Steroid Use in Female Body Builders

An early example of performance enhancement with substances occurred in the 1904 Olympics when marathon runner Thomas Hicks was given two doses of strychnine before successfully winning the race.  Today, many athletes experiment with a variety of legal and illegal substances in an attempt to improve their game including stimulants like caffeine and ephedrine, amphetamines, and steroids (Read Athletes with an Edge: How Far is Too Far?). Indeed, the temptation to use any means necessary to have the fastest time, the best endurance, or the greatest strength is so great that most major events like the Olympics have mandatory drug testing for participants (Read Drug Tests: How to Avoid False Positives). The controversy surrounding steroid use as picked up by the media seems to primarily center around major league baseball; however, bodybuilding is another area in which steroid use is prevalent, including among females who may be attempting to win fitness or figure competitions. 

How many female body builders use steroids?

According to the study “Psychiatric and Medical Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in Women,” which was published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics in 2000, nearly 150,000 women in the United States have abused steroids; the rate seems to be higher among young women and even high school students (Read How to Talk to a Teen about Drugs).

How are steroids used?

Steroids can either be injected or taken orally, commonly in cycles. If a person uses two or more types of steroids simultaneously in an attempt to achieve a greater effect, this is called stacking (Read Mixing Substances: What You Should Know).

What are some signs that a woman is using steroids?

• Increased pimples/acne, especially on back
• Oily hair and/or skin
• Aggression
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Swelling/bloating
• Mood swings
• Low-fat, high-protein diets
• Appetite changes
• Feelings of invincibility
• Weight gain
• Isolation
• Increased muscle mass
• Spending a lot of time at the gym/working out
• Hair loss/thinning or receding hair
• Insomnia or sleeping more
• Jaundice
• Hallucinations/paranoia
• Masculine features
• Abscesses on skin
• Increased or decreased energy
• Signs of injecting steroids (Read The Dangers of IV Drug Use and Recognizing Drug Paraphernalia)

What are the short- and long-term effects of steroid use in females?

• Eating disorders and negative body image – The study from Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics found that many female bodybuilders also suffer from eating disorders (Read 10 Ways to Improve Your Body Image and Eating Disorders: What You Should Know)
• A deeper voice and other masculine features
• Cardiovascular disease
• Amenorrhea, cervical cancer, infertility, uterine atrophy, increased risk of a baby with pseudohermaphroditism, irregular menstrual cycles (Read How Addictive Substances Affect Reproductive Health)
• Increased risk of infection from a compromised immune system
• Atherosclerosis
• Stroke
• Jaundice
• Myocardial infarction
• Cysts on liver
• Stunted growth from fusing of plates located between bones (especially in adolescents)
• Osteoporosis

Are there treatment centers for women who are abusing steroids?

There are rehab facilities that treat people who abuse or are addicted to steroids. Like addictions to other substances or behaviors, getting help for steroid abuse as soon as possible can decrease the chances of developing irreversible side effects (Read Intervention: Is It Time?).