hormone. Women who are taking steroids will get great gains in strength and size of muscles. They also give women that lean, muscular look. Females only make 0.3 milligrams of testosterone a day compared to adult males who produce 7 milligrams a day.

Men taking steroids are overloading themselves with testosterone. They will experience feminine side effects, like breast enlargement. Their pituitary gland tries to correct the imbalance of abnormally high testosterone by shutting down the body’s production of it. Men’s testes shrink and sperm production is reduced. Infertility can occur, lasting up to six months after stopping. There may be a risk of becoming permanently infertile if taken at high doses over a long period of time, according to some researchers.

Another side effect of steroids for both sexes is hair loss for both men and women. Women's scalps get thin all over an men get male pattern baldness. Acne is also a problem. The anabolic steroids increase the oil gland secretions in the skin and acne outbreaks can be severe.

Physical side effects of steroids for men:

• Breast enlargement • Male pattern baldness • Enlargement of prostrate gland • Shrinking of testicles • Infertility • Testosterone production stopped

Physical side effects of steroids for women:

• Decreased breast size • Irreversible loss of scalp hair • Irreversible lowering of voice • Irreversible and excessive hair growth on body and face • Menstrual irregularities • Damage to fetus in pregnant women • Enlarged clitoris • Sex drive increased

Possible side effects in both men and women:

• Severe acne • Mood swings • Increase in body weight • Bad breath • Stunted growth • Aching joints • Swelling in feet and ankles • Kidney damage • Jaundice • Impaired thyroid function

There remains some uncertainty about what the long term health problems resulting from steroid abuse are. There is not a lot of scientific data but according to certain case studies done steroid users have experienced prostrate problems and heart and liver disease.

There is concern about steroids being toxic for the liver. Tumors may occur and are always a serious threat. They can rupture with no warning and cause internal bleeding and death.

There are definitely some serious concerns about the physical effects of steroids and they should be considered a dangerous risk.