Questions and Answers with NAM Michael Carter, editor, Patient Information
Steroids
I have been going to the gym for a while now and was thinking
of taking steroids to boost my training. What are they?
Anabolic steroids are a manufactured version of the male hormone testosterone.
They help build muscle and enhance male characteristics, such as body hair
and depth of voice.
Some of my friends get them from their HIV doctor. How come?
As steroids help form lean muscle mass, they are sometimes used as a treatment
for Aids wasting and weight loss. They’re also occasionally used to
help with fat loss from the limbs caused by lipodystrophy.
So it’s okay to use them if you’re HIV positive then?
It’s known certain steroids can help build lean muscle mass in people
with Aids wasting. Studies have only included men though, as steroids cause
the development of male characteristics. There have been concerns that anabolic
steroids can suppress the immune system, but there doesn’t seem to be
evidence that this is the case. Steroids can increase levels of LDL (bad)
cholesterol, which can increase your long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.
My doctor says I don’t need them, but I want to get some muscle
and I know a guy at the gym who sells them.
It’s true, anabolic steroids are widely used by people who weight train
to improve the results of training and the look of their body. They’re
normally taken in four-week cycles followed by an ‘off’ period.
The use of anabolic steroids in this way can be very risky.
What are these risks?
First of all, anabolic steroids can be toxic to the liver, and liver problems
such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer have been seen in long-term
users of steroids.
Steroid use can also cause acne, male pattern baldness, sexual problems, shrinking
of the testicles, aggression, mood disturbance, stomach problems, prostate
problems, and water retention.
Breast enlargement has also been noted in men and the development of male
characteristics in women.
Also, if you buy steroids from a dealer, you can’t be certain of the
quality or quantity of the drug you are taking. Counterfeit steroids are common
and can contain impurities.
Steroids are normally injected. Sharing needles and other equipment to inject
steroids involves the same health risk as sharing needles to inject other
drugs, including HIV transmission, and infection with hepatitis B and C virus.
There are also psychological risks. Will steroid use actually provide you
with the body you want? And once you start taking steroids, will you be able
to stop?
Is it legal to use steroids for the gym?
Anabolic steroids are a prescription only medicine. Although possession of
anabolic steroids is not illegal, selling them is and can involve a fine and
a prison sentence.
If you take part in any form of competitive sport, then it’s likely
that the use of anabolic steroids is banned, even if you are taking them for
legitimate medical reasons.
Where can I find out more about steroids?
A good place to start is In Gear: a gay man’s guide to steroids, a booklet
produced by Camden and Islington’s Gay Men’s Team. You can order
a copy by calling 020 7530 3922. Also talk to your doctor.
l NAM provides information to help you think about your use of HIV treatments,
but this is not intended to replace discussion with your doctor.
Visit NAM at www.aidsmap.com
