Why Women Use Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids were first created in the 1930s for medical purposes, and now they are repeatedly used to increase physical performance in sports. Although men were once the only users, this is no longer the plight as more and more women are using steroids to enhance their physique and build muscle.

Women and Steroids

Steroid use in women can be considered more controversial than in men because of the more permanent side effects that can materialize. Steroids are synthetic substances related to the male sex hormone testosterone that have both androgenic ( masculinization ) and anabolic ( tissue - building ) effects on the human body. Women produce much less testosterone than men, so when a woman uses steroids, the effects are more pronounced.

A study of bodybuilders in 2000 showed that male bodybuilders weren’ t the only ones taking steroids to bulk up; this was one of the first studies of women and steroids. According to data cited in the study, 145, 000 American women had used steroids at some point in their lives.

Why Women Use Steroids

Women use anabolic and other types of steroids for many reasons. Some benefits of using them interject:

* Stone broke body fat

* Increase in lean muscle mass

* Increased strength

* Euphoria and increased self - esteem

* More energy

* Increased sexual arousal

There are other reasons women take them, too. Some women understand taking steroids will help increase gender equality. Others might do it for personal gain — pecuniary or recognition.

And other women feel they need to take steroids in adjustment to protect themselves.

Women and Bodybuilding

Most women bodybuilders didn’ t go ahead taking steroids until after Rachel McLish won Ms. Olympia, the women ' s bodybuilding portion of the international bodybuilding competition. McLish herself didn’ t take steroids, but the an act of her muscle mass helped change opinions about women having muscles. Other women began to want to build their muscles, or they were told they had to in codification to compete. Gradually, gyms began adding cantonment for women, too.

Women and Olympic Sports

In that Olympic athletes are under so much solicitude to succeed, some women use steroids to improve their performance. Marion Jones, a path and field star, is the most well - known woman athlete to use steroids due to she was once considered the fastest female in the world. Use of steroids by high - level athletes began in East Germany in the 1950s, when female and male athletes were prone state - provided steroid pills. By the 1980s, steroids were being used by Olympic competitors and other athletes in many other countries, as well. Today, it is rationalizing by some experts that perhaps halfway all Olympic short - distance runners, including women, use steroids.

Women and Steroids in the Final

As media and culture influence women to be something they can’ t be naturally, steroids and other supplements will remain to entice.