In addition to stunting height among growing adolescents, these steroids can trigger the growth of breasts in males. This can happen because the chemical structure of certain anabolic steroids is converted to the female hormone estrogen by a chemical reaction in the body.
People who use anabolic steroids for bodybuilding can experience a range of side effects . These drugs disrupt hormone production in the body and may increase estrogen. Higher levels of estrogen can cause males to develop gynecomastia, which is the enlargement of the breast glands.
Anabolic steroids are related to testosterone, the major male hormone. Abuse of this hormone can lead to physical and psychological side effects. These problems include breast development and hair loss among men, and facial hair growth, menstrual problems and a deepened voice in women.
In women, anabolic steroids can cause:
Steroids: Steroid medications such as prednisolone can affect periods and make them irregular, prolonged and sometimes heavier. This is usually after long-term use of steroids.
How does estrogen work? The ovaries, which produce a woman's eggs, are the main source of estrogen from your body. Your adrenal glands, located at the top of each kidney, make small amounts of this hormone, so does fat tissue. Estrogen moves through your blood and acts everywhere in your body.
For some, gynecomastia may go away simply by stopping steroid use. Others may get rid of by going on hormone therapy to restore more natural and balanced hormonal levels. This typically involves testosterone replacement as prescribed by your doctor.
A substance that keeps cells from making or using estrogen (a hormone that plays a role in female sex characteristics, the menstrual cycle, and pregnancy). Estrogen blockers may stop some cancer cells from growing and are used to prevent and treat breast cancer.
Background: Letrozole is a potent aromatase inhibitor licensed for use in women with breast cancer. It is also used by body builders for reduction of gynecomastia when taking anabolic steroids.
Thus, topical corticosteroids may enlargement of the nipple due to the stimulation of sebace- ous glands in the nipple. Although the drug induced gynecomastia is common [8], but to the best of our knowledge, the enlargement of the nipple due to drugs has not been reported previously.
If you abruptly stop taking prednisone or taper off too quickly, you might experience prednisone withdrawal symptoms:
Steroid hormones are nonpolar and hydrophobic, whereas peptide hormones are polar and hydrophilic. This means that the steroid hormones cannot dissolve in water but peptide hormones can dissolve in water. Since they are minimally soluble in water, steroid hormones are carried by special transporters in the blood.
For women, steroid use may cause birth defects to occur as a fetus develops and the child is eventually born. In addition, prolonged steroid use can lead to pregnancy complications, as well as interruptions to a woman's menstrual cycle and overall chances of conceiving.
Teens who use anabolic steroids may also be at increased risk for some cognitive side effects compared with adults. For example, males who begin using anabolic steroids during the teen years show increased impulsivity and decreased attention, compared to men who began using steroids in their adult years.
Both men and women who take anabolic steroids may: